WBC: Hexecurioner’s clash against tough Japanese champ a defining moment

By Pule Mokhine

MONDAY, September 18 is expected to mark a special moment in the boxing career of a fighter by the name of Hekkie “Hexecutioner” Budler. This will come about when he attempts to become South Africa’s third boxer to wrest the prestigious World Boxing Council (WBC) championship belt in as many years by emulating the feats of retired fellow countrymen Thulani “Sugarboy” Malinga and Dingaan “The Rose” Thobela.

Winning a WBC crown is regarded as a massive achievement in the boxing annals worldwide as its  crown is widely viewed  as being the best among  all sanctioning bodies globally.

Malinga and Thoblela retired gracefully many years ago after firmly putting Mzansi on the map by lifting the super middleweight diadems of this hallowed championship. And history has recorded their achievements as being the real deal in the fistic annals.

Malinga held the supermiddleweight diadem twice – between 1996 and 1998 – by dethroning Englishman Nigel Benn. Thobela held the same diadem in 2006 after relieving Glen Catley of the crown.

Now Budler is on the cusp of making a name for himself and his country by winning the elusive WBC championship when he squares against Japan’s Teraji for the three-belts flyweight unification bout at Ariake Arena in Koto-Ku, Tokyo on Monday. At stake on the night will be Teraji’s World Boxing Association (WBA), WBC and the Ring magazine crowns.

Of all the aforementioned titles, WBC is the only crown that “Hecexecutioner” has not won, therefore he is brimming with confidence to catch the biggest fish – which is the WBC title – by going toe-to-toe with the Japanese.

The likeable erstwhile two-weight division world champion who has endeared to his fans with his ring craft and clever hand speed, has previously collected many titles in the flyweight and the light flyweight class. It is for this reason, therefore, that he wants to amass more championship belts.

The 35-year-old Budler who goes into the ring with a record of 35 wins and four defeats with 11 victories coming by way of knockout, said before leaving for Japan this week that a new champion will be crowned.

Otherwise, he has been deep at training ahead of this epic moment under the watchful eye of mentor  Colin” Nomakanjani” Nathan ahead of the clash expected to be the defining moment of his career.

He believes victory inside the Ariake Arena infested with partisan Japanese crowd, will cement his legacy as one of South Africa’s greatest pugilists.

“It has been a hard camp but probably one of the most enjoyable and best of my career to date. I have trained very hard for this fight and will definitely bring the title home where it belongs. How nice it will be to come back home having added the WBC belt onto the list of my boxing achievement as well,” said Budler.

To solidify his armament at training ahead of the battle, Budler has also enlisted the services of credible local boxers as his sparring partners in IBF world champion Sivenathi “Special One “ Nontshinga and former world kingpin Deejay Kriel.

All in all, the clash between both sluggers is likely to be a humdinger with “Hexecutioner” boldly predicting a knockout win.

“I will be all by myself inside the jungle before a partisan Japanese crowd that will be rooting for the champ.

I intend to either stop Teraji or knock him out. He may be good opponent though who carries a big punch but I will be too clever for him,” concluded Budler.

PICK UP THE SPEAR!

FIGHTING MOOD: Usuthu coach Pablo demands more of his charges as they prepare to host floundering Cape Town City

By Masoja Cele

The Moses Mabhida stadium will resemble a battlefield when AmaZulu host Cape Town City in a DStv Premiership league encounter on Sunday looking to pick up their second win at home this season.

Usuthu have had a difficult start to the league campaign, with three draws and a humiliating 3-0 at Kaizer Chiefs. Their only home victory came against TS Galaxy (1-0) just two weeks before the FIFA break.

The KZN-based-side appointed former Real Madrid assistant manager Pablo Franco Martin during the winter break with the intention of improving the diminishing fortunes of the club. After five league outings the new mentor has only collected six points.

The former Simba SC tactician came waving a highly decorated CV that suggested Usuthu will be among the top teams in the league. Nevertheless, the doubting Thomase’s are now sceptical.

Uhebe chairman Sandile Zungu recently bolstered his team with players like right-wing back Wayde Jooste and attacking midfielder Rowen Human both from Maritzburg United, midfielder Celimpilo Ngema from Marumo Gallants, former Sekhukhune United goal-poacher Victor Letsoalo and the Niger midfielder Victorien Adebayo.

