Divine help gets Van Heerden in right frame of mind in gutsy win
WHILE Thulani Mbenge is going another route the boxer he is yearning to face, Chris van Heerden, is keeping his career afloat abroad.
Last weekend left-hander Van Heerden flew the SA flag in the US in the much-vaunted Jose Sulaiman/WBC World Invitational Welterweight tournament against seven other fighters. He was pitted against Germany-based Kosovo-born Timo Schwarzkopf, who had lost only once going to their clash.
Other bouts saw Francisco “Chia” Santana matched against big favourite Felix Diaz while Brad Solomons and Paddy Gallagher did battle, as did Fredrick Lawson and Baishanbo Nasiyiwula.
Van Heerden scored a gutsy points win to set up a semifinal berth against Lawson, who saw off Nasiwula. Solomons booked his place in the semifinals with a victory over Gallagher. However, it was the upset defeat of Diaz by Santana that dominated boxing news.
But Van Heerden’s win was equally impressive, especially as it was achieved under challenging circumstances. The deeply religious boxer was stuck outside the country for several weeks with a visa glitch. “At one stage I considered withdrawing from the fight but through the might of God I soldiered on,” he said.
The delay in reaching the US affected Van Heerden greatly but, ever a professional, he did not allow it to mess with his fight preparations.
“I know everything is possible through God and I knew he would sort everything out and he did.”
Van Heerden fought a disciplined bout to outwit the German en route to a unanimous points decision. The win has now thrust him among the favourites for the after-sought trophy.
Promoted by former world heavyweight champion and boxing legend Evander Holyfield, the tournament is getting exposure worldwide, making the overall winner a major player in the welterweight division.
Van Heerden is also already tipped to go far due to the experience he has amassed in his career.
A former IBO world champion, the “Heat” has used his stay in US – where he trained under Hall of Famer Freddie Roach – to mingle with top fighters in the business such as multidivision world champion Shane Mosley and well-known welterweight boxer Victor Ortiz.
With his last loss coming at the hands of the all-conquering IBF king Errol Spence, the 30-year-old Van Heerden has proven that he is not yet done at the top level.
“I am hoping God will take me to great heights in this tournament.”
His other loss was at the hands of Serbian Nikola Stevanovic way back in 2010.
● Mdantsane female boxer Unathi Myekeni’s scheduled fight in Denmark against Dane Sarah Mahfoud was called off last week due to visa issues.
It is not clear who could not get the visa but the entire card was cancelled. —
BOXING MECCA: I hear you are launching your promotion outfit with a big fight.
MACBUTE SINYABI: A big one indeed. Like they say you either go big or go home. I am privileged to launch my promotion with an SA title fight which has ingredients of being a grudge match. But this is what MacMan has always been about, doing things big.
BM: I see that you have not lost your gift of the gab. The question is will you be able to produce another Macbute who will be able to market the fight himself?
MS: Firstly I think you are born an entertainer so I would not quite say there will be another Macbute. But as a promoter I want my boxers to learn the skill of marketing themselves like I used to. Boxing is not only about swapping punches in the ring. Boxers must talk the talk and walk the walk.
BM: In your honest opinion what do you think of the current crop of boxers in terms of their ability to sell their fights?
MS: With all due respect I think they have a long way to go. Look for instance at Azinga Fuzile who is hugely talented boxer. He beat me but he did not become an overnight star because his talent is confined to the ring. Ludumo Lamati and Thulani Mbenge are future world champions but still their careers are about their achievements in the ring. They need to go out there and sell themselves. BM: There is Phila Mpontshane as well…
MS: (cutting in) … now that is a boxer who knows how to talk the talk but problem is he does not have a strong promoter. Phila is good with his mouth but his exploits in the ring are yet to reciprocate. Remember you need both.
BM: How did the opportunity to promote this fight come about?
MS: Actually it came by chance. I applied for a licence as a development promoter but Nxoshe approached me and asked me to help him organise this fight because he had no promoter. I then went to upgrade my licence to the national level.
BM: Here, I was thinking that your former promoter Xaba Promotions gave you this fight on a silver platter.
MS: Yes he helped me by getting me “24” but the real reason I am involved in this fight is because I want to help Nxoshe. I think Nxoshe is an underrated champion whose main challenge is lack of conditioning. For him to be able to win the national title under such challenges speaks volumes about him. I want to help him get to the next level.
BM: Sounds like you are taking sides in this fight already when you are supposed to be neutral.
MS: Yes I am and I want Nxoshe to win…
BM: I hope you are not still bitter at the manner in which Fuzile of Duncan Village beat you and now you want Nxoshe to beat a Duncan Village boxer, Ngamntwini.
MS: Actually that is one reason I am helping Nxoshe. I want him to beat “24” because he is from Duncan Village which Fuzile calls home.
BM: You say you want to help Nxoshe beat Ngamntwini but you do know you will not be able to get into the ring yourself and fight for him.
MS: Firstly I want to change Nxoshe’s image so that he sheds this other side of his that rubs people up the wrong way. I know you have butted heads with his team before and that must change. I have spoken to one of the boxing legends of the game Bra Spokes Witbooi to help share his expertise with MMT boxers especially Nxoshe.
This does not mean I want to revamp Nxoshe’s technical team but we need someone with Bra Spokes’s knowledge.
BM: Wow, Macbute I must say I am impressed here. Perhaps I will indeed climb onto Nxoshe’s bandwagon. But I see you clashing with Xaba Promotions because they promote Ngamntwini.
MS: If that is the case so be it because it should be about each party backing its particular boxer to generate interest.
Xaba Promotions are experienced and they know that having different choices will only serve to add intrigue to boxing. I remember them taking bets with Zbashy Promotion in a fight involving their boxers.
BM: You say your initial plan was to take a development promoter’s licence. Did you have anyone targeted to develop?
MS: My love is to give opportunities to talented youngsters so I was planning to organise a development tournament to feature all these youngsters that have just turned professional.
As much as June 10 is the SA flyweight grudge match it will also serve as a platform for two youngsters to introduce themselves in the game.
BM: Who are they?
MS: One of them is Asanda Gingqi and I am appealing to boxing fans to watch this boy because he is going places.
BM: Isn’t Gingqi the boy who was collecting gold medals at the amateur ranks left, right and centre? He won gold at the recent Zone Four Champs in Mozambique, didn’t he? How did you manage to get a signature of such a bright star?
MS: I told you my motto is go big or go home.
BM: All the best Macbute. Boxing certainly needs people like you.
MS: Thanks my bra