History-maker Hekkie Budler approaches legend status

Own Correspondent

The newest triple boxing world champion, Hekkie Budler, should arrive to a hero’s welcome at OR Tambo airport on Tuesday.

Budler, his trainer Colin Nathan and assistant trainers Benny Pailman and Vusi Mtolo are expected to arrive at 4.30pm and a large contingent including Boxing SA chief executive Tsholofelo Lejaka, promoter Rodney Berman
and Budler’s family and friends will cram the reception area of the airport as the boxer touches down from Japan where he achieved his historic victory at the weekend.

Against all the odds, Budler pulled off a major upset to dethrone defending champion Ryoichi Taguchi in Tokyo.

The win netted Budler the WBA, IBF and Ring magazine crown in the junior-flyweights, becoming the first African boxer to do so.

His trip to Japan was largely seen as the mere fulfilment of a protest he filed with the IBF due to the referee’s handling of his fight against then IBF champion Milan Melindo of the Philippines in September last year.

The IBF ordered a rematch but allowed Melindo to unify with WBA champion Taguchi with the Ring magazine title also up for grabs.

Taguchi inherited the IBF-ordered rematch after beating Melindo and when Budler got his chance he caused one of the biggest upsets involving an SA boxer.

Berman admitted that due to his charge fighting in a foreign territory he did not give him a chance to pull off the upset.

“I figured Hekkie would not be able to overcome the odds but I was pleasantly surprised,” he said.

Lejaka said Budler’s win had elevated the standard of boxing in the land.

“For him to walk into enemy territory and come back with a win is a major achievement,” he said.

By winning the three belts simultaneously, Budler become a two-division world champion, having also owned the WBA and IBO mini-flyweight super titles.

Budler celebrated his 30th birthday on Friday and clocked his 32nd win, against three losses.

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