Corrie is spoiling for a brawl

November 01 1997

By Clinton van der Berg

There was a point in Wednesday afternoon's sparring session when Corrie Sanders' frustration became all too apparent. He feinted with his right hand and planted a stinging left hook on the jaw of Pele Reid that had the Englishman gasping.

"Enough!" shouted trainer Harold Volbrecht, signalling a return to the pitter-patter sparring that Sanders clearly dislikes. The South African heavyweight champion was probably operating at about 50%, but it was enough to see him through another workout without raising too much of a sweat.

"One thing," said Phillip Holiday, the former world champion sitting alongside the ring, "is that guys just don't realise Corrie's power and his speed. On his day he might be the fastest heavyweight in the world."

Reid will have known. Big and strong, he's built like Mike Weaver and carries into the ring a perfect 10-0 (10 KOs) record and the second-tier WBO intercontinental heavyweight title. He's also a former kickboxer of repute, having won the world championship in New York a few years back.

But Sanders mastered him fairly easily in their four rounds before taking on two novice pros with outstanding amateur pedigrees.

First, he went two tepid rounds with Sam Ubokane, the former Africa amateur heavyweight champion, who, besides being tall and long-limbed, is awkward and unorthodox, like Henry Akinwande.

No problem for Sanders, though. He toyed with him.

Then he fought Baasjan Rothman, the former amateur SA light-heavyweight champion and now 3-0 as a pro, who tried desperately hard but really couldn't land a punch of consequence on the Pretoria southpaw.

"Shucks," said Rothman, "hy's sterk".

Watching it all, it was hard not to think that Sanders would have been better served had his backers shipped in a seasoned American journeyman to help him prepare for his fight against Ross Puritty (21-10-1) for the WBU heavyweight title at the Carousel on November 15. There are plenty of such candidates who, provided you pay them well enough, take their lumps and bruises and come back for more the next day.

"It's always been a problem for Corrie," agreed Volbrecht. "In all the years we've been together he's never had top sparring in South Africa. We just don't have the heavyweights. But when we go to America there are plenty there for us to use. The best sparring we've ever had has been on our trips to New York and Atlantic City. You knock one guy out and there's another one in his place prepared to try his luck."

There's more than a hint of irony when Volbrecht adds that Puritty probably has a dozen or so sparring partners lining up to take pot shots at him on any given day as he prepares for the biggest fight of his career.

Even though Volbrecht's expertise and attention to detail means that Sanders (32-1) will be perfectly fit for his title shot, it's got to be a worry that the quality of sparring hasn't been nearly good enough.

Sanders agrees. "Ag, you know, you've got to take it easy sometimes. I could hurt these okes and then they don't come back. That's no good to me." There's also the question of what effect Sanders' inactivity will have on his form.

He last fought in Las Vegas in February, a bout that lasted less than three minutes. But what action. His opponent, Art Weathers, dumped Sanders on to the canvas with an innocuous looking jab right at the start.

"Basically, I was asleep," explained Sanders. "He caught me. I was down. I thought: I'm going to show him'."

A sustained body attack from the South African followed and Weathers was finally knocked into the ropes and put down for the count.

"That happens when you lose concentration," says Volbrecht. "It doesn't mean Corrie's got a weak jaw. I've seen him take far bigger punches to beat his man."

He'll have to show as much in a fortnight because Puritty is a dangerous puncher who puts the full weight of his body (about 114-118kg) behind his punches, as proven in stoppage defeats of durable heavyweights like Jorge Luis Gonzalez and Joe Hipp and his two knockdowns of Tommy Morrison in their drawn bout in 1994.

"There are only two ways to win," said Volbrecht. "If Corrie catches him clean early on he might go. Otherwise, he must dart in and out. This guy (Puritty) has brawls for breakfast, so we mustn't give him one."

Sanders must beware Puritty power

Nov. 7, 1997

Andrew Muchineripi

Corrie Sanders could become the third boxer from South Africa to hold the world heavyweight title if he beats tough-as-teak American Ross Puritty next Saturday.

