Irrespective of the outcome of the junior-flyweight WBC elimination contest against former WBO holder Edwin Soto in Mexico on Sunday morning, Hekkie “The Hexecutioner” Budler will remain SA's most decorated fighter of this decade.
Budler has previously held the unified WBA Super, IBF and IBO belts in the junior-flyweight division. He had also ruled with iron fists as the IBO and WBA champion in the mini-flyweight class. The 33-year-old needs to put it together against the hard-hitting Soto on Sunday and then he will be home and dry. Soto is a tough customer who is going to test the craft of the veteran.
Budler and trainers Colin Nathan and Bernie Pailman have spent a week in Mexico. They are all in agreement that they have a mammoth task ahead of them.