By: Lesley Tjiueza Sackie Shikukutu missed out on a chance to claim the vacant WBA Pan African welterweight title in Johannesburg on Saturday night when he lost on points to Chris van Heerden. Shikukutu started and progressed very well until he picked up a cut in round number six, but he produced a stern display to the end. Van Heerden was a slick fighter and used his 183 cm reach to his advantage. Van Heerden knew he had done enough and in the final round, with 56 seconds to go he started to celebrate. The judges' score card confirmed van Heerden as the winner with 117-111 from two of the judges and 118- 110 from the 3rd Judge. “Thank you Jesus Christ for this opportunity. I knew Sackie was going to come out wild but I used my coaches' advice to box and that went well as the fight progressed” said Van Heerden. “I was born and destined to be a champion” he added.