Budler to challenge for three titles

It has been reported that South Africa’s most decorated fighter Hekkie “Hexecuitioner” Budler is to challenge Japan’s Kenshiro Teraji for the WBA, WBC and The Ring magazine junior flyweight titles on 18 September in Tokyo, Japan.

The 35-year-old Budler (35-4; 11) has won the IBO All Africa, IBO junior flyweight, IBO strawweight, WBA interim minimumweight, WBA minimumweight, WBA “super” minimumweight, WBA Pan African junior flyweight, IBO light flyweight, IBF light flyweight, WBC light flyweight and WBC silver light flyweight titles.

He has had a long wait from the WBC for the sanctioning of his fight against the 31-year-old Teraji (21-1; 13).

Teraji’s only defeat came against Masamichi Yabuki on a 10th-round stoppage, but he came back in a return fight with Yabuki to win on a third-round knockout.

This is a tough task for Budler with only two South Africans ever winning a WBC belt.

Thulani “Sugarboy’’ Malinga won the WBC belt on two occasions and Dingaan Thobela, with all the titles in the super middleweight class.

Three other South Africans, Vusi Malinga, Morgan Ndumo and Simpiwe Vetyeka have all challenged for a WBC belt but have failed.

Budler faces a tough task travelling to Japan for his challenge, with the odds stacked against him.