TRAINER Colin Nathan is wary of Pigmy Kokietgym's vast experience but is confident his charge, Hekkie Budler, will be too smart when he defends his title against the Thai foe in Monte Carlo on June 21.
Kokietgym, 32, is rated number five by the WBC and eighth by the WBO and WBA. He has won 52 of his 60 fights since 1999.
But the right-hander has won only two credible belts, the WBC Asian Boxing Council and the WBF International belts. Kokietgym failed to win the WBA belt from Kwanthai Sithmorseng in Thailand in 2010.
Kokietgym is the undefeated WBC Asian Boxing Council strawweight champion. He has not lost in 10 fights since his points defeat by Sithmorseng.
Nathan, who has moulded Budler to being a revered dual world champion, described Kokietgym as a solid, competent world-class fighter with an outstanding record. "This is another test for Hekkie but I know that he will prove he is on another level," said Nathan.
Budler, 26, remains the only WBA holder in Africa since Simpiwe "V12" Vetyeka suffered a controversial fourth-round unanimous technical decision in his defence of the WBA Super featherweight title against Nonito Donaire in China on Saturday.
"Hekkie will be too smart and skilled for Kokietgym. The difference in this fight will be Hekkie's hand speed," Nathan said.
The upcoming fight for Budler will be his first outside South Africa.
In his last ring appearance on March 1, Budler scored the best knockout of his career at Emperors Palace in Kempton Park. Making the fifth defence of his IBO title and the first of his WBA strap, Budler knocked Karluis Diaz cold in the first round. - Bongani Magasela
'Budler too smart'
TRAINER Colin Nathan is wary of Pigmy Kokietgym's vast experience but is confident his charge, Hekkie Budler, will be too smart when he defends his title against the Thai foe in Monte Carlo on June 21.
Kokietgym, 32, is rated number five by the WBC and eighth by the WBO and WBA. He has won 52 of his 60 fights since 1999.
But the right-hander has won only two credible belts, the WBC Asian Boxing Council and the WBF International belts. Kokietgym failed to win the WBA belt from Kwanthai Sithmorseng in Thailand in 2010.
Kokietgym is the undefeated WBC Asian Boxing Council strawweight champion. He has not lost in 10 fights since his points defeat by Sithmorseng.
Nathan, who has moulded Budler to being a revered dual world champion, described Kokietgym as a solid, competent world-class fighter with an outstanding record. "This is another test for Hekkie but I know that he will prove he is on another level," said Nathan.
Budler, 26, remains the only WBA holder in Africa since Simpiwe "V12" Vetyeka suffered a controversial fourth-round unanimous technical decision in his defence of the WBA Super featherweight title against Nonito Donaire in China on Saturday.
"Hekkie will be too smart and skilled for Kokietgym. The difference in this fight will be Hekkie's hand speed," Nathan said.
The upcoming fight for Budler will be his first outside South Africa.
In his last ring appearance on March 1, Budler scored the best knockout of his career at Emperors Palace in Kempton Park. Making the fifth defence of his IBO title and the first of his WBA strap, Budler knocked Karluis Diaz cold in the first round. - Bongani Magasela
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