EIGHT months of feeling empty and hurt after losing the IBO junior flyweight title to Gideon Buthelezi served to fuel Hekkie Budler's fire on Saturday night.
"The Hexecutioner" got a unanimous points decision to win the vacant IBO strawweight title against Michael Landero at Emperors Palace.
Budler, ushered to battle by Colin Nathan, Vusi Mtolo and Benny Pailman, fought his best fight ever, sticking to basics.
He built up a nice lead through the first three rounds but the sway turned in the fourth when the Filipino's menacing uppercut violently jerked Budler' s head.
Budler was briefly stunned but he calmly regained his poise, fortunately he still had his legs beneath him.
He regained his lead from round five onwards and was in total control as he dictated the terms and the pace through his all-action style.
He fought gallantly for over two minutes in very round but many a time he foolishly got carried away and engaged a toe-to-toe battle.
He improved to 19 wins (6 KOs) against a loss while the tough--as-teak Landero, 24, who was hardly marked in his face, dropped to five defeats against 15 wins with five stoppages.
Meanwhile Budler's stable mate Joey Stiglingh's chances of winning the Terry Pettifer Award and R25000 were shattered after his points loss over eight rounds to Jasper Seroka.
Stiglingh was the hot favourite for the award that was named after the late fight publicist for Golden Gloves Promotions.
His defeat paved the way for Bongo Lipembo, whose unanimous points win over Sam Malinga also on Saturday night, virtually confirmed him as the front runner.
The three above mentioned bout were part of Golden Gloves' Blockbuster bill which attracted a relatively big crowd.
Hekkie hexes his way to IBO crown
EIGHT months of feeling empty and hurt after losing the IBO junior flyweight title to Gideon Buthelezi served to fuel Hekkie Budler's fire on Saturday night.
"The Hexecutioner" got a unanimous points decision to win the vacant IBO strawweight title against Michael Landero at Emperors Palace.
Budler, ushered to battle by Colin Nathan, Vusi Mtolo and Benny Pailman, fought his best fight ever, sticking to basics.
He built up a nice lead through the first three rounds but the sway turned in the fourth when the Filipino's menacing uppercut violently jerked Budler' s head.
Budler was briefly stunned but he calmly regained his poise, fortunately he still had his legs beneath him.
He regained his lead from round five onwards and was in total control as he dictated the terms and the pace through his all-action style.
He fought gallantly for over two minutes in very round but many a time he foolishly got carried away and engaged a toe-to-toe battle.
He improved to 19 wins (6 KOs) against a loss while the tough--as-teak Landero, 24, who was hardly marked in his face, dropped to five defeats against 15 wins with five stoppages.
Meanwhile Budler's stable mate Joey Stiglingh's chances of winning the Terry Pettifer Award and R25000 were shattered after his points loss over eight rounds to Jasper Seroka.
Stiglingh was the hot favourite for the award that was named after the late fight publicist for Golden Gloves Promotions.
His defeat paved the way for Bongo Lipembo, whose unanimous points win over Sam Malinga also on Saturday night, virtually confirmed him as the front runner.
The three above mentioned bout were part of Golden Gloves' Blockbuster bill which attracted a relatively big crowd.
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