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South Africa’s pint-sized dynamo Hekkie “The Hex-ecutioner” Budler (13-0) has promised to “bust up” Juanito Rubillar of the Philippinjes on Saturday night at Emperors Palace, en route to lifting the vacant IBO world junior flyweight title in the feature event on the “PRELUDE” extravaganza that boosts a total four championship bouts!
“Nothing will stand in my way” smiled the 21-year-old Budler, who will nevertheless enter the ring as a slight underdog. “He’s been around the international circuit a number of years and though he has loads more experience, I’ve trained like never before for this world title contest”.
And the 32-year-old Rubillar? With an overall record of 48-13-7, and 28 knockouts, the seasoned Filipino occupies a lofty (#6) WBC world ranking and owns a southpaw jab that could arguably provide the Python-loving Budler with unscripted problems. “Not so” said Budler’s trainer Colin Nathan after today’s pre-fight press conference at SPORTSVILLE in Emperors Palace. “Hekkie knows all about combating Rubillar’s southpaw style and come Saturday night, he’ll be finely tuned to win the IBO world junior flyweight title. Take it from me Hekkie will equal the great Vic Toweel’s record of winning a world title in his 14th professional fight”.
A warrior who has traded punches with most of the leading lights in the junior flyweight ranks, Rubillar, however, seemed genuinely surprised by the young South African’s confidence and it was noteworthy that his braintrust Gabriel Elorde joked confidently about the likely result to Saturday night’s fight.
Certainly WBA Intercontinental bantamweight champion Tshifhiwa “The Atomic Spider” Munyai appeared impeccably conditioned for his 12-round title defence against Filipino Daniel Ferraras on the weekend and methinks it will take an indomitable performance from the visitor from the Philippines to upset the slick boxing Munyai. Trainer Elias Tshabalala clearly feels that his 25-year-old champion is a world beater and good-naturedly brushed aside any suggestions of a Ferraras victory. “My guy’s a deadly weapon” said the highly respected Tshabalala, “and we’ll settle this argument inside the distance”.
Meanwhile current WBA Pan African super middleweight boss Tommy “Tommy Gun” Oosthuizen (9-0, 7 knockouts) is making ready to halt the title aspirations of his challenger on the night; Ghana’s Thomas Owinbono, and with trainer Harold Volbrecht in close attendance, predicted another knockout win. “He (Owibono) is very short and will make an ideal target for Tommy’s uppercut” mused Volbrecht, to which Oosthuizen merely grinned and held up two fingers in triumph.
A big hitter himself, Owinbono purportedly aims to unload one of his haymakers early in the contest and become the first fighter to derail the streaking Boksburg predator. “We’ll win…no doubt”, quipped a spokesman for the chunkily-built Ghanaian.
Twenty-year-old Jason “Badman” Bedeman (10-0-2, 8 knockouts) already owns the IBO Africa lightweight title and will be aiming his sights on the vacant WBA Pan African lightweight crown on Saturday night when he squares up to the decidedly dangerous Bilal Mohammed from Ghana. With Bedeman’s regular mentor Manny Fernandes presently out of the country, the exciting Badman will be ably counseled by Gert Strydom, who spent several years assisting Fernandes in the past.
One of the most popular boxers in South Africa, Bedeman has been in electrifying form of late and the portents signify a whale of a fight between two blue-ribbon hitters. “Mohammed is a lethal puncher and Bedeman had better be prepared for a terrific fight” said Golden Gloves Promoter Rodney Berman.
To top off this marquee night of action, there are two potentially explosive four round preliminary bouts between lightweights Kgotla “Bang Bang” Baeti and Danile Botman, as well as the most lucrative contest of its type ever staged in this country between heavyweights Flo “The Demolition Man” Simba (2-0) and Stephen Castle (5-1-2). Simba (20) is being widely tipped as the newest heavyweight sensation in SA boxing, while the 38-year-old Castle –who has a reputation for gallantry- is perceived by many as the man to bring him down a peg or two.
A university student, Simba is trained by Harold Volbrecht and managed by two-time Hall of Famer Brian Mitchell, and will enter the fray as a favourite to record his third stoppage on the trot. “The last two (bouts) ended in the first round and I’ll be surprised if Castle, for all his guts and experience, lasts into the second round” said Mitchell.
TP
NB: THE WEIGH-IN FOR SATURDAY NIGHT’S TOURNAMENT TAKES PLACE AT “SPORTSVILLE” ON FRIDAY AT 12-NOON!
February 24, 2010 at 10:49 am, Britt said:
My word this guy Tommy is fighting is so short he could fight Hekkie and hekkie will still drop him .God bless every single fighter on the night may the best fighters be crown on the night and may the losers keep the heads up and still smile.
February 24, 2010 at 11:03 am, Simon said:
I’m counting down the hours. Got my tickets ringside, saw the Stephen Castle this morning, he’s looking sharp. Ready to Rumble. Good luck to all the fighters, it ganna be a great tournamant.
February 24, 2010 at 2:48 pm, karin said:
Go Hex we know you going to do it. And to the other boxer. You are all in our prayers do well all of you.
February 24, 2010 at 9:56 pm, Classy said:
Why is it that I get the impression Hex ddnt have much of a choice to take this fight? The level of competition is immense. Also, why is GG so focused on the IBO versions? Branco gets IBF shots regularly…Im really rooting for you Hex and wish the rest the best of luck! May things go according to plan!
February 25, 2010 at 2:32 pm, Britt said:
Let me tell you one thing Golden gloves turns young lions into something Bronco takes other peoples fighters that already have had careers and makes money off them And 1/10 of he’s so called IBF title fights he produces a champion that stays champion. Any way we can’t ever compare a show at the Wembly to a great and while organized show like Mr. Terry, or Rodney can produce.
February 27, 2010 at 11:21 am, Rudi Delport said:
Hekkie, Tommy, Jason, make us proud i know you guys are going to go for the kill, you have all my confidence and deserve to be where you are today.
February 28, 2010 at 9:10 am, Classy said:
Last night was a great fightcard! I really enjoyed Flo Simba and the Tommygun. I am worried about the fact that Harolds’ fighters all have the same trademark – they fight with their hands around their ankles! Great for now but when they run outta speed one day or face a faster fighter they will be tested. I can see Tommygun can take a punch but Im not so sure about Flo.
The hometown decision that Hex got was shocking and it just goes to show us how boxing is sinking into farce. I feel really bad for Rubillar – he CLEARLY won that fight!
GG – Please try sharpen up the TV production, it looked very amateurish. The sound was a mess and as for the commentators – Collis has it right some of the time whereas I am amazed that Brian Mitchel was a former world champion fighter because most of the time he is just talking crap! The pair of them often sounded like 2 guys at a bar debating the fightgame. Very poor.
February 28, 2010 at 4:14 pm, britt said:
WoW Classy you really getting deep..lol anyway great show GGP Next time get a better fight for Tommy ….And Hekkie well done you really can take a punch and I know that God gave you the talent use it and listen to Colin he will teach you the ways. And in connection with Flo Stephan take that.
March 02, 2010 at 6:58 pm, Victor said:
As for Classy’s comment on Brian Mitchell’s commentary, Mitchell’s has been in the fight game for 40 years I wonder where Classy’s so called Boxing expertise comes from……..