The Hekkie has landed

South African Hekkie Budler will challenge WBC light flyweight world champion, Japanese Kenshiro Teraji, on September 18 at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.

Hekkie (35-4 / 11KOs), 35 years old, and ranked number 1 in the WBC, arrived to Japan this Sunday, September 10 and today held a training session open to the media, showing that he is in excellent shape for this important commitment.

Budler will face Teraji (21-1/13KOs) who is 31 years old and is part of BMB Boxing Gym in Kyoto and trains at Misako Boxing Gym.

The fight will take place on September 18 at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo in a great boxing card that will be organized by Teiken Promotion and will be broadcast live on Amazon Prime Video.

Budler commented at the end of his training:

“I have faith in being able to defeat Kenshiro here in Tokyo in this great opportunity that is presented to me. This is the firm reason why I came to Japan. I recognize that Teraji is a champion and possibly a top 10 pound-for-pound fighter. For this fight I had a tough 15-week training camp, so I am ready to be crowned the new world champion.”

For the South African Budler, this is his second visit to Japan, since in 2018 he defeated Ryoichi Taguchi by decision, whom he crowned as light flyweight king of the WBA and IBF.