The 25-year-old Spence (17-0, 14 KOs), fighting out of Desota, Texas, was a highly decorated U.S. amateur boxer. The dangerous southpaw is a rising star who is being billed as the future of the welterweight division after Floyd "Money" Mayweather, Jr. retires. In his last fight, Spence stopped veteran Phil LoGreco in the third round. Van Heerden (23-1-1, 12 KOs), 28, is also a southpaw. During his outstanding career, he has registered victories against the likes of Sebastian Lujan, Cosme Rivera, Matthew Hatton, Ray Narh, Cecil McCalla and Ramon Ayala.
Taking the title at Madison Square Garden in January 2015, Chris Van Heerden is the new IBF Welterweight International Champion and on his way to a new world title. The WBC South African Welterweight and former IBO Welterweight World Champion, Chris Van Heerden, The HEAT, has a career record of 23 wins in 25 bouts, 12 by way of knockout. Van Heerden is currently in the top 6 of the IBF and remains ranked No. 1 in his native South Africa. The 27 year old Southpaw is the son of South African 80s-era heavyweight Danie Van Heerden and is the pride of his country. Now living in Los Angeles, CA, Chris first took the WBC title and South African titles at age 20, less than two years after turning professional in 2006. The welterweight continued to climb the ranks when defeated former world champion Kaizer Mabuza in 2011 for the vacant IBO World Title. Van Heerden has successfully defended challenges by Argentinian Sebastian Lujan and UKs Matthew Hatton. He made the move to the United States in January 2014 and has a 4-0 record in his U.S. matches against Cosme Rivera, Ray Nahr, Cecil McCalla and Ramon Ayala. Born in Johannesburg, South Africa and raised in Meyerton, South Africa, Van Heerden is one of 13 children born to boxer Danie. He began boxing at age six, inheriting a love and understanding for the sweet science from his pro heavyweight father, and accumulated a record of 94 wins in 97 amateur bouts. Chris trains with the legendary Boxing Hall of Fame inductee Freddie Roach at the famed Wildcard Gym in Hollywood, CA. Van Heerden is managed by Donna Keegan Avery of Check 6 Management and is signed to promoter King Sports Worldwide.
Van Heedren's a good fighter, but he has this terrible habit of waiving his left hand every time he throws a hook, like Broner does. He doesn't punch hard, and doesn't really have a style. Spence beats him but it's a good fight.
