Sanders to meet WBO titleholder?

June 29, 1999

Phil Nyamane

What was to be a run-of-the-mill defence of his WBU heavyweight title in England this week has taken on a far bigger significance for Corrie Sanders.

Arguably the least spoken of world heavyweight title holders, Sanders lays his title against American-based Spaniard Jorge Valdes (22-4 with 16 knockouts) in Bristol on Friday night with a promise of meeting Ukranian holder of the WBO title, Vitali Klitschko, in the the near future.

"I have virtually sealed a championship meeting between Sanders and Klitschko," says Rodney Berman, who heads up Golden Gloves Promotions.

"Naturally that match depends on whether or not Corrie performs well against Valdez."

It is believed the more prominent titleholders are avoiding Sanders (34-1 with 24 KOs) because of his awkward southpaw stance which makes him a tough opponent.

While the South African has build an impressive record over the years, there is also a feeling that he has not really met anyone of substance. A win against Valdes, and, hopefully, another over Klitschko, who won the title by bombing former holder Herbie Hide in two rounds at the weekend, will change all that.

Speaking about the proposed match against the Ukranian, Berman, who stages the Sanders/Valdes bout under his overseas Golden Fist emblem, says: "Klitschko's promoter has assured me that an 'all-white' heavyweight title match would appeal to people in Germany where Klitschko has a huge following."

Sanders blows away Valdes in sub-minute massacre

Johannesburg - South Africa's Corrie Sanders blew away Spanish challenger Jorge Valdes in 30 seconds to retain his WBU heavyweight title in Bristol, England on Friday night.

Southpaw Sanders, making his second defence, stunned the attacking Valdes with a left hook followed by a light right hand.

The Spaniard tried holding, but Sanders slipped in a thumping left hook that left him dazed and defenceless.

The champion moved in and decked the stranded challenger with a third crunching left to the jaw.

The referee waved it over without bothering to count.

The 33-year-old Sanders improved his record to 35 wins, 25 inside the distance, and one defeat.

Valdes - who outpointed the only man to beat Sanders, American Nate Tubbs who stopped Sanders in two in 1994 - dropped to 22-5-2.

Sanders, after checking on his felled opponent who took some time to recover, said he wanted to fight WBC heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis.

"Hopefully the Lewis camp will give me a chance. I think I can beat Lewis," said Sanders.

Lewis is scheduled to meet WBA/IBF titleholder Evander Holyfield in a rematch later in November.

The South African, who won the WBU title in 1997, said he was surprised by his quick victory.

"Valdes is a tough guy and he went quick. My trainer Harold (Volbrecht) said I must jab and move.

"But his punches weren't hard for me. I knew it was just a matter of time . . . (but) I would have loved to have gone more rounds."

In his first defence, Sanders stopped former three-time world champion Bobby Czyz on a second round technical knockout in the United States just more than a year ago.

Sanders was the longest reigning SA heavyweight champion - although he never defended that belt - since black and white titles were unified some 20 years ago. - Sapa