Chris van Heerden

In this Dutch name, the surname is Van Heerden, not Harden.

Chris van Heerden
Born	Chris van Heerden (1987-06-19) 19 June 1987 (age 37) Johannesburg, South Africa
Nationality	South African
Other names	The Heat
Statistics
Weight(s)	Welterweight
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Stance	Southpaw
Boxing record
Total fights	33
Wins	28
Wins by KO	12
Losses	3
Draws	1
No contests	1

Chris van Heerden (born 19 June 1987) is a South African professional boxer and a former IBO welterweight champion.

Early life

Van Heerden grew up in Meyerton, Gauteng.^[1]

Professional career

Van Heerden started his professional career in 2006. He quickly emerged as a top fighter in the African continent, which he subsequently proved by snapping South African and ABU welterweight titles. However, in 2010 he suffered his first loss in the professional ring to Serbian Ivica Stevanovic for IBF Inter-Continental light middleweight title. This fight, though, did not stop him from rise to success. In 2009 he prevailed over fellow South African Kaizer Mabuza and gained IBO welterweight belt.^[2] He managed to defend his belt twice, against Sebastián Andrés Luján^[3] and Matthew Hatton.^[4]

In Winter 2013 van Heerden decided to relocate to the United States. The move meant that Van Heerden had been forced to relinquish his status as the International Boxing Organisation's champion but it was a move that he considered to pave the way to higher honours in future.^[5]

Van Heerden vs. Spence Jr

On 11 September 2015, van Heerden faced rising prospect Errol Spence Jr. Despite taunting Spence Jr numerous times throughout the fight, van Heerden was dominated by Spence Jr and dropped twice before the referee had seen enough and decided to stop the fight in round eight.^[6]

Van Heerden vs. Ennis

On 19 December 2020, van Heerden fought Jaron Ennis. Ennis was ranked #7 by the WBO, #10 by the IBF and #12 by the WBC at welterweight.^[7] After a clash of heads in the first round, van Heerden suffered a severe cut on his forehead which prompted the referee to stop the fight early, ending the fight with a no-decision outcome.^[8]

Van Heerden vs. Benn

On April, 16th 2022, Van Heerden challenged undefeated prospect Conor Benn for the WBA Continental Welterweight title. He lost by 2nd-round TKO after being dominated and got brutally knocked down in Round 2, where the referee stopped it.

Personal life

Van Heerden currently resides in Los Angeles, California.^{[citation needed]} In February 2024, Van Heerden's girlfriend, Ksenia Khavana, was arrested in Russia after going home to visit her grandmother and being accused of donating $50 to a Ukrainian charity in February 2022.^[9]

Professional boxing record

33 fights	28 wins	3 losses
By knockout	12	2
By decision	16	1
Draws	1
No contests	1

