# Chris van Heerden

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.

## 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. He managed to defend his belt twice, against Sebastián Andrés Luján and Matthew Hatton.
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.

### 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.

### 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. 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.

### 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. In February 2024, Van Heerden's girlfriend, Ksenia Karelina, was arrested in Russia after going home to visit her grandmother and being accused of donating $50 to a Ukrainian charity in February 2022. She was later sentenced to 12 years imprisonment.

## Professional boxing record

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