BoxRec

Elwin Soto to face Hekkie Budler in WBC eliminator on June 25

Junior flyweight contenders Elwin Soto and Hekkie Budler will square off on June 25, Zanfer Boxing announced.

The 12-round WBC world title elimination bout will take place at the Palenque del FEX in Soto’s hometown of Mexicali, Mexico and will likely air live throughout Mexico on TV Azteca.

The clash between Soto and Budler matches former world titleholders at 108 pounds in a crossroads bout. Both fighters are also ranked in the top-10 by The Ring, with Soto and Budler ranked No. 5 and 6, respectively.

Soto (19-2, 13 knockouts) last fought on October 16, losing by split-decision to Jonathan Gonzalez of Puerto Rico. With the loss to Gonzalez, Soto lost the WBO world junior flyweight title.

The 25-year-old Soto made three successful defenses of the WBO title he won from Angel Acosta of Puerto Rico in June 2019. He was losing on all three judges’ scorecards entering the 12th round, when Soto scored the knockout win.

Prior to the loss to Gonzalez, Soto had not lost since his third pro fight in February 2017.

Budler (33-4, 10 KOs), who resides in Johannesburg, South Africa, defeated Jonathan Almacen of the Philippines by unanimous decision in his last bout on May 22 of last year. The win over Almacen was Budler’s first fight since December 2018, when he was stopped by Hiroto Kyoguchi in the 11th round. Budler would lose the WBA Super junior flyweight title.

The 33-year-old also won a world title belt at 105 pounds, defeating Karluis Diaz by knockout in March 2014 to win the WBA title. He would make four successful defenses of the WBA world title before losing by unanimous decision to Byron Rojas in March 2016.

Other notable fights for Budler, who is managed by Colin Nathan, include a split-decision loss to Milan Melindo in September 2017 and a unanimous victory over Ryoichi Taguchi over eight months later.

Fight Week!

Hekkie Budler: I believe I have enough to win another world title, maybe two

Former unified junior flyweight titleholder Hekkie Budler will go into the lion’s den when he faces former WBO titlist Elwin Soto at the Palenque Fex, Mexicali, Mexico on Saturday.

Budler, who is rated No. 5 by The Ring at 108-pounds, sits one place behind Soto and is looking forward to testing himself in his opponent’s homeland.

“It’s going to be a hostile crowd but I’m used to that by now,” Budler (33-4, 10 knockouts) told The Ring, having previously ventured to Japan and The Philippines. “I’m excited. It’s going to be hard and tough because he’s extremely good. He hits hard but I like it when the odds are stacked against me. It normally works in my favor.

“[My trainer/manager] Colin [Nathan] will work out the best game plan possible and I’ll listen to what he says. I trust him with my life.”

The 34-year-old South African appreciates this is a crossroads fight for both men.

“For him, it would be back-to-back defeats, [which wouldn’t be good] especially at this time in his career,” said Budler. “For me, it’s what do I still have left? I believe I have enough to win another world title, maybe two, God willing, but we’ll see.”

Nathan admits to dismissing the fight out of hand when it was first proposed.

“Initially I turned it down,” revealed Nathan. “Then we got the letter that it would be for the WBC eliminator and they came back with a ridiculous offer which I rejected. They came back with double that and I said, ‘We’re going another route.’ Then we got the letter from [WBC President] Mauricio [Sulaiman] saying he would sanction it as a final eliminator. Then they came back with an offer and we rejected it and then they came back with what we wanted.”

Nathan, who left South Africa for Mexico with Budler on June 16, is confident his fighter can emerge victorious and set up another title opportunity.

“Hekkie can fight at world-class level, he wants to become champion of the world again,” said Nathan. “I look at it as a big risk but also the reward on the risk is far greater. Please God we win this, which is not inconceivable. I believe Hekkie’s style – if he’s on point – is going to be a nightmare for Soto.

“It’s a business for all of us concerned but I want the best for my fighter and I thought this is a direct path to fight [WBC titleholder] Kenshiro [Teraji] and that’s the goal.”

Soto (19-2, 13 KOs) turned professional in 2016 after a good amateur career. Although he was upset in his third professional bout, he rebounded to win 12 fights. The Mexican was largely unknown when he claimed the WBO title at the expense of Angel Acosta (KO 12). “La Pulga” made three successful defenses besting Edward Heno (UD 12), Carlos Buitrago (UD 12) and stopped former strawweight titleholder Katsunari Takayama (TKO 9). However, the 25-year-old lost his title last time out against Jonathan Gonzalez (SD 12).

