Golden Gloves

South Africa’s IBO world junior flyweight champion Hekkie “The Hexecutioner” Budler (16-0, with 5 knockouts) may be ‘walking a tightrope’ on Saturday night in Laredo, Texas, when he fights veteran performer Evaristo Primero (14-13-1, with 7 knockouts). Budler will be taking on the Mexican-born Primero in a non-title 10 round contest on the undercard of the IBF world lightweight title bout between Ji Hoon Kim and Miguel Vasquez.

“When you look at Primero’s statistics they don’t look at all impressive but that’s where you’re wrong” said veteran US fight logger George Blake of Wisconsin. “As a matter of fact, this guy, despite being a 33-year-old, has fought the crème de la crème of world boxing, among who Johnny Tapia, Raul Martinez, Hussein Hussein, Gerson Guerro, Muaricio Pastrana, Ruben Contreras and Rafael Marquez were the most formidable. Personally, I figure you guys have tossed your kid (Budler) into the deep water far too early in his career, especially when you consider that Primero was undefeated in his first seven fights en route to winning the WBC Continental Americas flyweight title in 2001” said Blake. “To sum it up let me say that Budler will be walking a tightrope come Saturday night”.

Budler’s trainer Colin Nathan, however, does not agree and feels that his miniature whirlwind has the beating of most junior flyweights on the planet. “Hekkie currently occupies a #10 world rating by the highly influential magazine The Ring and after twice beating the vastly experienced Juanito Rubillar, it’s no brain picker to realise why he earned that ranking”. Nathan’s prognosis is certainly worthy of recording and it’s his contention that the Hexecutioner will win Saturday night’s contest “going away”. Golden Gloves Promoter Rodney Berman is presently in San Francisco and he’ll duly travel to Texas where he’ll be joined by his American business associate Art Pellulo before attending the tournament.

“I’ve heard that a number of people feel it’s a bit premature for the 22-year-old Budler to be fighting a guy with Primero’s experience but take it from me our man is primed for battle and his preparations have left nothing to be desired”.