http://www.supersport.com/boxing/south-africa/news/130611/Joyi_and_Budler_to_boost_SA_boxing
Joyi and Budler to boost SA boxing
By Ron Jackson
Two of the smallest men in professional boxing are set to reignite the sport's popularity in South Africa.
Hekkie Budler and Nkosinathi Joyi will come into the ring at around 47.6 kg when they clash at Emperors Palace near Kempton Park on Saturday night. But it might have been a heavyweight bout for all the excitement it is creating.
At stake is the International Boxing Organisation's title in the division known as strawweight, minimumweight and mini-flyweight. And the clash has spinoff value in that it could boost the public interest in SA boxing.
Budler, from Brixton, west of Johannesburg, is the champion. Joyi, from Mdantsane, near East London, is a former IBO champion and also held the International Boxing Federation's title in the same class.
Joyi, rated No 3 by the IBO, is expected - almost guaranteed - to provide Budler with the toughest test of his career.
The tournament, presented by Rodney Berman of Golden Gloves Promotions, will be televised live on SuperSport 4 from 7.30 pm (SA, CAT, GMT+2) and also offers excellent undercard bouts.
The 30-year-old Joyi, a professional since 2002, has a record of 23 wins, one defeat and one no-contest. He won 16 of his fights inside the distance and has fought at a higher level than the champion.
Trained by Lennox Mpulampula, the southpaw has experience on his side. He won the vacant SA mini-flyweight title in April 2004 when, in only his ninth fight, he stopped Mzikayise Foslare in 92 seconds.
He made six successful defences before he relinquished the title after winning the IBO strawweight belt in November 2006 by knocking out Armando de la Cruz in the second round at Emperors Palace.
He made three defences before relinquishing the title to fight in an IBF eliminator against highly rated Florante Condes from the Philippines in June 2009. He won on points.
Nine months later he beat Raul Garcia of Mexico to win the IBF belt. But he had only four fights in the next three years and three months.
Following a no-contest result and a points victory over Katsunari Takayama, Joyi lost the belt when he was knocked out in the seventh round by Mario Rodriguez in Mexico.
The 25-year-old Budler was an outstanding amateur before he turned professional in July 2007. He won the vacant IBO junior flyweight belt on February 27 2010 when he beat Juanito Rubillar on points.
The all-action Budler retained the belt in a return match with Rubillar, but lost it on a split decision to another South African, Gideon Buthelezi.
However, he then beat another Filipino, Michael Landero, to win the vacant IBO strawweight belt and has made successful defences against Florante Condes and Renan Trongco to take his record to 23-1, including 6 wins inside the distance.
Budler, now ranked at No 7 by Ring magazine and trained by Colin Nathan, is up against an opponent with height, reach and experience advantages.
Joyi, ranked No 3 by Ring, also has knockout power in his left hand. Budler, in contrast, is not a hard puncher and has won only one of his recent fights inside the distance. But he does have youth in his favour and is not short on courage and fighting spirit.
Joyi was rated as the best strawweight, pound for pound, in the world for a while, but it remains to be seen how his knockout defeat in Mexico affected him. But after 11 years as a professional he has no problems making the strawweight limit comfortably.
One of the top referees in the world, Stan Christodoulou, will handle the fight. The judges are Arthur Ellensohn of Germany, Reg Thompson of the UK and Tony Nyangiwe, a South African.
