DEON POTGIETER, Johannesburg | Wednesday 9.00am.
SOUTH Africa’s World Boxing Union heavyweight champion of the world Corrie Sanders is on his way to the big league. Sanders has been matched in a unification bout with the newly crowned World Boxing Organisation’s heavyweight champion, Vitali Klitschko.
“The Sanders-Klitschko battle will undoubtedly be the biggest championship fight involving two white heavyweights since Rocky Marciano defended the world title against Roland La Starza in the fifties,” says Golden Fists promoter Rodney Berman.
The Super-fight, which was confirmed late last night between Berman and the German promoter Peter Kohl, will take place in October, either in Germany or the Ukraine.
Klitscho, a 6′ 8″ Ukrainian, who is undefeated with a record of 23 wins, 23 knockouts, won the title a week ago in London when he demolished the highly rated champion Herbie Hide in two rounds. The 6’5″ Sanders made the second successful defence of his world title on Friday, also in the UK, by knocking out Spain’s Jorge Valdes in 30 seconds of the first round.
Sanders, who is now 35 wins, 1 loss with 25 knock-outs, is hoping that this unification will lead to a unification bout with the winner of the Holyfield – Lewis fight, scheduled for September. If such a bout comes off we could see the top five world sanctioning bodies being united with one heavyweight champion.
“Lewis can’t duck me forever,” says Sanders. “Lewis is scared to fight our guy.” says Berman “He’s been giving Corrie a miss for nearly two years now.”