Corrie Sanders


Cornelius Johannes "Corrie" Sanders was a South African professional boxer who competed from 1989 to 2008. He won the WBO heavyweight title in 2003 after knocking out Wladimir Klitschko in two rounds, which was considered one of the biggest upsets in heavyweight boxing history; The Ring magazine named it the Upset of the Year. In 2004, having vacated the WBO title, Sanders faced Wladimir's brother Vitali Klitschko in an unsuccessful but valiant challenge for the vacant WBC and Ring heavyweight titles. He also held the WBU heavyweight title from 1997 until 2000. Sanders' other notable achievements include holding the South Africa national heavyweight title in 1991, defeating former cruiserweight champions Carlos de León and Bobby Czyz by first round and second-round knockout respectively, and losing in a close slugfest fight with future unified and two-time world heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman.
Nicknamed The Sniper, Sanders was a southpaw with a long reach, and was known for carrying formidable knockout power in his straight left hand. Wladimir Klitschko labeled Sanders the hardest puncher he ever faced in a December 2014 interview with Ring magazine, saying: "I’ve been in boxing for 25 years and I never fought anybody in this game that punched like Corrie Sanders." Hasim Rahman said of Sanders following their match: "I've never been hit that hard in my life."
He died in a hospital in the early hours of 23 September 2012 after being shot during an armed robbery.

Early life and amateur career

Sanders grew up in Brits, South Africa, and was of Afrikaner descent. Having been introduced to boxing by his uncle, Sanders finished his amateur career in the late 1980s with 180 wins and 11 losses.

Professional career

Sanders made his professional debut in 1989 with a first-round knockout of King Kong Dyubele on 2 April 1989. He went on to win his next 22 bouts, 14 by knockout. Among the fighters he defeated during that streak were Steve Zouski, Art Card, future WBO cruiserweight champion Johnny Nelson, and future world title challenger Bert Cooper. In his 24th bout, on 21 May 1994, Sanders suffered his first defeat, at the hands of Nate Tubbs via a second-round knockout.
He fought 12 more times over the next five years, including a first-round knockout over former world cruiserweight champion Carlos De León and a second-round knockout over another former world champion, Bobby Czyz. A stoppage loss to future heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman in a bout Sanders was winning confirmed his ability and also his vulnerability. Returning to the ring in 2001 he scored a quick win over Michael Sprott and then followed this up with a defeat of Otis Tisdale in 2002. Corrie Sanders' biggest weapons were his southpaw fast hands that he used to knock fighters out early.

WBO heavyweight champion

Despite the fact that he had fought only three rounds in the last two years, the WBO sanctioned a challenge to their heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko. On 8 March 2003, Sanders provided a stunning upset in Hanover, Germany, by dropping Klitschko four times to snatch the Ukrainian's belt by a second-round knockout.

WBC heavyweight title challenge

Sanders vacated the WBO title in December 2003 so that he could concentrate on a challenge for the vacant WBC belt. The fight took place on 24 April 2004, against Wladimir's older brother, Vitali. Sanders was stopped by Vitali in the eighth round of the fight in the Staples Center in Los Angeles. After Sanders death, Vitali went on to pay his respects to Sanders by calling this the hardest fight of his career.
Eight months later, Sanders knocked out Alexei Varakin in the second round of a contest in Soelden, Austria in December 2004. He briefly retired after that bout.
Sanders returned to action after two years in November 2006 to score a second round stoppage win over the Australian heavyweight champion Colin Wilson at the Convention Centre in Mafikeng. He had signed with Golden Gloves Promotions, and won another bout in South Africa against Brazilian Daniel Bispo in May 2007. His last bout, of the South African heavyweight title, was a loss to Osborne Machimana, a bout he took despite being injured beforehand. Sanders' final record was 42 wins and 4 losses.

