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Van Heerden: Lujan was easy, bring on Khan or unification

Phil D. Jay 
WBN Editor
South African ready to bring ‘The Heat’ to the top of the 140lb division

World welterweight champion Chris ‘The Heat’ Van Heerden put in an impressive performance last week in overwhelming four-time world title challenger Sebastian Lujan and now hopes to move on to face the elite of the division.

The 25 year-old, who has one debatable loss in 20 pro outings, is hoping to entice Amir Khan to a bout when the Briton moves up at the end of the year and is eager to fight outside his native country to enhance his growing reputation.

“My Win against Lujan wasn't my best performance, but definitely my biggest win in terms of opponent,” Van Heerden told World Boxing News.

“Lujan was easy to beat and now I am hoping to fight one of the other champions in a unification as it is any fighters dream to fight the superstars of boxing.

“A fight with Khan would be awesome, like I said it’s my dream to fight on the big stage. Hopefully I am very close to getting that shot I badly want.

“A top ten fighter overseas this year would be a dream for me.”

Van Heerden is now highly ranked in the 147lb divison and has his eye on the likes of the division's best in Timothy Bradley and Manny Pacquiao. The southpaw watched in disbelief though as Pacquiao lost to Bradley in Las Vegas earlier this month and joined the many others in boxing in condemning the judging decision as the Filipino lost his WBO version.

“I honestly didn’t see Pacquiao lose that fight,” he added.

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