Usuthu haven’t had a stable team ever since the departure of former mentor Bennie McCarthy who parted ways with Usuthu in March 2022.

Coach Pablo will hope for a better performance and positive results from his charges against City. Players like Bongi Ntuli, Augustine Kwem, workaholic Abbubaker Mobara, the ever improving Sphesihle Maduna, and George Maluleka should step up their game if they hope for a win against the Citizens.

Their opponents, City come into the game with a string of mixed results. They remain 13th in the standings after a 2-0 loss away to Orlando Pirates last time out.

City reliable goal getter Khanyiso Mayo has not performed to his normal level. Last season Mayo was at his best banging in crucial goals for his team. He shared the leading goal scorer accolade with Mamelodi Sundowns sniper Peter Shalulie with 12 goals.

Perhaps his focus is not with City anymore as he has attracted much interest from three DStv Premiershi top teams namely, Sundowns, Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs. However, the R30- millions price tag placed on his head scare the teams with only The Brazillians still contemplating the move.

The Citizens mentor Erick Tinkler will undoubtedly look at this match as an opportunity to regroup and start winning again.

New Angolan signed striker Jo Pacienta would be expected to produce a profitable partnership alongside Mayo and loanee Walter Kutumela from Sundowns.

Tinkler is likely to deploy the enterprising Thabo Nodada and Fidel Brice Ambina in the engine room, they will look to help with offensive and defensive duties.

BOOBY TRAP FOR BLACK LEOPARDS

CLOSED BOOK: Newbies in the Motsepe Foundation Championship aim to skin legendary Lidoda Duvha

By Masoja Cele

Consistency is what newly-promoted Orbit College FC expect when they host the legends of the game Black Leopards in the Motsepe Foundation Championship at Soshanguve Giant Stadium, Tshwane. Kick-off 15:00.

The Rustenburg side earned promotion to the 2023/24 to the second league after winning the North West Stream A of the ABC Motsepe League albeit losing 3-1 to overall winners Upington City.

They will look to established themselves in the Championship this season. College are to play their third ever fixture of the campaign. They staged out an impressive 1-0 away to Milford FC and a 2-1 home win against Platinum City, amassing a total of six points.

Head-coach Pogiso Makhoye has kept the bulk of the players that gained promotion with the team and added a few experienced players  like former Dondol Stars goalkeeper Sphamandla Gumede, on loan from Orlando Pirates, veteran goalkeeper Johnny Mathole was signed from Pretoria University, while former Marumo Gallants and Lesotho national midfielder Tshwarelo Bereng joined from Swaziland Mbabane Highlanders.

Striker Mpho Khabane and left winger Mbulelo Wagaba were also respectively signed from Casric Stars and Cape Town Spurs.

Leopards are still searching for their first win in this campaign. Lidoda Dhuvha were relegated from the Motsepe Foundation Championship last season. But the Thidiela family bought the status of All Stars (formerly Cape Town All Stars) as they still chase their dream of returning to the DStv Premiership.

Nevertheless, the Venda-based side erratic start to the campaign suggest otherwise. They have only picked up a point away to Pretoria Callies in their opening fixture and faultered against Casric Stars losing 1-0.

Having gone two games without a win Lidoda Dhuvha will have to bring their A game if they nurse any hope of securing the three points.

It will require a massive work rate from players like Thabo Nkwana, Tlotliso Phatsitsi and their long serving campaigner Wiseman Malulele to derail College from winning the battle.

Leopards have appointed the Spanish manager Alejandro Dorado. The Spaniard has promised to gain promotion with the team to the DStv Premiership and he is excited about the project.  Dorado was once in the books of Real Madrid academy. He also worked as former Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez assistant-coach at FC Honka in Finland.

The match,however, will be decided in the middle of the park where College FC’s industrious midfielder Bereng alongside Thuso Moleleki will look to break up the Lidoda Dhuvha attacks and win the ball for their strike force.

The former Gallants midfield destroyer will want to prove that he still has what to it take to play in higher league.

Sparks will fly.