Corrie Sanders Tribute

Cornelius "Corrie" Johannes Sanders (7 January 1966 – 23 September 2012) was a South African former professional boxer. In 2003 he became the WBO heavyweight champion by defeating Wladimir Klitschko via a second-round knock out that is considered one of the biggest upsets in heavyweight boxing history and won Ring Magazine upset of the year 2003. He died in a hospital in the early hours of 23 September 2012 after being shot during an armed robbery.

Sanders began his boxing career with a first round knockout of King Kong Dyubele on 2 April 1989. He won his first 23 bouts, 15 by knockout. Among the fighters he defeated during that streak were Steve Zouski, Art Card, future WBO cruiserweight champion Johnny Nelson and future world title challenger Bert Cooper. In his 24th bout, on 21 May 1994, he suffered his first defeat, at the hands of Nate Tubbs via a second round knockout.
He fought 12 more times over the next five years, including a first round knockout over former world cruiserweight champion Carlos De León and a second round knockout over another former world champion, Bobby Czyz. A stoppage loss to future heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman in a bout Sanders was winning confirmed his ability and also his vulnerability. Returning to the ring in 2001 he scored a quick win over Michael Sprott and then followed this up with a defeat of Otis Tisdale in 2002. Corrie Sanders' biggest weapons are his southpaw fast hands which he uses to knock fighters out early. Winning the WBO heavyweight title

Despite the fact that he had fought only three rounds in the last two years, the World Boxing Organization sanctioned a challenge to their heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko. On 8 March 2003, Sanders provided a stunning upset in Hanover, Germany by dropping Klitschko four times to snatch the Ukrainian's belt by a second-round knockout. Losing a title shot against Vitali Klitschko

Sanders vacated the WBO title in December 2003 so that he could concentrate on a challenge for the vacant WBC belt. The fight took place on 24 April 2004, against Wladimir's older brother, Vitali. He was stopped by Vitali in the eighth round of a fight at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. After that bout he knocked out Alexei Varakin in the second round of a contest in Soelden, Austria, in December 2004. He briefly retired after that bout.

Sanders returned to action after two years in November 2006 to score a second round stoppage win over the Australian heavyweight champion Colin Wilson at the Convention Centre in Mmbatho. He had recently signed with Golden Gloves Promotions, and won a bout in South Africa against Brazilian Daniel Bispo on the 12 May 2007. His last bout was a first round knock out loss to Osborne Machimana. It was a 12 round bout for the South African Heavyweight title. The official time was 2:41 of round one. It took place in the Emperor's Palace, Kempton Park, Gauteng, South Africa. His record now stands at 42-4-31 KO.

Death
Corrie Sanders was fatally shot in an armed robbery at a restaurant on 22 September 2012. The shooting took place in Brits, where a function was being held for his nephew's 21st birthday. Sanders was wounded in the stomach. He was taken to hospital in Pretoria, where he died in the early hours of 23 September 2012 of his wounds.

Sanders former wife Suzette Sanders said Corrie died a hero, diving to protect his daughter from oncoming bullets.

Please SHARE your feelings! RIP Corrie...