Hexecutioner gives Condes a grilling

SO WHO would win a showdown between South Africa's two standout strawweights, Nkosinathi Joyi and Hekkie Budler?

Filipino Florante Condes, who has fought them both and lost on points to both, doesn't hesitate when I ask him in the dressing room at Emperors Palace on Saturday night after his 12-round scrap with Budler.

One of his cornermen translates my question, but he doesn't have to interpret the answer. "Joyi," Condes says, without hesitation.

"The difference between the two is huge," he adds, and this time the cornerman has to translate. Budler retained his IBO strawweight title by unanimous decision, putting Condes on the canvas several times - a few occasions through clinching and once through a painful low blow.

Condes had been out of action for 15 months because of an injury after falling out of a coconut tree and damaging the family jewels. Add the broken left hand Condes suffered in the seventh round and that's a double ouch.

Budler, who to his credit was more controlled than usual, won by margins of 116-112, 118-110 and 115-113; Joyi, who recently lost his IBF crown in Mexico, scored a shut-out points victory over Condes in East London three years ago, two scores of 120-107 and one of 119-108.

The fight of the night was the cruiserweight contest between Danie Venter and Zack Mwekassa, veteran Venter knocking out his opponent in the fourth round of a brutal contest. Mwekassa possessed the power and landed bruising blows, but Venter had the skill and his sweetly timed left hook transformed Mwekassa into a sack of potatoes. Mwekassa, the top seed, beat the count, but was unable to survive Venter's assault.