Budler, Joyi To Receive Career High Purses For Clash

Hekkie Budler and Nkosinathi Joyi will earn the biggest purses ever paid to two SA strawweight boxers when they meet on June 15.

Promoter Rodney Berman revealed this in Johannesburg on Tuesday when some of the fighters on the Emperors Palace bill went through their paces at Colin Nathan's Hot Box gym.

Nathan said the bout against Joyi was the fight one Budler had dreamt about for years. "Hekkie is in the best shape of his career," said Nathan, who trains the IBO champion.

"He is doing everything possible to deliver the best performance of his career."

Joyi, who was regarded as the best SA boxer, pound for pound, before he lost his IBF title last year, was one of the boxers who did not attend the public workout on Tuesday.

He is an internationally respected fighter whom Ring Magazine at one stage ranked as No 1 strawweight in the world.

"Nkosinathi Joyi was my hero and I expect I will go into the ring as the underdog," Budler said.

"I have long dreamt about being given the chance to meet him. He is not only a classy boxer; he has a killer punch as well. But I will do my best and I truly believe I can beat him."

Between them, Joyi and Budler have fought in 45 professional bouts, each suffering only one defeat.

"Hekkie has a mountain to climb, but we are working on a blueprint to beat Joyi. It has happened in the past and it can happen again," Nathan said.

Heading the undercard is a return match between IBO junior bantamweight champion Gideon Buthelezi and Edrin Dapudong from the Philippines.

Buthelezi won on a split decision when he fought Dapudong for the vacant IBO title at Emperors Palace last year. The IBO called for a rematch and Buthelezi now has a chance to show he is a worthy champion.

Golden Gloves have also arranged a rematch for the all-Africa lightheavyweight title between Rayno Liebenberg and Johnny Muller. But Liebenberg said he was wasting his time by fighting Muller again.

"This time I will not waste time. I’ll make sure of an early knockout," he said.

Nathan revealed he had cut his ties with Jason Bedeman, who will now not be part of the tournament.