The two clash for the vacant World Boxing Union (WBU) title on the Jumbo Cash and Carry bill dubbed the "Amabuthu Empi" extravaganza at the Carousel on Novwember 15.

But if the Pretoria-based southpaw is to have his name added to the South African world heavyweight champions' list that includes Gerrie Coetzee and Francois Botha, then he should not fall into the trap of slugging it out with his 30-year-old opponent.

Puritty, whose record reads (23-10-1) is a banger and can equally take a solid punch. He has beaten 21 of his victims inside the distance - proof of his enormous punching power.

Sanders should use his hand speed and move all the time to outclass the 115kg Puritty. Although he's a tough cookie - he has only lost once in 34 bouts when he was knocked cold by American toughie Nate Tubbs in 1995 - the 31-year-old South African should not underestimate his opponent's punching power.

Trainer Harold Volbrecht believes his charge has the ability to capture the crown which became vacant when the authorities stripped the title from veteran George Foreman for failing to defend it. On his arrival this week Puritty, accompanied by trainer and former welterweight great Curtis Cokes, predicted a victory.

After turning professional in 1989, Puritty (22-10-2, 20 knockouts) has rubbed shoulders against the likes of Jorge Gonzalez, Ron Gullete, Michael Seals, Calvin Jones and Joe Hipp. His losses were against Hasim Rahman, Michael Grant, Brian Nielsen, John Margent and Kirk Johnson. But he fought a thrilling 10 round draw with Tommy Morrison.

Puritty sent out dangerous signals by knocking out southpaw Joe Hipp - something he believes he'll do in his first quest for the world title. While Puritty will be trying to add his name to the list of numerous American heavyweight champions, Sanders will be attempting to have his name engraved in the history book along with that of former WBA champion Coetzee and Botha, who once held the IBF version.

Coetzee stopped Michael Dokes in September 1983 in Ohio but lost the title in his first defence against Greg Page at Sun City three months later.

Botha outpointed Germany's Alex Schulz in Stuttgart in December 1995 but later had his title stripped from him after he was found to have taken an illegal substance.

Iol.co.za

Glenn Schouw in Pretoria

South African boxing fans were caught with a combination of sucker punches at Rodney Berman's over-hyped tournament at the Carousel at the weekend.

There was to be no relief for the wet and frustrated followers of the sport.

Had Ross Puritty's boots being removed and tags found on each large toe, it would not have shocked the fans.

The zombie-like American Puritty became a candidate for the Guinness Book of Records when he failed to throw a punch in the first round of his fight with South African Corrie Sanders for the vacant WBU title.

Had Sanders decided to copy Riddick Bowe (World Boxing Council) and shove the belt into the nearest garbage bin at the ringside, he would perhaps have had the biggest cheer.

Instead Sanders is now talking of fighting Evander Holyfield (WBA, IBF champion) and Lennox Lewis (WBC).

Bert Blewett, the editor of Boxing World, said today Puritty was not among the top 100 heavyweights in the world.

"He should not have been in the ring with Sanders. Puritty was obviously dug up from somewhere.

"Our top five heavyweights in the national rankings would have given Corrie a harder fight, '' said a bemused Blewett, who is someone who really knows his boxing.

Big names for Sanders

Nov 21, 1997

Andrew Muchineripi

What does the future hold for newly-crowned WBU heavyweight champion Corrie Sanders?

The 31-year-old Pretoria southpaw completely overshadowed American Ross Puritty in a non-contest at the Carousel last Saturday and set himself up for an encounter with a champion of another organisation, probably at the same venue next February.

IBF junior featherweight champion Vuyani Bungu, IBA junior flyweight champion Jacob Matlala and WBU super bantamweight king Cassius Baloyi are likely to feature on the same bill.

Sanders could find himself up against the likes of Evander Holyfield, holder of the WBA and IBF titles, WBC champion Lennox Lewis and Englishman Herbie Hide, who holds the WBO crown. Other names that have been mooted are Michael Moorer (former IBF holder) or ex-WBU champion and veteran George Foreman.