Hekkie Budler Returns to the Ring in October

By Clarence George

Hekkie Budler returns to the ring Saturday, October 22, facing Siyabonga Siyo for the interim WBA Pan African minimumweight title over a scheduled 10 rounds at the Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, Gauteng, South Africa.

A native of Johannesburg, 28-year-old Budler is a nine-year ring vet (29-2, 9 KOs) who won the interim WBA World minimumweight title by stopping Hugo Hernan Verchelli via fourth-round TKO in November 2013 and the vacant WBA World minimumweight title by knocking out Karluis Diaz in the first in March 2014, a title he successfully defended four times. Indeed, the WBA elevated “The Hexecutioner” to Super World champ at its convention in Panama this February. In a huge upset, Budler lost his championship a month after the elevation, Byron Rojas winning by unanimous decision. The fighter from Jo’burg is currently ranked third by the WBA.

Also a South African, 10th-ranked Siyo is a four-year pro (10-1, 4 KOs) who won the vacant WBA Pan African minimumweight title by beating Siphamandla Baleni via unanimous decision in December 2014 and the vacant WBA International minimumweight title by beating Lito Dante via unanimous decision in August 2015. His only defeat came in his most recent fight, this June, losing out on the vacant IBO World minimumweight title to Simphiwe Khonco, who won by unanimous decision. Budler beat Khonco by unanimous decision in September 2015.