Budler and Mthalane defend their titles on the under-card of Ioka vs Nietes
For the past couple of months 3KingsBoxing has been discussing the rumors and negotiations for upcoming Super-Flyweight showdown between Kazuto Ioka and Donnie Nietes. Now that the Ioka – Nietes is a go for December 31st in Macau, the undercard is taking shape.
A bit of history will be re-written in December. For the first time since 1990*, two world champions from South Africa will defend their respective titles on the same card. Hekkie Budler (Super WBA Light Flyweight) and Moruti Mthalane (IBF Flyweight) will defend their titles as part of the card.
Budler (32-3, 10 KOs) is coming off a career-best win over Ryoichi Taguchi, wherein he won the WBA/IBF Light Flyweight titles in May. He will defend the WBA belt against the WBA No. 1 ranking contender Hiroto Kyoguchi (11-0, 8 KOs). Kyoguchi is also a former IBF Minimum-weight world champion. Mthalane will defend his IBF belt against the IBF’s 15th ranked contender Masahiro Sakamoto (13-1, 9 KOs).
Budler – Kyoguchi looks to be a good bout on paper; a clash of styles between the energetic boxer and a pressure fighter with power in both hands, respectively. At age 36, Mthalane is the grizzled vet facing a Sakamoto who is largely unknown and has not faced noteworthy opposition.
* In September 1990, then WBA Jr. Lightweight champion Brian Mitchell and IBF Jr. Featherweight champion Welcome Ncita defended their titles in Treviolo, Italy.
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
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