Andrew Muchineripi : Boxing
What does the future hold for newly-crowned WBU heavyweight champion Corrie Sanders?
The 31-year-old Pretoria southpaw completely overshadowed American Ross Puritty in a non-contest at the Carousel last Saturday and set himself up for an encounter with a champion of another organisation, probably at the same venue next February.
IBF junior featherweight champion Vuyani Bungu, IBA junior flyweight champion Jacob Matlala and WBU super bantamweight king Cassius Baloyi are likely to feature on the same bill.
Sanders could find himself up against the likes of Evander Holyfield, holder of the WBA and IBF titles, WBC champion Lennox Lewis and Englishman Herbie Hide, who holds the WBO crown. Other names that have been mooted are Michael Moorer (former IBF holder) or ex-WBU champion and veteran George Foreman.
One ringsider said “Baby Jake” Matlala threw more punches in three minutes than Puritty did in 36 minutes.
Matlala scored a 12th-round technical knockout over Colombian Luis Doria after referee Clement Martin halted the proceedings 14 seconds from the end of the round. Matlala is scheduled to feature in a mega-bucks unification fight against a yet- to-be-named opponent next year.
Some of the likely candidates include sensational strawweight Ricardo Lopez and WBC champion Samon Sorjaturong of Thailand and Melchio Cob Castro of Mexico, holder of the WBO title.
Baby Jake relinquished the WBO crown early this year so as to be able to fight legend Michael Carbajal in America recently. Matlala outclassed Doria before scoring two knockdowns in later rounds. Baloyi is expected to move up in weight to challenge for the vacant WBU featherweight championship following his seventh round stoppage of Hungarian challenger Laszlo Bognar.