Chris Van Heerden to Fly South African Flag High in Manchester, Fights Conor Benn in Welterweight Title Bout

• Chris van Heerden will look to produce a major upset when he takes on Conor Benn in Manchester today
• Chris van Heerden will take on the undefeated Conor Benn for the WBA Continental Welterweight Title
• South Africa's Chris van Heerden will be competing for the first time in England and insists he's not just there for a paycheck

Chris ‘The Heat’ van Heerden looks to get his career back on track when he fights England’s Conor ‘The Destroyer’ Benn today.

It’s the South African’s first fight in England and van Heerden is adamant that he’s not just there for a paycheck.

Van Heerden, who has only lost twice in his career, will fight the undefeated Benn for the WBA Continental Welterweight Title in Manchester.

Benn has become a big star in the last 18 months and plans to challenge for a world title later this year, BBC reports.

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Van Heerden, a former IBO champion, has not fought since 2019 but is looking to get his career back on track. The South African boxer is also hoping to make his father proud, saying it was always his father’s dream to see him fight the big fights. Van Heerden’s father was murdered in 2019, the Daily Mail reported.

While Benn is favourite to win the bout van Heerden is confident that he could pull off the victory, insisting that he wasn’t there to just get paid.

“I didn't come here for a paycheck. I didn't come here to get a fight. I came here to get a win, to get my career back on track.”

South African Heavyweight Kevin Lerena wins vacant World Boxing Association Intercontinental title

Kevin Lerena gave South African boxing the boost it desperately needed with a fourth-round stoppage of Romanian Bogdan Dinu at Emperor's Palace last night, Sports Brief earlier reported.

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This saw Lerena clinch the vacant WBA Intercontinental heavyweight championship, becoming the first South African heavyweight title winner since the late Corrie Sanders defeated Wladimir Klitschko for the WBO heavyweight belt in 2003.

In the first two rounds, there was very little in it as both fighters moved around sparring for openings. As reported by SuperSport, in the third round Dinu (114kg) went down against the ropes claiming a low blow and, after writhing around holding his cup, he eventually got up to finish the round.