Deon Potgieter
South African heavyweight hopeful Corrie Sanders is on the verge of challenging for the biggest prize in world boxing.
When Hasim Rahman knocked out Lennox Lewis at Carnival City in April to win the universal heavyweight championship, Sanders watched with a touch of envy. Sanders had previously given Rahman one of his toughest fights and had it not been for poor conditioning, as a result of a knee injury, could well have beaten him.
“It wasn’t a pleasant experience for me to watch the RahmanLewis fight,” says Sanders. “When I was standing there at ringside I knew that it could have been me in with Lewis. It would have been fantastic, especially in front of my home crowd.”
What Rahman’s win did for Sanders was to make him and his promoters realise that he was in the same league as the division’s big guns. “It boosted my confidence and has also motivated me tremendously,” says Sanders.
The Pretoria-based heavyweight returns to action at Carnival City on November 3 against British heavyweight Michael Sprott following a 14-month lay-off from the ring.
While Sprott, who has a record of 15 wins and three losses, with seven knockouts, should pose little threat to Sanders 36 wins and two losses, with 26 knockouts a lot is riding on a victory by the South African. A source close to Lewis has confirmed that should Lewis win his rematch with Rahman he would give Sanders first tilt at the title.
Rahman’s promoter Don King has also purchased an interest in Sanders with the view of furthering the big-hitting southpaw’s career. If a deal cannot be secured for Sanders to face the winner of RahmanLewis II, he will be matched against the winner of Evander HolyfieldJohn Ruiz for the World Boxing Association heavyweight world title.
“I would be very happy to take on the winners of either of those fights,” says Sanders. “It’s my dream now to be acclaimed the universal heavyweight champion of the world and I’ve been working very hard to attain it. Since the Rahman-Lewis fight I’ve been giving that little extra something that had previously been missing in my training. I’m eager to get back into the ring and to show the world what I’m made of.”