Picture: THINKSTOCK
Picture: THINKSTOCK

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PIONEERING boxer Noni "She Bee Stingin’" Tenge and Hekkie "Hexecutioner" Budler are out to defend not only their world titles, but also their world rankings this weekend.

Tenge from Mdantsane was the first female from Africa to win a credible world title — the IBF junior welterweight belt — before adding the WBF strap in the same weight class.

She now reigns supreme as that organisation’s junior-middleweight holder, and is Africa’s first three-time female world champion in two weight classes.

Budler is the WBA Super and IBO mini-flyweight holder, SA’s only dual world champion at present.

The Super status was created in 2009 for boxers who hold the titles of two or more organisations recognised by the WBA, such as the WBC, IBF and WBO.

His status was elevated by the WBA championship committee in January after a plea from promoter Rodney Berman.

Budler has also previously held the IBO junior-flyweight belt.

Tenge, who is trained by Luyanda Sovasi, will defend against Szilvia Szabados from Hungary at Olive Convention Centre in Durban tonight.

Sovasi said: "Noni was within the weight limit a week prior to the fight because we had enough time to prepare. We are more than ready to retain our title."

On Saturday night, Budler will make the first defence of his newly acquired WBA Super status against Byron Rojas from Nicaragua at Emperors Palace.

The local boxer’s IBO crown will be on the line for the ninth time. Their fight will top a four-bout card dubbed Supercharged by promoter Rodney Berman. Budler, trained by Colin Nathan, will be involved in his 17th world title fight.

"Byron is a good fighter, but Hekkie is the best, and that will separate the two," Nathan said of Budler, who is acknowledged as the world’s best mini-flyweight.

WBA Pan African welterweight champion Paul Kamanga will defend against Russian Roman Balaev.