Death

On 22 September 2012, Corrie Sanders was fatally shot in an armed robbery at a restaurant in Brits, South Africa, where a function was being held for his nephew's 21st birthday. Sanders was taken to a hospital in Pretoria, where he died in the early hours of 23 September 2012 of his wounds. Sanders' widow, Suzette Sanders, said Corrie died a hero, using his body to protect his daughter from oncoming bullets.
Sanders had been near the entrance of the restaurant talking to his daughter Marinique and a cousin when three robbers entered firing their guns, striking Sanders in the stomach and arm as he moved in front of his daughter to protect her. Sanders was already bleeding from his wounds when he pulled her to the ground and told her to pretend she was dead.
On 27 September 2012, following a tip-off, North West police arrested three men in the Oukasie informal settlement near Brits charging them with the murder of Sanders. All three are citizens of Zimbabwe. At the first location, two suspects were apprehended and police recovered a cellular phone, vehicle key, purse and cash stolen during the robbery. Police then went to a second address and a third suspect was arrested, and recovered a handbag stolen in the robbery. The trial was initially postponed until August 2013 as investigators attempted to locate the gun used in the crime based on the fourth suspect involved, who is currently serving a 30-year sentence in Zimbabwe for killing a police officer.
On 11 February 2015, a High Court in Pretoria Judge Ferdi Preller sentenced Paida Fish, Chris Moyo and Samuel Mabena each to 43 years imprisonment, of which they have to serve 30, on charges of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and the unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
46Loss42–4 Osborne MachimanaTKO1, 2:412 Feb 2008 Emperor's Palace, Kempton Park, South AfricaFor South African heavyweight title
45Win42–3 Daniel BispoUD1012 May 2007 Emperor's Palace, Kempton Park, South Africa
44Win41–3 Colin WilsonTKO2 24 Nov 2006 Convention Centre, Mafikeng, South Africa
43Win40–3 Alexey VarakinKO2, 1:5914 Dec 2004 Schwarzl Freizeit Zentrum, Sölden, Austria
42Loss39–3 Vitali KlitschkoTKO8, 2:4624 Apr 2004 Staples Center, Los Angeles, California, USFor vacant WBC and The Ring heavyweight titles
41Win39–2 Wladimir KlitschkoTKO2, 0:278 Mar 2003 Preussag Arena, Hanover, GermanyWon WBO heavyweight title
40Win38–2 Otis TisdaleTKO2, 1:409 Nov 2002 Coca-Cola Bricktown Events Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, US
39Win37–2 Michael SprottTKO1, 1:253 Nov 2001 Carnival City, Brakpan, South Africa
38Loss36–2 Hasim RahmanTKO7, 1:5020 May 2000 Bally's Park Place, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USLost WBU heavyweight title
37Win36–1 Al ColeTKO1, 1:1319 Feb 2000 Carnival City, Brakpan, South AfricaRetained WBU heavyweight title
36Win35–1 Jorge ValdesTKO1, 0:302 Jul 1999 Whitchurch Leisure Centre, Bristol, EnglandRetained WBU heavyweight title
35Win34–1 Bobby CzyzTKO2, 1:4312 Jun 1998 Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, USRetained WBU heavyweight title
34Win33–1 Ross PurittyUD1215 Nov 1997 Carousel Casino, Hammanskraal, South AfricaWon vacant WBU heavyweight title
33Win32–1 Arthur WeathersTKO1, 1:377 Feb 1997 Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, US
32Win31–1 Olian AlexanderTKO2 12 Sep 1996 Hilton, Huntington, New York, US
31Win30–1 Sean HartTKO2, 1:1820 Aug 1996 The Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
30Win29–1 Curtis ShepardKO1, 1:1220 Jul 1996 Morula Sun, Mabopane, South Africa
29Win28–1 Keith FletcherKO4, 1:1626 Jan 1996 Hilton Metropole Hotel, Brighton, England
28Win27–1 James PritchardTKO4 5 Aug 1995 Manuel Lujan Building, Albuquerque, New Mexico, US
27Win26–1 Nikolay KulpinUD101 Apr 1995 Superbowl, Sun City, South Africa
26Win25–1 Garing LanePTS824 Sep 1994 Wembley Arena, London, England
25Win24–1 Carlos de LeónTKO1, 0:4913 Aug 1994 Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US
24Loss23–1 Nate TubbsTKO2, 1:2621 May 1994 Carousel Casino, Hammanskraal, South Africa
23Win23–0 Mike WilliamsKO1, 2:5819 Mar 1994 Carousel Casino, Hammanskraal, South Africa
22Win22–0 Marshall TillmanTKO6 5 Feb 1994 The Aladdin, Paradise, Nevada, US
21Win21–0 Levi BillupsKO1 6 Nov 1993 Superbowl, Sun City, South Africa
20Win20–0 George StephensTKO1 4 Sep 1993 The Aladdin, Paradise, Nevada, US
19Win19–0 Bert CooperTKO3, 1:266 Jun 1993 Steel Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US
18Win18–0 Matthew BrooksTKO1, 2:0017 Apr 1993 ARCO Arena, Sacramento, California, US
17Win17–0 Johnny NelsonUD1024 Oct 1992 Morula Sun, Mabopane, South Africa
16Win16–0 Mike EvansUD1022 Aug 1992 Superbowl, Sun City, South Africa
15Win15–0 Mike DixonPTS89 May 1992 The Mirage, Paradise, Nevada, US
14Win14–0 Anthony WadeUD1022 Feb 1992 Superbowl, Sun City, South Africa
13Win13–0 Art CardTKO1 23 Nov 1991 Superbowl, Sun City, South Africa
12Win12–0 Mike RouseUD1028 Sep 1991 Superbowl, Sun City, South Africa
11Win11–0 Johnny DuPlooyKO1 27 Jul 1991 Superbowl, Sun City, South AfricaWon vacant South African heavyweight title
10Win10–0 Steve GeeTKO4, 1:056 Apr 1991 Dolphin Centre, Darlington, England
9Win9–0 Steve Zouski88 Nov 1990 Biloxi, Mississippi, US
8Win8–0 Moses MthamaTKO1 4 Aug 1990 Superbowl, Sun City, South Africa
7Win7–0 Jorge Vilchis1 23 May 1990 First National Bank Arena, Durban, South Africa
6Win6–0 Weaver QwabeTKO1 29 Mar 1990 Portuguese Hall, Johannesburg, South Africa
5Win5–0 Samson MahlanguTKO3, 2:209 Sept 1989 Morula Sun, Mabopane, South Africa
4Win4–0 Gideon HlongwaTKO3, 2:155 Aug 1989 Superbowl, Sun City, South Africa
3Win3–0 David MalatsiTKO1 27 May 1989 Superbowl, Sun City, South Africa
2Win2–0 Prince Tukane424 Apr 1989 Goodwood Showgrounds, Cape Town, South Africa
1Win1–0 King Kong Dyubele1 2 Apr 1989 Good Hope Centre, Cape Town, South Africa