By Hilmar Rojas
The Championship Committee of the World Boxing Association has made a decision to elevate minimumweight champion Hekkie Budler of South Africa to the status of "super champion." Budler is also the word champion under the IBO.
Budler (29-1, 9KO) plans to make his fifth defense against Nicaragua's Byron Rojas (16-3-2, 8KO) this coming March 19 in a card to be held at Emperors Palace in Kempton Park , Gauteng, South Africa.
The winner of this fight must be make a mandatory defense against the winner of a WBA interim-championship fight between Knockout CP Freshmart (11-0, 6KO) of Thailand and number two-ranked Carlos Buitrago (28-1-1, 16 KOs) of Nicaragua.
Therefore, the WBA has also ordered down that a fight between the interim champion and super champion should take place by mid-June this year.
It is the decision of the Championships Committee - based on the rule C. 18 - to increase a champion to the status of "super" because of his merits - and found that Budler made the necessary requirements for such an increase - because he's been a consistent champion with four successful defenses and a great record.
The parties involved in this proceedings were informed accordingly and it is presumed that all of them are well aware of the rules of the World Boxing Association.
