Born on May 18, 1988, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Budler has two step-siblings and a younger sister.
As a child, Budler was highly competitive and enjoyed sports but struggled with loss.
Frustrated with losing a rugby game and the apparent nonchalance of his teammates, he stopped playing. Someone advised his parents to introduce him to a sport where he could take full responsibility for losing. His father had boxed, leading Budler to start boxing at the age of seven. The sport drastically changed his life.
Upon entering the boxing gym for the first time, Budler recognized this was where he belonged, though boxing didn’t come easily to him.
Training at an old-fashioned gym, he focused on footwork and punching before sparring, having his first fight at age 9. “Being smaller meant I had to work harder. I don’t possess the talent of some peers, but that made me determined,” he reflected.
Budler had a successful amateur career with three national titles, representing South Africa internationally. After an impressive record of 140-10, he turned professional at 19, signing with trainer Colin Nathan and Golden Gloves.
He earned $165 for his debut, a quick victory over Michael Sediane in Johannesburg. After a few more wins, he was offered a fight in Canada, which became a memorable experience fraught with challenges, including missed luggage and jet lag.
After 14 consecutive wins, Budler fought Filipino veteran Juanito Rubillar, marking significant growth in his career. He encountered bumps along the way, including a surprising loss to Gideon Buthelezi, which taught him valuable lessons about humility and competition.
Budler targeted the WBA title but initially fought for the Interim title before becoming full champion. He showcased his skills during his title defenses, leading to fights in prestigious venues like Monte Carlo, which he found to be a wonderful experience.
Despite challenges, including a surprising defeat at the hands of Byron Rojas and discovering he had asthma, Budler persevered. A shift to junior flyweight led him to face IBF champion Milan Melindo, ending in a contentious split decision loss.
A subsequent opportunity to fight WBA champion Ryoichi Taguchi resulted in one of Budler’s career highlights, where he claimed victory and fulfilled a lifelong dream of winning a championship title.
Though he faced another setback against Hiroto Kyoguchi, Budler remained determined and attempted a comeback, eventually leading to another opportunity to fight Kenshiro Teraji. While unsuccessful, Budler’s journey continues as he embraces retirement with newfound pursuits, including training individuals and cherishing family time.
BEST JAB
BEST DEFENSE
Teraji: “Against me, Kenshiro showed a remarkable defense, making him hard to hit.”
BEST HANDSPEED
Teraji: “Both he and Gideon Buthelezi displayed incredible speed, but Kenshiro stands out.”
BEST FOOTWORK
Teraji: “Kenshiro’s ability to evade with clever movements is impressive.”
SMARTEST
Juanito Rubillar: “His experience allowed him to execute surprising tactics during our bouts.”
STRONGEST
Nkosinathi Joyi: “I realized I had to adapt my style against his physical strength.”
BEST CHIN
Florante Condes: “He displayed remarkable resilience; I struggled to keep him down.”
BEST PUNCHER
Renan Trongco: “I’ve never forgotten being knocked out by a powerful shot from him.”
BEST BOXING SKILLS
Teraji: “His combination of movement and power is exemplary.”
BEST OVERALL
Teraji: “While Taguchi and Joyi were excellent, Kenshiro remains top-notch for his all-around abilities.”
