Corrie Sanders, former World Boxing Union (WBU) heavyweight champion, is optimistic about his boxing future. The likeable fighter would have been in action this weekend against big name Michael Grant, had he not sustained an injury in training.
“I broke three of my toes on my right foot, while doing roadwork,” says Sanders. “I was very disappointed, as a win over Grant would elevate me into the top five heavyweights in the world.”
Sanders speaks with a lot more conviction and determination these days when surveying the heavyweight division and the role he could play in it.
Although he lost his WBU title to Hassim Rahman late last year on an eighth-round stoppage, Sanders, rather than Rahman, received a lot of positive press in the United States. “Corrie just ran out of steam against Rahman,” says trainer/manager Harold Volbrecht, “Corrie was unable to do his roadwork before that bout, due to a knee injury. We wanted to postpone the Rahman fight. It was a good offer, however, so we went ahead with it.”
The fight turned out to be one of the most exciting punch-ups seen in recent times in heavyweight circles. Both fighters gave their all, unfortunately Sanders’s lack of fitness caught up to him and he was forced to quit. After the bout Rahman said he too was on the verge of quitting. “I feel good,” says Sanders, “if all goes well, I’ll continue fighting until the end of next year, if not I’ll hang up my gloves at the end of this year.”
By everything going well, Sanders means a victory over the likes of Grant and then Lewis or Tyson.
“I’m very keen on getting in the ring with these guys, not only for the obvious lucrative pay cheques, but also to find my true position among the guys. I know I can beat them.”
Some think Sanders is all talk, but he has the fastest hands in the division and he can bang. Just ask Al Cole, who lasted all of 63 seconds, and Jorge Valdes (28 seconds) about that.
Grant, who was to have faced Sanders’s replacement Eliecer Castillo on Saturday night, has himself withdrawn from the bout following the discovery of two blood clots in his shoulder and back. Grant has now been replaced by another top-10 heavyweight, Oleg Maskaev, to face Castillo.