Nathan fears no challenge as he is preparing to usher Budler into war
Hekkie Budler’s award-winning trainer Colin Nathan does not fear challenges and tackles them head-on, especially now that he is going to lead his boxer into war against Tanzanian Muhsin Kizota.
The international flyweight 10 rounder is going to headline the TLB Boxing Promotions tournament, which has been dubbed “Return of the Big Guns” set for the Graceland Casino in Secunda on March 20.
This fight marks the return of the five-time world champion, who has not fought since losing to Japanese boxer Hiroto Kyoguchi in December 2018.
The tournament is promoted by TLB Boxing Promotions in conjunction with the Mpumalanga Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation. This is TLB Boxing Promotions’ first tournament outside Gauteng, where the promotions company is based.
“When this opportunity presented itself for Hekkie to get into the ring, I didn’t hesitate to take on the fight. He has been inactive for two years, Covid-19 has messed things up. Now we are back,” said Nathan.
“Obviously, I would like to thank TLB for the opportunity to get Hexecutioner back in the ring again. We knew something was on the horizon, so I got him in the gym a few months ago. Actually, in January we started training and I said to him that there was a possibility of a fight coming up. When this opportunity came we said yes straight away.”
Budler is a former International Boxing Organisation (IBO) and World Boxing Association (WBA) minimumweight champion. He has also held the IBO, International Boxing Federation (IBF) and WBA junior-flyweight belts. He is rated second on the World Boxing Council (WBC) ratings.
“The WBC is the one we are looking at. Obviously, we need this fight to get some sort of momentum going. Obviously, to justify him to be put in a position where he can fight for the WBC eliminator. He needs to get into the ring on March 20 and win,” said Nathan.
“I think this is a perfect comeback opponent for him to shake off the ring rust.”
Another former world champion, Xolisani “Nomeva” Ndongeni, is also fighting in this tournament. KwaBhaca-born Ndongeni is set to square up against Malawian opponent Byson Gwayan in a 10-round junior-lightweight bout.
Ndongeni, a former IBO and World Boxing Federation (WBF) lightweight champion, is out to redeem himself following a shock stoppage loss to unheralded Prince Dlomo last October.
And this is going to be Ndongeni’s first fight since he rejoined his former trainer, Mzamo “Chief” Njekanye.
Meanwhile, Simangele Hadebe from Kwa-Thema in Gauteng is going to challenge South African female flyweight queen Noxolo Makhanavu from East London.
