South Africa?s WBA light?flyweight champion Hekkie Budler and IBF flyweight champion Moruti Mthalane, both have tough fights ahead of them when they defend their belts against Japanese opponents, Hiroto Kyoguchi and Masahiro Sakamoto, at the Wynn Palace Cotai in Macao, China, on Monday
SuperSport 9 will cross to Asia at 9.30am (CAT; GMT+2) on December 31.
Budler, who has a record of 32-3; 10, won the IBF, WBA, and Ring magazine light-flyweight belts in his most recent fight, which is unprecedented in the history of South African boxing, and was elevated to the WBA ?super? junior?flyweight champion.
He had previously been elevated to the WBA ?super? minimumweight champion in January 2016 and has the distinction of being the first and only South African to be listed as a ?super? champion and then, beyond his dreams, being recognised as a ?super? champion in a second weight division, when he was elevated the WBA ?super? junior-flyweight champion after his victory over Ryoichi Taguchi in May 2018.
Kyoguchi, 25, who has a record of 11-0; 8 since making his pro debut in April 2016, is an outstanding fighter and won the IBF minimumweight belt in July 2017 with a unanimous points decision over Jose Argumedo (20-3-1), and then made successful defences against Carlos Buitrago (tko 8) and Vince Paras (pts 12).
In September this year he relinquished the belt and had his first fight in the junior-flyweight class against Tibo Monabesa (18-0-2), winning on a fourth-round technical knockout.
A GRIZZLED VETERAN
At 30-years-old Budler, who made his professional debut in July 2007, is described as grizzled veteran and technically a flawed fighter by some boxing reporters.
However, despite this he has tremendous fighting spirit and courage and keeps up the pressure from unorthodox angles throughout the fight.
Kyoguchi, who is the WBA No 1, is a strong and aggressive fighter with speed and outstanding combination punches on the inside.
The odds are stacked against Budler, who could battle to retain his belt.
The other major organisation champions are, WBA ?regular? Carlos Canizales, WBC, Ken Shiro, IBF, Felix Alavarado, and WBO, Angel Acosta.
MTHALANE MAKES FIRST DEFENCE AGAINST SAKAMOTO
South Africa?s Moruti Mthalane (36-2; 24) makes the first defence of his IBF flyweight belt against No 14 ranked, unheralded Masahiro Sakamoto (13-1; 9).
The 36-year-old Mthalane has been fighting as a pro since December 2000 and made his pro debut at the age of 18.
The only losses in his career have come against Nkqubela Gwazela (l tko 10) in September 2004 and Nonito Donaire (l tko 6) in a challenge for the IBF and IBO flyweight belts.
In July this year Mthalane made hard work of winning the vacant IBF belt with a points decision over eight-fight novice, Muhammad Waseem, after taking a count in the 11th round.
The 27-year-old challenger Sakamoto is basically unknown on the world scene and the only recognisable fighter on his record is his losing fight to Sho Kimura, who has just lost his WBO flyweight belt to Kosei Tanaka in September this year.
Technically Sakamoto is not a good fighter but is a hard worker and could extend the ageing Mthalane through 12 hard rounds.
The other main organisation flyweight champions are, WBA, Artem Dalakian, WBC, Cristofer Rosales, and WBO, Kosei Tanaka.\
Also on this triple-header is a clash for the vacant WBO junior-bantamweight belt between Filipino Donnie Nietas (41-1-5, 23) and Japan?s Kazuto Ioka (23-1; 13).
