Katsunari Takayama vs. Hekkie Budler

This 105lb superfight is rumored to be in the works for this summer, after Takayama's upcoming but undetermined 1st defense of his unified IBF & WBO titles and Budler's scheduled 4th defense of his unified WBA & IBO titles versus Jesus Silvestre in February, assuming both retain.


Takayama recently became the first ever Grand Slam boxing champion in Japanese history. (that is to say, acquiring the major four org world title belts at least once each in one's career, without necessarily unifying any of them)

Takayama was first the WBC champ, briefly, in 2005. He lost to Eagle Kyowa and rebounded the following year with a Japanese title victory at minimum and then an interim WBA 105lb world title victory. Once again, he lost in his very first defense. A six year championship drought followed, with Takayama unsuccessfully attempting to reclaim his WBA title from Chocolatito Gonzalez in 2009 and then coming up short twice going after Nkosinathi Joyi for the IBF, and then losing an IBF eliminator to pedestrian Mateo Handig in what some thought spelled the end for Takayama. Surprisingly, he rebounded with a challenge of Dragoncito Rodriguez in which he got off the canvas and managed to secure the W. He defended twice before losing to Francisco Rodriguez Jr. in a brutal FOTY candidate. Then on New Year's Eve he made Japanese boxing history (a day after Naoya Inoue did) by completing the grand slam when he knocked out Go Odaira for the vacant WBO and his old familiar IBF title, also vacant.

You can easily pick holes in Takayama's status as Grand Slam champ if you were so inclined (for instance, if you don't count "interim" titles as real world titles he never did hold the WBA version at 105lbs - and this last crowning achievement was sort of handed to him on a silver platter as Odaira was a bit of a pushover) but his ability, consistency, and resiliency over a decade of world championship-tier experience cannot be denied.


Budler, meanwhile, is regarded by many as the head to head #1 in the division - even though he only held, until as recently as fourteen months ago, the lightly regarded IBO title. Even before he added the WBA to his collection he was considered the best of the bunch, or at least right up there, without having acquired 1 of the major titles which comprise the Grand Slam - which is fairly impressive. He is despite his feather-fists even by the standards of a 7.5stone competitor, very long, tall, smooth-moving and quick - significantly more so, on each count, than pretty much anyone else competing down in the sport's lightest category at or near the fringes of contention. He also boasts the best resume of anyone currently at the weight besides Takayama, even though he did struggle a bit recently with Zhong (who Oswaldo Novoa managed to knock out in 5), getting dropped en route to a unanimous decision. Novoa has no argument for being the h2h #1 or having the best resume, however, despite his superior triumph over Zhong, as that is his only world class victory of note. Likewise, both of the current reigning Thai world titlists (Seansuree Moonsuree with the WBC and Knockout with the interim WBA possess exactly one good win apiece). Until that changes, Budler and Takayama stand head and shoulders above the rest of the diminutive heap.

If they meet, it would crown "the man" at straw, IMO.

 

I'll guarantee you if you met any HBO Sports executive in the elevator leaving their office to get coffee and sprang a pop quiz on them asking who Budler or Silvestre* are they would fail.

100%.



(*or Takayama, or anyone that has fought at straw in the past decade besides maybe Calderon and Gonzalez)

 

I'm hearing Takayama wants none of Tanaka. He is thinking Budler or bust. (meaning a move to 108lbs)

 

I find it pretty interesting that both are coming off nights where they underperformed and let a sizable underdog do better than expected in making them look very mortal.

The man with the rainbow tresses had every conceivable advantage over the many-nicknamed Xiong Zhao "Chinese Tyson/Mini Mike/Pocket Hercules/Little Bear" Zhong - six years of age, which is like two decades' worth in these bottommost weight classes; 3" of height; 5" of reach; hand speed; you name it. Zhong's time on top was seen as over after Novoa - essentially a domestic level Mexican journeyman - toppled him from his perch and ended his run as boxing's tiniest ever Cinderella Man. Yet the South African was pushed to his limit and swapped early knockdowns with XZZ, nearly getting stopped at times but managing to hang on, rally late, and retain in a very close battle (represented on two of the official scorecards, but not the biased Dutchman's)

Meanwhile you have Takayama perhaps showing a bit of wear from his lengthy campaign in the ring and especially the Chihuas Rodriguez war last year, as he was unable to firmly separate himself from Odaira - who does hold Takayama's old Japanese 105lb belt yet is nobody's idea of world class. As of the 7th when Takayama stopped him, two judges had it even and one had Odaira ahead.

 

Budler outdid Takayama vs. their common opponent in Joyi. (Takayama vs. Joyi I ended in a No Contest but Tak had gotten the worst of the early action; the rematch was competitive but still went Joyi's way via cards some felt were unfairly wide. Budler defeated his countryman via SD...)

Takayama still feels like the more complete and h2h overall better (though slower of foot and hand) fighter, however.

 

Takayama vs. Odaira:

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Budler vs. Zhong:

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:good Then nobody could argue with his grand slam champ status.

...and if not, Budler is the best minimumweight fighter in the world, hands down.