Hekkie Budler: I'm Convinced That I'll Beat Elwin Soto, Ruin The Party

“I am going against a great fighter, very strong, but I've come a long way away because I am convinced that I'm going to win and I'm going to ruin the party, I am a warrior in the ring and I come with excellent preparation because I want to earn the right to compete for the WBC world championship,” Budler said.

“I've come to the patio of his house because I know I am going to win, nobody is going to take away the pleasure of being world champion again, I already was [a champion] and I liked it and I want to repeat that feeling, and if I have to come to the home of Soto, whom I respect and know of his quality, well, we will do it and give a great fight in which the big winner will be the public.

“Soto is a very strong, brave fighter, but we know what we have to do to overcome him. I fully trust the judges commissioned by the World Boxing Council for this fight, and I know that in the end I will win."

Press Release | Elwin Soto vs Hekkie Budler airs on ESPN+ this weekend

Two former world champions will battle for one more shot at title glory. Mexico’s Elwin “La Pulga” Soto and South African two-weight world champion Hekkie “The Hexecutioner” Budler will collide in a 12-round WBC light flyweight title eliminator this Saturday, June 25, at Palenque Fex in Mexicali, Mexico.

Soto hails from San Felipe, a two-hour drive from Mexicali, and will have the home crowd advantage. Budler, from Johannesburg, is a 34-year-old veteran who will be making only his third career appearance in North America.

Soto-Budler tops a loaded night of fights streaming live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

Soto (19-2, 13 KOs) won the WBO light flyweight title in June 2019 with a come-from-behind 12th-round stoppage over Angel “Tito” Acosta.

He successfully defended that belt four times over the next two years, finally losing his belt last October to Jonathan Gonzalez by split decision. He has not fought since the Gonzalez defeat and hopes a win over Budler will earn him a shot at WBC world champion Kenshiro Teraji.

Budler (33-4, 10 KOs) has been 12 rounds 17 times and won the WBA 105-pound title in March 2014 when he stopped Karluis Diaz in one round. He defended that belt four times before losing a tight decision to Byron Rojas.

In May 2018, Budler edged Ryoichi Taguchi by decision to win the WBA, IBF and Ring Magazine 108-pound titles. His reign as the top 108-pounder lasted a little more than seven months. After taking a little more than two years off, Budler returned last May in Johannesburg and won the WBC Silver light flyweight belt with a unanimous decision over Jonathan Almacen.

In other streaming action:

Junior featherweight prospect Jose Ramirez Maciel (16-1, 9 KOs), from Mexicali looks for his 13th consecutive victory against Jorge Luis Martinez Monreal (13-1-1, 8 KOs) in the 10-round co-feature.

Lightweight puncher Diego Torres Nunez (14-0, 13 KOs), who knocked out 13 straight foes to start his pro career, hopes to get back on the knockout track in a 10-rounder against Royder Dzul Camacho (9-3-2, 3 KOs), who is unbeaten in his last five fights.

In an eight-rounder at featherweight, Rafael “El Divino” Espinoza (18-0, 15 KOs) will match up against Gerardo Valenzuela Munoz (10-1, 9 KOs). Espinoza has scored first-round knockouts in his last two fights.

Hermosillo-born flyweight prospect Yahir Frank (9-0, 6 KOs), a 19-year-old upstart, hopes to author a career-best victory against Carlos Mejia (8-2-1, 2 KOs) in an eight-rounder.

Date: June 25, 2022
Location: Palenque Fex - Agualeguas, Mexico

Broadcast: ESPN+
Start time: 9 pm ET | 6 pm PT | 2 am BST | 11 am AEST

Promoted by: Zanfer Boxing

Fight Card

12 Round WBC Light Flyweight Eliminator
Elwin Soto vs. Hekkie Budler

10 Round Super Bantamweight Bout
Jose Ramirez Maciel vs. Jorge Luis Martinez Monreal

10 Round Lightweight Bout
Diego Torres Nunez vs. Royder Dzul Camacho

8 Round Featherweight Bout
Rafael Espinoza vs. Gerardo Valenzuela Munoz

8 Round Featherweight Bout
Yahir Frank vs. Carlos Mejia

For anyone NOT watching DAZN tonight can stick this on.

Starts in just over an hour.

ESPN+ doing the honours.

hekkie won a ud, nice upset win

hekkie has close to no power and is a bit clumsy, but dude has a never ending work rate and heart

12th rd KD was the difference.

mexican tv had it 114-113 hek too, seems like might ve been one of those close but clear fights

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑26 Jun 2022, 06:05 mexican tv had it 114-113 hek too, seems like might ve been one of those close but clear fights

Well it was very close..

Would have been 114-114 from all 3 judges had it. It been for the KD.

Very consistent scores.

Like we have all 3 judges had the same for Ward-Kov.

Hekkies never lacked heart! Glad he got the win.