Boxer Chris van Heerden is fighting undefeated rising star, Conor Benn, in the U.K. Saturday afternoon ... but the vet isn't content with being Benn's 21st victim, he's looking to shock the the boxing world and emerge victorious.
TMZ Sports talked to 34-year-old van Heerden (28-2-1-1, 12 KO's) in Los Angeles days before he hopped on a plane and headed across the pond for one of the toughest matchups in his long career.
We asked Chris if he felt confident he'd beat Benn.
"Hell yeah, man. You know what, we're goin' to Manchester, I know we're going to a hostile crowd.