GIDEON "Hardcore" Buthelezi upset the applecart when he brought an end to Namibian Emmanuel "Prince" Naidjala's reign as the WBO African bantamweight champion in Namibia at the weekend.

The former IBO strawweight champion, who remains the only professional boxer to date to defeat current WBA and IBO mini flyweight champion Hekkie Budler, had last fought in June when he lost the IBO junior flyweight title going into the weekend bout. He suffered a first-round knockout to Filipino Edrin Dapudong in June. The weekend fight against Naidjala, which Buthelezi won by a split points decision, was organised by Namibian promoter Nestor Tobias.

Tobias, a former professional boxer, always wants soft opponents that will be used as stepping stones to build careers of his charges. The list of South Africans he offered fights in Namibia when their careers were over includes Cassius Baloyi, Isaac Hlatshwayo and Mzonke Fana.

Tobias was sure that Naidjala, the former IBF International champion, would retain his belt against Buthelezi. But the opposite happened. "It feels good to be a champion again," said the eloquent Buthelezi yesterday.

"I just refused point-blank to give him respect. He had openly threatened to knock me out, having done so to 12 of his 19 victims.

"But I just took the fight to him and even dropped him for a count in round nine. I had to put him under pressure, bearing in mind that I was fighting him in his own backyard."

Buthelezi, who made his debut under new trainer Keith Rass, said he was surprised when one of the three judges scored the fight in favour of Naidjala.

"At least fans booed that decision and that gave me comfort," said Buthelezi, who handed Naidjala his second defeat after his loss to WBA champion Tomoki Kameda in Japan a year ago.

Buthelezi bettered his record to 14 wins, 4 KOs, against four losses.