CORRIE SANDERS PROFILE

At age 38, Corrie is a 15-year pro. He won the WBO heavyweight world title in March 2003 in a major upset, by TKO against Vitali Klitschko’s brother, defending champion, Wladimir. Boxing News reported, “Corrie Sanders, an unassuming 37-year old from Pretoria, has blown the heavyweight division wide open.”

A huge crowd favorite, Wladimir was making his sixth world title defence. After the fight, Vitali, entered the ring, pointed a finger at Corrie and said, “You fight me next”. Corrie replied “I’ve knocked out your brother and I’ll do you next.”

He vacated the title without making a defence, after a series of lawsuits against the WBO, his promoter and others.

Corrie said, “I never, ever thought in my wildest dreams I would finally become the world heavyweight champion. The way my career was going, I thought it had all passed me by. I’m not a youngster in boxing terms, but I feel like a kid in a candy store. I took the Klitschko fight at just five weeks’ notice knowing if I lost, retirement was just around the corner. It was very tense in the dressing room before the fight, eerily quiet.

“But my trainer Harold Volbrecht broke the silence and said he still believed in me, then Lennox Lewis rang.

“It was a real shock, but it was a real boost for me. Lennox had only seen me fight on TV a couple of times. That call meant so much to me. He said, ‘Stay focused. Don’t let him dictate the fight and show him absolutely no respect, jump on him.’ Basically, that formed my game plan and he called me straight after the fight and congratulated me. I’d be the first to buy Lennox a beer. After all, he told me how to beat Wladimir.”

Receiving a hero’s welcome at Johannesburg International Airport when he returned home, he said “This is still a shock for me, seeing all the TV cameras and photographers. I’ve never had that before.”

Manager, Vernon Smith said, “Corrie’s a down-to-earth guy, no pretentions. He’s a real softie…” “Corrie has said to me, ‘God gifted me with certain abilities. I don’t get into the ring to box. I get into the ring to get out as soon as possible. I don’t like to get hit, I don’t like to get my face crashed. I’m ready to finish it off and get out.'”

In preparation for his April 2004 WBC World Heavyweight Title fight against Vitali Klitschko, he consulted a sports psychologist to bolster his confidence, and hired Ross Puritty, the only fighter to previously beat Wladimir, as his main sparring partner.
Though Klitschko dominated in that bout, he proved he can take a heavyweight punch as he took a constant pounding from Klitschko. He staggered Klitschko in th first round and got in a number of shots in the exciting third round, leaving you with anticipation of his landing a big punch at any minute. The big punch never came. Instead, he staggered against the ropes in the eighth round, obviously exhausted, and struggling against a flurry of Klitschko punches, and the referee stopped the fight.

Prior to that night, Corrie an outstanding golfer, said, “I’ve always preferred golf, but now I’ve got to take boxing first. I’ve got a year or two to make as much as I can out of boxing, then I can enjoy golf…”

PROFESSIONAL CAREER RECORD OF KEY FIGHTS

2004

April: Lost WBC Heavyweight World Title by TKO against Vitali Klitschko (33-2) when the fight was stopped at 2:46 in the 8th round after he staggered against the ropes, defenceless against a flurry of punches from Klitschko.

2003

March: Won WBO Heavyweight World Title by TKO against Wladimir Klitschko (40-1) in a major upset and by a devastating knockout in the 2nd round. After the fight, Sanders said, “…He (Klitschko) got a look in his eyes and I knew he couldn’t take shots. I knew it was just a manner of time….When I catch you once, it’s hard to come back…”

2002

November: Won by TKO against Otis Tisdale (21-9-1)in the 2nd round.

2001

November: Won by TKO against Michael Sprott (15-2) in the 1st round

2000

May: Lost WBU Heavyweight Title by TKO in the 7th round against Hasim Rahman (32-2). Rahman then went on to win the undisputed heavyweight world title in April 2001.

February: Won 3rd WBU Heavyweight Title Defence by TKO against against former IBF cruiserweight world champion, Al Cole (34-1-1) in the 1st round.

1999

July: Won 2nd WBU Heavyweight Defence by TKO against Jorge Valdes (22-4-2) in the 1st round.

1998

June: Won 1st WBU Heavyweight Title Defence by TKO in the 2nd round against former IBF light heavyweight and WBA cruiserweight world champion, Bobby Czyz (44-7).

1997

November: Won Vacant WBU Heavyweight Title in a 12-round unanimous decision against Ross Puritty (22-10-1). Puritty went on to knock out previously undefeated former Olympic gold medalist Wladimir Klitschko a year later.

1994

August – Won by TKO against former WBC cruiserweight world champion, Carlos DeLeon (52-6-1) in the 1st round.

May – Lost by KO against Nate Tubbs (12-1) in the 2nd round.

1993

June: Won by TKO against former world title challenger, Bert Cooper (30-10) in the 3rd round.

1991

July: Won Vacant South African Heavyweight Title by KO against Johnny DuPlooy (25-4-1) in the 1st round.