Multiple world champion Hekkie Budler and former IBO welterweight champion Thulani Mbenge return to action at the Riviera on the Vaal on Saturday, March 29.
Mbenge 15-1; 12 was an outstanding amateur and won a bronze medal in the welterweight division at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
He suffered his first loss as a professional in Germany on July 6 last year when, against the odds, he lost the IBO belt on a unanimous 12-round points decision against Germany’s Sebastian Formella.
He goes in against the 26-year-old Katembo Kuvesa from the Democratic Republic of the Congo who is well known to South African boxing fans, having scored eight-round points wins over Vladyslav Baranov (5-3-2) at Pretoria and France Ramabolu (10-4) in Turfontein, Johannesburg.
They will be contesting the vacant African Boxing Union welterweight title.
On the same card in the main supporting bout Budler (32-4; 10), who will be 32-years-old on May 7, meets 28-year-old Filipino Alphoe Dagayloan (14-3-6; 5), who fights from the southpaw stance and has only won one of his last three fights.
Budler has won a record ten titles since making his pro debut in July 2007 and will be having his first fight since December 2018 when he lost the WBA light flyweight belt to Hiroto Kyoguchi.
According to the Boxrec website, Dagayloan is suspended by the Philippine Games & Amusements Board until 17 March 2020. No reason is given.
–SUPERSPORT
