New Year’s fists
Mthalane and Budler put titles on the line
● Stablemates Hekkie Budler and Moruti Mthalane have put Christmas cheer on hold as they prepare to unleash ring violence in Macau on New Year’s Eve.
The duo jet out today to Hong Kong, a short hop to the Chinese gambling capital where they will defend their world titles against dangerous Japanese opponents on the same card on December 31.
Budler, 30, puts his Ring magazine and WBA junior-flyweight crowns up against unbeaten 25year-old Hiroto Kyoguchi, a former IBF strawweight title-holder who has stopped eight of his 11 victims.
Hard-punching 27-year-old Masahiro Sakamoto, who takes on IBF champion Mthalane, 36, has a similar record to his countryman, 13 wins (nine KOs) and one defeat.
Budler and Mthalane have nearly matching records too, 32-3 and 362 respectively.
But for coach Colin Nathan, there’s little similar in the styles of the challengers, which has meant devising separate strategies.
Taking them on the pads at the Hot Box gym in Johannesburg’s eastern suburbs, he barks different instructions at them.
“You’ve got to get back faster,” he told Mthalane after he’d finished throwing a combination — he mustn’t stand around waiting to get hit.
The advice to Budler is different, about how to counter his opponent’s penchant for side-to-side movement (Nathan’s actual plan is a trade secret until fight night).
“Two very different game plans,” said Nathan. Mthalane’s challenger punches hard and he likes his opponent to stand in front of him — the veteran needs to keep moving.
Budler’s opponent is quick and he likes to come forward. One plan is to push him onto the back foot. “[But] if we can’t push him back, then Hekkie must turn off him and give angles.”
When sparring with each other, they take turns emulating their opponents.
“I’m ready to fight now,” said Budler. “The last two weeks you can’t really get much fitter. Just lose the last 2kg or so.”
Mthalane smiled and nodded his agreement. Come Christmas Day, they know there’ll be no celebration and certainly no pudding.
“I guess I’ll spend it dieting and training,” said Budler, who ate a boiled egg on his 30th birthday earlier this year, just two days before his historic victory in Japan where he captured his two titles as well as the IBF strap.
He subsequently vacated the third belt because the IBF authorities wanted him to make a mandatory defence that made no financial sense.
“I will make my own Christmas when I get back,” said Mthalane, whose wife Thando last month gave birth to their second child, daughter Thingo.
“It’s the first time I won’t spend Christmas with [my family]. I’m not thinking about Christmas. What is on my mind is to come back with a victory.”
Mthalane is unfazed at the prospect of facing a fighter who throws bombs.
“He punches hard, but he’s not that clever. I’m ready for him.”
Budler, who will also do Christmas with wife Roxy only on his return, is ready for his ring war.
“He’s young and hungry, he’s fast and he likes to come forward.
“Styles make fights and I think we’ll make a good fight because I come forward.”
The last time two South African world champions fought on the same bill overseas was back in 1990, when Brian Mitchell, the WBA junior-lightweight champion, and Welcome Ncita, the IBF juniorfeatherweight title-holder, fought in Aosta in the Italian Alps.
Both of them won, Mitchell on points and Ncita inside the distance.
At the time Mthalane was seven years old and Budler was two. Fighting together abroad is a novelty for both of them, but something they’re looking forward to.
“To fight on the same bill as Moruti, it’s an honour,” said Budler. “He’s a legend.”
The duo are set to arrive home on January 2.