Budler’s win boosts Kriel

Hekkie Budler’s massive feat in Japan where he won three major world titles last weekend is serving as a motivation for his stablemate and sparring partner Deejay Kriel (above) in his own upcoming fight next month.

Kriel will risk his WBC mini-flyweight title against Filipino Toto Landero at Emperors Palace on June 23.

His fight will be part of the boxing extravaganza dubbed “Bombs Away” organised by Golden Gloves Promotion which are the promoters of the two boxers.

Kriel, who has served as one of Budler’s sparring partners at Hot Box gymnasium, has improved his boxing make-up drastically and the win of his stablemate in Japan has sky-rocketed his confidence levels going into the fight.

Budler caused one of the major upsets when he became the first boxer in the land to win three major world titles in one fight.

This when he dethroned Japanese Ryoichi Taguchi of his WBA and IBF junior-flyweight belts in Tokyo and added the Ring Magazine junior-flyweight belt.

The feat rates as the best ever by a South African fighter with Budler also becoming the first African boxer to win the prestigious

accolade. Now Kriel, who campaigns in the small division often dominated by Eastern Cape boxers, cannot wait to step into the ring to make his own mark.

“Hekkie’s win has had a major impact not only to me but to the other guys in the gym,” he said.

“Everybody is pumped up knowing that if Hekkie can do it, so can we.” – Own Correspondent