Latest news
The outstanding Nkosinathi Joyi, left, pictured with Gideon Buthelezi
Hekkie Budler and Nkosinathi Joyi are fighters in their prime, sharing similar weights, but it would be harder to find two more contrasting figures in SA boxing.
Budler is the IBO minimumweight champion and a regular staple at Emperors Palace and on SuperSport. Joyi, in turn, is the IBF minimumweight champion who fights almost exclusively out of the Eastern Cape.
No-one disputes Joyi’s status – he is arguably South Africa’s top boxer – but his popularity is hardly commensurate with his standing in boxing. The SABC have done him no favours given their strange indifference to boxing, while his failure to box beyond the confines of his hometown have doubtless affected his marketability.
Indeed, Joyi could walk down Joburg’s Main Street and fail to turn a head.
It’s a sad state of affairs, compounded by the general apathy towards smaller fighters worldwide. Despite this, Budler has done exceptionally well to top a number of bills and he has a loyal following who appreciate his let-it-all-hang-out style.
The two fighters have similar records (Joyi is 21-0; Budler is 19-1), although Budler is ahead of Joyi in that he has twice fought overseas: once in Canada and once in Texas, in the US.
Budler’s next fight, against Florante Condes at Emperors in March, offers a great formline given that Joyi outboxed the Filipino two years ago.
Joyi is ranked number one by Ring magazine and is widely considered the top man in boxing’s lightest division.
Boxing fans, of course, would love a tear-up between Budler and Joyi. Given his superb skills, reach and height, Joyi would undoubtedly start as favourite. But Budler is a gritty in-you-face fighter whose pressure style could offer problems.
Unfortunately the fight is likely to remain in the realm of fantasy as Joyi fights for a rival promotional group.
But as fights we would like to see go, this one is near the top of the list.
December 23, 2011 at 11:49 am, Duncan said:
Very good right up.
December 28, 2011 at 6:47 pm, lovemore dube said:
simply the best on African soil
December 29, 2011 at 1:42 pm, pierre said:
I agree. It’s shameful that SA’s most talented and accomplished fighter languishes in semi-rural obscurity, fighting twice a year if he’s lucky. Still, no-one is stopping him from taking charge of his own destiny and coming to the big city and joining a better promoter.
December 30, 2011 at 4:32 pm, dilo said:
>Good comment. Yes, he may be able to join another promoter, but many a boxer have contracts tat tie them to a promoter and they find it hard to get out, especially if they borrowed funds to live etc. Promoters keep boxers to 1 fight a year so they remain indebted. Shameful. Mr Joyi, if u read this, I think you could be a big earning boxer and a superstar , but only if u grab hold of ur destiny. Cheers
December 30, 2011 at 2:58 pm, WIAN said:
WHY DON’T TRAINERS OR PROMOTERS ASK THE BOXER TO COME TO FIGHT FOR THEM ????
December 30, 2011 at 11:29 pm, Siya said:
Good write up you forgot to mention though that Joyi held and defended many times the SA Min & IBO Min title that Budler hold currently. Golden gloves must match up Budler to Joyi. Budler is a good kid though, he must Sammy Gutteriez after Condes.
January 29, 2012 at 5:53 am, Brennan Rigdon said:
Great article post. Really Wonderful.
March 05, 2012 at 12:14 pm, molefi said:
yes,hekkie is a very good boxer but against joyi?? let us groom not destroy for the sake of $$… if you are talking of saving joyi’s career it is ok but not on the expense of these prospect(hekkie). aproach joyi an make him an offer i believe he will gladly except but not against one of our own fighters.