DEON POTGIETER, Johannesburg | Friday 10.00am.
CORRIE Sanders steps into the ring on Friday night in Atlantic city in possibly the most important fight of his fistic career to date.
He makes the fourth defence of his WBU heavyweight world title against Hassim Rahman, in a bout broadcast live by American television giant HBO.
With the state of heavyweight boxing seemingly in a slump, the search is on for a boxer who could stand up with credibility against Universal heavyweight champ Lennox Lewis.
An impressive demolition of Rahman whose record is 32 wins, two losses with 26 knockouts, could see Sanders getting the nod.
Rahman’s losses came at the hands of IBF number-one contender David Tua, who will face Lewis in November (if Francois Botha doesn’t score an upset win against Lewis on July 15) and Oleg Maskaev, another recognised contender.
“It’s going to be a tough fight,” says promoter Rodney Berman “both guys are desperate to win.”
If Sanders (36 wins, one loss with 26 knockouts) impresses HBO audiences, he will return to the States in November for another big name clash, and then possibly land his dream fight against Lewis early next year.
The cream of world boxers fight under the HBO banner including Lewis, Naseem Hamed and Oscar De La Hoya.
Sanders will bank a purse of R1,5-million for this bout, but could increase that ten-fold if he continues his good form of late and uses this opportunity to shine on one of boxing’s biggest stages.
“If Sanders loses,” adds Berman “It would effectively be the end of his title chances.”