Newly crowned IBO junior flyweight champion Hekkie "Hexecutioner" Budler and his trainer Colin "Nomakanjani" Nathan concurred that the boxer's performance against Joey Canoy on Saturday was not their best.

Budler is known for the snap in his punches. But instead of being loose and boxing smartly behind his jab, he put too much muscle in his punches, and as a result could not get going for three rounds.

Budler got better from the fifth round, after closing in on the Filipino.

Canoy retired after seven rounds.

"Colin said I needed to be in Joey's face and not give him space but I gave too much space and that worked in his favour," said Budler.

It also looked like Budler and Nathan had no plan to counter Canoy's left-handed stance. But the former IBO, WBA and WBA Super mini flyweight holder, who was involved in his 15th championship bout, said he was still a force.

The bout was his second in the junior flyweight class since moving up after losing the WBA Super mini flyweight belt to Byron Rojas in March last year.

Budler - who boasts 31 wins from 33 bouts - is rated fifth by the WBC and fourth by the WBA.

Nathan said Budler was decent on Saturday.

"But I know he can do much better. Canoy was awkward. We fought a guy who is not refined, skill-wise. We also had no footage of the guy," said Nathan.

Promoter Rodney Berman, whose Golden Gloves company staged the fight at the weekend, said Budler and IBO mini flyweight holder Simpiwe Konkco would feature in his upcoming boxing bonanza at Emperors Palace.

"Konkco is a special kid to me since I unearthed him when he fought Hekkie. I want the two of them [now stable mates] to share the bill in our next tournament," said Berman.