Just hours after the conclusion of his fourth tournament in magnificent Monte Carlo, promoter Rodney Berman was drawing up plans for an October extravaganza in the principality.
“KO at the Casino” delivered in all the areas that mattered, chiefly by way of results and the response of casino executives, and Berman intends delivering a bigger and better show to round out 2014.
The two certainties at this stage appear to be Martin Murray and Hekkie Budler. Berman intends moving heaven and earth to secure Murray a mainstream championship shot after his near shut-out win over Max Bursak on Saturday.
He has already reached out to IBF champion Sam Soliman and has also made tentative enquiries to Marco Antonio Rubio, holder of the WBC’s interim middleweight belt. There is talk in the air of Miguel Cotto dropping back down to junior-middleweight, which would help clear the path for Murray’s challenge.
“Work starts this week,” said a determined Berman. “What we saw on Saturday from Murray was a boxing clinic. Bursak tried to spoil, but Murray took over and used his ring smarts from the second half. At his best, he’s a very difficult fighter to beat.”
Budler was magnificent in repelling the danger of Pigmy Kokietgym. After he focused on the body, it was only a matter of time before he produced the goods.
When he put him down in the fourth, Budler heard the Thai fighter groan and knew then that victory was his. He then proceeded to carve up the challenger with a savage body attack that reaffirmed the broad view that Budler is the best strawweight on the planet, bar none.
He presents an interesting challenge to Golden Gloves. Beyond the other organisations’ champions, no-one reckons to give him a formidable challenge. Budler’s title rivals, however, aren’t keen to do business and yet that is the path Berman is determined to pursue.
One of them has to step up and with the good booty on offer for fighting in Monte Carlo, it is surely only a matter of time before one of them puts pen to paper.
Meanwhile, Berman conceded that Johnny Muller taking the fight at late notice and then getting cut early on against Doudou Ngambu did him no favours. Muller lost a points decision.
Muller lives to fight another day and will appear in the Super Six, starting in August. The trouble is his cut eyelid will preclude him sparring for at least three weeks, putting him on the backfoot.
