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Van Heerden challenges Stevanovic

CURRENT South African welterweight champion Chris "The Heat" van Heerden will challenge Nikola Stevanovic for the IBF Inter-Continental junior middleweight title on Saturday night.

CURRENT South African welterweight champion Chris "The Heat" van Heerden will challenge Nikola Stevanovic for the IBF Inter-Continental junior middleweight title on Saturday night.

The fight will take place at Sport Hall Pinki in Belgrade, Serbia. This will be Van Heerden's first fight outside South Africa.

The 23-year-old fighter from Meyerton, Alberton, will find solace in two local judges, Sazi Xamlashe and Jaap van Nieuwenhuizen, who will be partnered by Zdravko Milojevic from Bosnia.

Van Heerden is undefeated after 15 fights, while Stevanovic has 20 wins, one loss and a draw.

Stevanovic defended successfully last year when he outpointed SA junior middleweight champion Tshepo "De La Hoya" Mashego in Belgrade.

Van Heerden's promoter, Branco Milenkovic, who also co-promotes Stevanovic, said he was confident "Chris will come home with the belt".

Van Heerden, trainer Nick Durandt and assistant trainer Michael Schultz left for Serbia on Monday.

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