By Chris LaBate

Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, South Africa - Chris van Heerden beat Kaizer Mabuza by way of a twelve round majority decision to win the vacant IBO welterweight belt. The scores were 117-112 and 116-113 for Van Heerden and 114-114 on the third card. The fight was a war from start to finish. Van Heerden raised his record to 17-1-1, with 10 knockouts, While Mabuza fell to 28-8-2, with 14 KOs.

Hekkie Budler won the IBO strawweight title when he beat Michael Landero by way of a twelve round unanimous decision. The scores were 119-109 on two cards and 118-110 on the third. He improves his record to 19-1, with 6 knockouts. Landero drops to 15-5-4, 5KOs.

In a heavyweight shocker, Danie Venter crushed Flo Simba at 1:53 of the first round. Venter put Simba down twice and battered him before Simba's trainer, Harold Volbrecht, jumped into the ring to save his fighter. A hard right to the head started the damage and Simba never recovered. Venter raises his record to 11-5, with 8 knockouts. And Simba drops to 11-2 with 7 KOs.