On Saturday night Budler reclaimed the IBO junior-flyweight title he lost in the same Emperors Palace ring six years ago, forcing Filipino Joey Canoy to quit on his stool at the start of the eighth round.
It took Budler, a two-time champion at strawweight in the intervening years, a few rounds to work out his southpaw opponent, getting caught flat-footed by right hook leads early on.
But by the time he attacked the body in the sixth and seventh rounds the writing was on the wall.
"I was stupid in the first round, I stood with him," admitted Budler, 28.
"I didn't do what I had planned to do. But once I worked out I needed to close the gap, then it was fine."
Budler, whose record improved to 31 wins - 10 stoppages and two defeats - paraded Canoy around the ring afterwards to show the crowd that he believed his opponent, now 12-3-1, was a future world champion.
If Budler needed more affirmation than the vacant belt, it would have come from trainer Harold Volbrecht, who popped into his dressing room afterwards to congratulate him on producing a fine fight.
But victory this time wasn't quite as sweet as first time around seven years ago.
"It doesn't feel as good as the first time, because that was the first time. But it feels great to have my status back," said Budler, whose eyes were marked with swelling and a cut caused from a clash of heads.
"I don't feel it now, but tomorrow I'm definitely going to feel it," he said with a laugh.
Welterweight prospect Tulz Mbenge outsniped Ntuthuko Memela, dropping him with a right to the head in the third round.
Memela beat the count, but he started grabbing Mbenge low in something resembling a rugby tackle.
The result was a TKO win, but a disqualification wouldn't have been out of order.
Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package. 
