‘Hexecutioner’ to fight Argentina’s Verchelli in SA

HUGO Hernan Verchelli, the 24year-old Argentinian who goes by the moniker ‘‘El Tano”, will do battle with Hekkie ‘‘Hexecutioner” Budler at Emperors Palace on November 9, trainer Colin Nathan confirmed yesterday.

Budler — the current International Boxing Organisation (IBO) strawweight champion — will put his belt on the line, while the vacant World Boxing Association (WBA) interim belt will also be up for grabs when SA hosts the first unification bout.

Verchelli from Tigre, Buenos Aires, has been defeated only once in 12 fights. He is rated No 11 by the WBA, ninth by the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and 10th by the World Boxing Council (WBC).

The winner of this duel, which will form part of Golden Gloves’ Fighting Force bill, will challenge actual WBA champion Ryo Miyazaki from Japan.

‘‘I think this is a capable fighter who is going to give Hekkie a tough fight,” said Nathan who, together with Vusi Mtolo, has guided Budler to 23 wins against a loss to Gideon ‘‘Hardcore” Buthelezi in 2011.

‘‘The difference in class will be the deciding factor. The South African boxing public must come and support its No 1 pound-forpound fighter, who keeps getting better and better.”

Budler, 25, had been undefeated after 17 straight wins. The whirlwind performer, who is rated No 3 by both the WBA and IBF and second by the WBC, has just posted an important win against highly rated Nkosinathi ‘‘Mab- here” Joyi, the former IBO and IBF titlist, in a fight in which Budler was not given the slightest of chances.

On the other hand, Verchelli, whose only loss was on January 24 last year, has won seven fights with five coming inside the distance. Surprisingly, he is rated No 31 by the IBO.

Promoter Rodney Berman, who will stage the fight, said reigning IBO super-middleweight champion Thomas ‘‘Tommy Gun” Oosthuizen will bid for the seventh defence against Ezequiel ‘‘El Olimpico” Maderna. Ranked No 12 by the IBO, Maderna has one defeat only, while Oosthuizen has 21 wins against two draws.