Gavin Evans looks at the boxing future of Cornelius Sanders
Cornelius Johannes Sanders, heavyweight king of South Africa and the parochial little universe of the World Boxing Union (WBU), is about to become a British product. As he explained it to me: “I’ve fought in the United Kingdom six times and I’ve had a great reception. I feel it’s right for me, so from now on I will be fighting there – the same as some other British-based fighters, like Lennox Lewis.”
Well, if I wanted to be pedantic, I could point out that London-born Lennox has spent two-thirds of his life there and that Sanders’s British past is actually limited to three outings, but his general contention makes sense. The only flags worth flying these days are those of convenience. To illustrate the point, his fellow Pretorian Frans Botha holds a United States title but has also transferred to a British promoter (Frank Warren), while one- time Nigerian Henry Akinwande calls himself an American these days, having previously been an Englishman and, says Don King, “my Zulu warrior”.
So, you get paid your money and your promoter takes his choice. Sanders began his career at home, but soon after he won the national title by taking out Johnny du Plooy in one round, his local promoter Rodney Berman saw the need for a larger launching pad. Together with his US-based, South African-born partner Cedric Kushner he sold Sanders to the American market, but despite 12 victories there, and a record of 34 wins in 35 fights, the 1,93m, 106kg southpaw failed to “take off”.
Which leaves Britain as the sole alternative – more so since Berman has established a bridgehead there with his Golden Fists organisation and an ITV2 television deal. So Sanders will make his debut as a British fighter in Bristol on July 2 against Spain’s Jorge Valdes, who holds a win over Sanders’s bte noire Nate Tubbs, but as his four losses in 28 fights show, has fallen short at the elite level. Given that Sanders has been out of action since overpowering former cruiserweight world champion Bobby Czyz in two rounds last June, Valdes seems acceptable fodder and Berman is certainly talking it up. “It will give the British public the first chance to see how good Sanders is, a week after Herbie Hide defends his World Boxing Organisation (WBO) world title [against Vitalij Klitschko], although after Hide has seen what Sanders can do we’re worried he may lose interest.”
Sanders insists he has Herbie’s number. “It would be a fight between the two fastest heavyweights in the world, but I can’t see him beating me. He’s quick and has a bit of power, but he’s small for a modern heavyweight and I’d be far too powerful for him.” Well he would say that, wouldn’t he, but in reality there is less chance of this now that Berman and Warren are promotional rivals, than in the days when they were scratching each other’s backs.
The other UK-promoted heavy he would love to meet is the ubiquitous Botha, and Berman says he’s working on a showdown between these two South Africans. The last time they fought was in the South African amateur heavyweight finals 11 years ago when Sanders flattened Botha in one round – one of a trio of victories over his rival. He has since watched Botha prosper under the largesse of first Don King and then Warren, winning the International Boxing Federation (IBF) “world” title on a curious decision before being stripped for steroid abuse and then stopped by Michael Moorer and Mike Tyson. On August 7 he gets yet another chance against a “name” American when he fights Shannon Briggs. Sanders, in contrast, has gazed into the middle distance for most of his career. “I feel sad when I think of all the chances he’s had, because I know I would have made far more of them,” Sanders told me. “Several times we’ve tried to get him but his dad always said no way. If it happens, I see no problem. He may have improved a lot, but we’re still in a different league.”
Sanders, who turned 33 in January and is married with a two-year-old daughter, says he has two more years before retiring to domesticity. However, he will not be satisfied until he’s had a chance against the best in the world, and in his mind there is no doubt who deserves that title. “Lennox Lewis clearly beat Holyfield last time and I’m sure he’ll finish Evander’s career next time. He’s an outstanding fighter, but I believe I can beat him. I’d move and hit, rake up the points. He’s put on weight and has slowed a bit – he doesn’t move like he used to, and that would give me a lot to work with.”
The reason for the stasis in Sanders’s fortunes is not unrelated to his own shortcomings. During his first five years as a professional, events proceeded according to plan. He frustrated with the occasional stinker, but nevertheless established a reputation as a fast, skilled heavy capable of quick victories over respectable opposition. The Kushner-cosy IBF awarded him an inflated ranking and he seemed on his way to the money. But in May 1994, in the second round of a routine assignment against one Nate Tubbs, he forgot to duck and was counted out courtesy of a massive hook. The effect was to recycle doubts (including his own) about his chin, going back to his amateur days. The best move might have been another go at Tubbs, but the American was beaten by Valdes and faded from the scene. Five years on, Sanders shrugs his sloping shoulders. “I’d love to fight Tubbs again, just to show everyone it was a fluke, but today beating him would mean nothing.”
Instead, Berman and Kushner angled for the division’s big beasts, but none materialised and Sanders was left to chew over men on the far fringes of world class. Eventually, he settled for the WBU “world” title, winning every round against the United States’ Ross Puritty. But the WBU is no more than a minor British-based corporation with strong South African links and no prospect of ascending to the dubious heights of its equally venal but far larger rivals (the World Boxing Council, World Boxing Association, IBF and WBO). This title has done little to advance Sanders’s cause, pushing his name out of the rankings without offering much in return. He hoped his emphatic showing against Czyz would tip the balance, but instead he shadow-boxed for 13 months.
Perhaps if he’d done more to promote himself, he might have broken through, but Sanders gave the impression of doing no more than going through the motions. If he gets the chance, this former cop prefers chatting about rugby or his passion for golf. Yet anybody following his progress could see he was developing into a far better boxer than his reputation, or lack of it, would suggest. For a big man he’s light on his feet, with fast hands and decent power. He has a fine boxing brain and sound defensive skills, and his beefy torso disguises the natural athletic ability which saw him running the 100m in 11 seconds as a teenager and playing centre for Northern Transvaal B in rugby.
What was lacking, aside from the chin, was the fire, passion and self-belief to take him all the way. He’s still too laid back ever to become a compulsive pugilist in the Holyfield mode, but his trainer Harold Volbrecht says he’s noticed an attitude change. “He watched Botha against Tyson and Lewis against Holyfield and came away believing in his heart he could beat all of them. He’s improved a great deal recently, and one of the reasons is that he’s got his confidence back.” Volbrecht says this emerged in his renewed commitment to training. “He works hard now – almost every day, and even if there’s not a fight on the horizon he’ll do weights and running, and takes part in lots of the 10km and 21km races for his sponsor [Adidas].”
Sanders admits that for a few years he lacked focus as a result of his long periods of inaction. But now, he insists the combination of desperate frustration and the chance for redemption on British soil has re-invigorated him. “I used to be like that – short of dedication – but it’s totally different these days. I truly believe that if I’m given the chance, I can beat any heavyweight in the world, Lewis, Holyfield and Tyson included, and now the promise of big fights if I do well in Britain, has really inspired me again. You just watch and I promise you’ll be im- pressed.”