Junior flyweight contender Hekkie Budler scored a vicious one-punch knockout victory over late-sub Wichet Sengprakhon Saturday night at the Unisa Conference Centre in Budler’s hometown of Johannesburg, South Africa.

Budler improves to 35-4, 11 knockouts.

From the opening bell, both fighters exchanged left hooks from the center of the ring. During an exchange, Budler threw a left hook to the body, followed by a left hook to the head, dropping Sengprakhon to the canvas. Sengprakhon beat the count, but was wobbly and looked disoriented, prompting referee Mfundo Mvandaba to stop the fight at 43 seconds. 

“I didn’t expect that to happen,” said Budler after the fight, referring to the fight ending quickly. “We were planning to go to the body. I just touched him to the body and (he) just went up. I didn’t know it was that hard of a shot, but I caught him clean on the button.”

The 34-year-old Budler has now won his last three fights since losing to Hiroto Kyoguchi in December 2018. In his previous fight on June 25, Budler defeated Elwin Soto by unanimous decision in Soto’s hometown of Mexicali, Mexico. 

Budler, who is trained and managed by Colin Nathan, is a former world titleholder at 105 and 108 pounds. With the win over Sengprakhon, Budler is scheduled to face unified world titleholder Kenshiro Teraji in late July or August. Budler is confident he can win both the WBC and WBA titles from Teraji and return to South Africa as a unified world titleholder.

“It will be a great honor (to win those belts),” said Budler. “I believe I can beat him. I love fighting when the odds are stacked against me. I’m going to be ready. I have the right cornermen in my corner. I know what I’m doing. My strength, you can see, is working. One shot and I took the guy out. I’m going to be the new WBC and WBA world champion.”

Sengprakhon, who resides in Nakhon Ratchaisma, Thailand, falls to 14-12-1, 7 KOs. The 35-year-old is now winless in his last two bouts after winning his previous three.

In the co-feature of the Boxing 5 card, fringe junior bantamweight contender Sikho Nqothole of Mthatha, South Africa knocked out Thailand’s Boonrueang Phayom (10-3, 10 KOs) at 2:59 of the opening round.

Nqothole improves to 17-2, 11 KOs and has now won his last six fights since back-to-back losses to Sabelo Ngebinyana, the last occurring in March 2019. 

Female welterweight Hedda Wolmarans remained unbeaten, knocking out Monalisa Sibanda (6-10) of Zimbabwe at 24 seconds of the third round. Wolmarans improved to 8-0, 5 KOs.

Female flyweight Simangele Hadebe of Kwa Thema, South Africa defeated Phannaluk Kongsang (11-12-1, 7 KOs) of Thailand by unanimous decision. Scores were 80-72, 79-75, and 78-74 for Hadebe, who improved to 13-3-2, 4 KOs.

Junior lightweight prospect Cayden Truter, who is also trained by Colin Nathan, stopped Sandile Dumisa (3-4, 1 KO) at 2:25 of the second round. Truter ups his record to 7-0, 6 KOs. 

Francisco A. Salazar has written for BoxingScene since September 2012 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He can be reached by email at santio89@yahoo.com or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing