Corrie Sanders

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Cornelius Johannes Sanders (born 1967) is a South African boxer. He is the third boxer from the African continent to become world Heavyweight champion, after fellow countrymen Gerrie Coetzee and Francois Botha.

Corrie Sanders
Born	January 7, 1966
Died
Total Fights	43
Won	40
Lost	3
Drew	0
Knockouts	30
Titles Won	Heavyweight (WBO)

Sanders began his boxing career with a first round knockout of King Kong Dyubele on April 2, 1989.

He won his first 23 bouts, 15 by knockout. Among the fighters he defeated during that streak were Steve Zouski, Art Card, future WBO world Cruiserweight champion Johnny Nelson and future world title challenger Bert Cooper.

In his 24th bout, on May 21 of 1994, he 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 Leon 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.

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. Speculation had been rife in the boxing world (boxing magazines, shows, etc) that a unification bout between Klitschko and WBC world champion Lennox Lewis was being planned. However, on March 8 of 2003, Sanders provided a stunning upset in Hanover, Germany by dropping Klitschko four times to snatch the Ukrainian's belt in a stunning second round knockout.

With this win, Sanders joined Coetzee and Botha in the list of African world heavyweight champions.

In December of 2003, a rumour circulated that Sanders had lost an eight round bout by decision in South Africa. As it turned out it was another figher with a similar name American heavyweight Corry Sanders, who had participated in the fight.

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 April 24 of 2004, against Wladimir's older brother, Vitali. He was stopped by Vitali in the eighth round at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, having rocked the Ukrainian early in the contest. Sanders looked overweight, as if he had not trained properly and his condition seemed to let him down towards the end of the contest.

Following the defeat to Klitschko he signed an agreement to box for Germany's Universum Box-Promotion. So far he has boxed once for the Hamburg based outfit, knocking out Alexei Varakin in the second round of a contest in Soelden, Austria, in December 2004.

His record currently stands at 40 wins and 3 losses with 30 wins via knockout.

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