By Ron Jackson
South Africa’s Hekkie Budler hardly worked up sweat before he knocked out Thailand’s Wichet Sengprakhon in 43 seconds of the first round at the Unisa Conference Centre in Mondeor near Johannesburg on Saturday night. The 34-year-old Budler (49.30kg) came out fast at the opening bell and before the fans had a chance to sum up the boxers, he scored with a left to the body and followed up with a left hook just under the ribs that sent Sengprakhon (49.45kg) down on his side, where he was counted out by referee Meundo Mvandaba.
Budler improved his record to 35-4, 11 KOs, and Sengprakhon’s record dropped to 14-12-1, 7 KOs.
The unused judges were Thabo Spampool, Linda Ncakeni and Jaap van Niewenhuizen.
UNDERCARD
Lightweight Cayden Truter W rsf 2 Sandile Dumisa.
Welterweight – Woman, Hedda Wolmarans W ko 3 Monalisa Simon.
Flyweight – Woman, Simangele Hadebe W 8 Phannaluk Kongsang.
Junior bantamweight – Sikho Nqothole W tko 1 Boonrueang Phayon
Complete mismatch by the sound of it
Both guys decided to through left hooks at the same time and while Hekkie blocked Wichet’s his left hook (following a good left hook to the body) got through flush. One of those things and the fight was almost over too quickly to assess Wichet’s ability as he got caught flush (but his record is not great)!
Guy must’ve not done any sit-ups in training. Budler is not a big puncher.
Budler does not wait on anybody.
Boxing commentating reached a new low in this fight (if this is at all possible). With Hekkie producing a double left hook KO all the one commentator could say was ‘what a right hand’.
For Hekkie’s sake I was hoping the fight would go at least 4 rounds so he himself could see if he is actually still ok to even think of stepping up and challenging for a world title again. And fighting an opponent with a record of 14 win 12 losses (10 being by ko now) can’t be any measure.
One wants to be positive, in there was a good crowd attending, the tv footage was good, a good vibe overall that will see more people wanting to attend. South African boxing is having larger crowds interested and attending matches, keep at it and it could keep improving. This weekend Kevin Lerena is fighting at Emperors Palace and normally with good undercards.