Entering the pantheon of the greats
HEKKIE Budler made history last weekend when he became the first boxer in the land to win three major world titles simultaneously.
This when the diminutive South African boxer outpointed home favourite Ryoichi Taguchi of Japan to claim the WBA, IBF and Ring magazine junior-flyweight belts.
It was also the first time a South African boxer won the Ring magazine title – often regarded as the “real world championship” in boxing.
Vic Toweel won the Ring magazine bantamweight title when there was only one world champion per division in the 1950s.
Since then the proliferation of world bodies has made it hard for a true world champion to be recognised – with no fewer than four world bodies up for grabs per division.
The bestowing of the Ring magazine belt is a token of universal recognition of the boxer as the best in the division.
Budler’s feat prompted us to go down memory lane after one of the greatest boxing feats ever achieved by a South African boxer since coming into being of the 2001 Boxing Act:
● March 3 2003: Corrie Sanders TKO 3 Wladimir Klitschko (WBO heavyweight title).
Sanders was shipped to Germany as yet another potential victim to spoil the record of an unbeaten future world heavyweight champion.
The fact that Sanders had been shocked by a nonedescript opponent, Hasim Rahman, helped Klitschko win the fight long before stepping into the ring. But Sanders caused a major upset when he blitzed the Ukraine native German bundling him to the canvas three times before the fight was stopped with Klitschko’s legs gone. The win sent shockwaves through the boxing world with those who had dismissed Klitschko as a future world champion having a field day.
● December 6 2013: Simpiwe Vetyeka TKO 6 Chris John (WBA featherweight title).
There has never been doubt about Vetyeka’s array of skills but still he was not rated on the world stage having failed to win the WBC bantamweight crown when he lost on points to Japanese Hozumi Hasegawa previously. Going in to the
John clash, Vetyeka had an indifferent run, having dropped a decision to unheralded Klass Mboyane two bouts earlier.
Although he dethroned John’s compatriot Daude Yordan of his IBO title, ringsiders did not rate the win that highly – especially as Vetyeka was reportedly trailing on points entering the 12th and final round when he scored a stoppage win.
John – unbeaten in 51 bouts and having defended his WBA crown 17 times – felt Vetyeka would be another addition to his list of victims as he prepared for a megabout before riding off in to the sunset.
Vetyeka was at his best ever, utilising brilliant foot movement while landing crisp punches, until John quit on his stool at the end of the sixth round.
The win made Vetyeka the first SA boxer to win a world super title, a feat that was to be bestowed to Budler when he was elevated to a mini-flyweight super champion. —