No.	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, time	Date	Location	Notes
33	Loss	28–3–1 (1)	Conor Benn	TKO	2 (12)	2022-04-16	AO Arena, Manchester, England
32	NC	28–2–1 (1)	Jaron Ennis	NC	1 (12)	2020-12-19	Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Connecticut, United States	For vacant IBO welterweight title; Fight stopped after van Heerden suffered a cut from an accidental head clash
31	Win	28–2–1	Aslanbek Kozaev	UD	8	2019-08-17	Banc of California Stadium, Los Angeles, California, United States
30	Win	27–2–1	Mahonri Montes	TD	(6) 8	2019-03-23	The Hangar, Costa Mesa, California, United States
29	Win	26–2–1	Timo Schwarzkopf	UD	10	2018-04-27	KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, Kentucky, United States
28	Win	25–2–1	Sacky Shikukutu	UD	12	2016-10-22	Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, South Africa	Won vacant WBA Pan African welterweight title.
27	Win	24–2–1	Steve Claggett	MD	10	2016-04-16	Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
26	Loss	23–2–1	Errol Spence Jr.	TKO	8 (10)	2015-09-11	Ricoh Coliseum, Toronto, Ontario	Lost IBF International welterweight title.
25	Win	23–1–1	Raymon Ayala	RTD	4 (10)	2015-05-13	Madison Square Garden Theater, New York, United States
24	Win	22–1–1	Cecil McCalla	SD	10	2015-01-09	Madison Square Garden Theater, New York, United States	Won vacant IBF International welterweight title.
23	Win	21–1–1	Ray Narh	SD	10	2014-04-16	Barker Hangar, Santa Monica, United States
22	Win	20–1–1	Cosme Rivera	RTD	4 (8)	2014-02-06	Florentine Gardens, Hollywood, United States
21	Win	19–1–1	Matthew Hatton	UD	12	2013-03-02	Sandton Convention Center, Johannesburg, South Africa	Retained the IBO welterweight title
20	Win	18–1–1	Sebastián Andrés Luján	UD	12	2012-06-16	Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, South Africa	Retained the IBO welterweight title
19	Win	17–1–1	Kaizer Mabuza	UD	12	2011-09-24	Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, South Africa	Won vacant IBO welterweight title
18	Win	16–1–1	Bongani Mwelase	UD	12	2011-06-04	Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, South Africa
17	Win	15–1–1	Boitshepo Mandawe	SD	12	2011-01-29	Carnival City, Brakpan, South Africa	Retained the South African welterweight title
16	Loss	14–1–1	Nikola Stevanović	SD	12	2010-05-29	Sport Hall Pinki, Belgrade, Serbia	For the IBF Inter-Continental light middleweight title
15	Win	14–0–1	Venance Mponji	KO	1 (10)	2009-11-13	Meyerton, South Africa
14	Win	13–0–1	Boitshepo Mandawe	UD	12	2009-07-10	Dr. Malan School Hall, Meyerton, South Africa	Retained the South African welterweight title
13	Win	12–0–1	Welcome Ntshingila	UD	12	2009-03-27	Matlosana Banquet Hall, Klerksdorp, South Africa	Retained the South African welterweight title
12	Win	11–0–1	Page Tshesane	TKO	11 (12)	2008-12-05	Carousel Casino, Hammanskraal, South Africa	Won the vacant South African welterweight title
11	Win	10–0–1	Hassan Saku	TKO	8 (12)	2008-07-25	Carousel Casino, Johannesburg, South Africa	Won African welterweight title
10	Win	9–0–1	Msizi Qwabe	UD	6	2008-02-22	Carousel Hotel & Casino, Temba, South Africa
9	Draw	8–0–1	Page Tshesane	MD	6	2007-12-14	Nasrec Indoor Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa
8	Win	8–0	Mpho Tshiambara	TKO	4 (6)	2007-09-21	Carousel Hotel & Casino, Temba, South Africa
7	Win	7–0	George Mapalakane	TKO	3 (6)	2007-08-31	James Motlatsi Hall, Klerksdorp, South Africa
6	Win	6–0	Luntu Kosana	KO	2 (4)	2007-04-20	Oliver Tambo Sport Centre, Khayelitsha, South Africa
5	Win	5–0	John Mokgotsa	KO	3 (6)	2007-02-23	Nasrec Indoor Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa
4	Win	4–0	Moses Mbowane	TKO	4 (4)	2007-02-02	Nasrec Indoor Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa
3	Win	3–0	Keketso Mathaba	UD	4	2006-02-08	Nasrec Indoor Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa
2	Win	2–0	Rodney Nepfumbada	TKO	1 (4)	2006-10-27	Johannesburg, South Africa
1	Win	1–0	Lucky Mavimbela	TKO	2 (4)	2006-09-06	Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, South Africa

References

1. "Vaal's boxing hero has eye on Hollywood". Vaalweekblad. 26 September 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
2. Heerden Beats Mabuza, Budler Wins, Venter KOs Simba. boxingscene.com (24 September 2011). Retrieved 8 May 2014.
3. Van Heerden dominates Lujan, retaines IBO title. boxingscene.com (16 June 2012). Retrieved 8 May 2014.
4. "Van Heerden too tough for Hatton". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
5. Van Heerden lost to SA. citizen.co.za (24 December 2013). Retrieved 8 May 2014.
6. Bracelin, Jason (11 September 2015). "Errol Spence Jr. mugs a mugging Chris van Heerden in smashing TKO win". PBC Boxing. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
7. "Ennis vs Heerden – News, Tape, Ringwalk, TV, Streaming & Tickets". Box.Live. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
8. Donovan, Jake (19 December 2020). "Jaron Ennis-Chris Van Heerden Ends in No-Decision Due To Severe Cut". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
9. Rozier, Alex (22 February 2024). "'Eating away at me': Boyfriend of LA woman detained in Russia speaks up". NBC Los Angeles.

External links

Boxing record for Chris van Heerden from BoxRec (registration required)

• Chris van Heerden – Profile, News Archive & Current Rankings at Box.Live