By Jermaine Craig/ www.iol.co.za

Oklahoma City - The man who fought Corrie Sanders here on Saturday night, Otis Tisdale, was introduced by the rather intimidating nickname of "The Assassin" by the ring announcer before the fight.

Funny that, because he was about as dangerous as a butterfly inside the ring as Sanders finished him off in less than five minutes.

Tisdale answered the opening bell with a rather glazed look in his eyes.

That look could easily have been mistaken for one of intense concentration and focus, but as it turned out, it was sheer fear as the American spent the first round unsuccessfully trying to avoid getting hit.

Sanders was carrying much more weight than usual, his normally taut stomach a bit more flabby on this occasion, but he hardly needed to raise a sweat as he landed punches at will in the first round.

"Come on assassin, do something. You're hurting his hand with your head," shouted an exasperated voice in the crowd, frustrated with Tisdale's efforts.

Ironically, the worst thing the American could have done was actually hit Sanders with a left hook, which he did for the first time in the second round.

Sanders smiled wryly after being hit, then launched a string of blows to the head and body, reducing the American to a pathetic punching bag and resulting in the referee stopping the fight a minute and 40 seconds into the second round.

"That punch (to the head) woke me up a bit," said Sanders later - so much so that he ended the fight seconds later.

It was a bittersweet victory for Sanders, who was hoping to fight Britain's Commonwealth champion Danny Williams this weekend, but the fight fell through.

"I expected a much harder fight," he said.

"When the guy felt Corrie's power, he quit," reckoned Sanders' trainer, Harold Volbrecht.

The managers of both Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson were at ringside, but unfortunately, it is exactly that power that will make it unlikely that either of them will risk putting their big-money fighters in with Sanders any time soon.

Sanders is still keen on fighting Williams, but it seems more likely that he will fight one of David Tua, Ray Mercer or Michael Moorer on the same bill as Phillip Ndou in Las Vegas on January 25, or at Carnival City, Brakpan, in March.

"Corrie's a good heavyweight, and in the twilight of his career he will make more money than he ever has," said promoter Rodney Berman.

Now 36, Sanders needs to do so - and do so soon.

Corrie Sanders's boxing career resurrected (www.sabcnews.com)

Former WBU Heavyweight Champion, Corrie Sanders's boxing career has been revived. This after the Pretoria-based boxer blasted out Otis Tisdale in the second round in Oklahoma City at the weekend.

Before Saturday, Sanders last fought a year ago and there was speculation that he was going to hang up his gloves because of frustration and inactivity.

If there is one thing that Sanders has managed to master in his career, though, it is to handle disappointments. For a fighter who was once considered to be a genuine heavyweight contender, Sanders never had the chance to realise that potential. In the prime of his career, the likes of the Klitchko brothers and others have decided not to fight the South African.

His most recent disappointment was when, the talented Brit, Danny Williams, also bailed out of the Oklahoma City fight. In the end he has done his career more harm than good as he was forced to fight no name journeymen.

Sanders's impressive performance on Saturday night has prompted promoters to dig deep into their pockets and find him a decent opponent. Names like Michael Moorer and David Tua have cropped up and Sanders will either fight in Vegas in January or he will headline a fight night at Carnival City in March.

It is, however, unfortunate that a boxer with so much talent and skills fails to secure the big name fights. As time runs out, Sanders still lives in hope that the elusive big payday will come his way.

(iol.co.za) Corrie Sanders has made more swings on the golf course this week than punches in the gym.

He's an impressive one handicap golfer, but it's as a heavyweight boxer that he's made his living for the last 15 years or so.

It's been a frustrating living, however, and that frustration has shown this week.

Sanders' most recent frustrations came when it was announced that he was to fight Britain's Commonwealth champion Danny Williams, in what would have been one of the biggest fights of his career.

That fight fell through, however, as did one against the credible Ray Mercer and one against Michael Moorer.

Eventually the little-known American Otis Tisdale was signed up to fight Sanders at Oklahoma's Coca-Cola Arena tomorrow night. Tisdale's is hardly a name sending shivers down the heavyweight division and Sanders expects to win easily, hence his rather lethargic demeanour this week.

Disappointment, unfortunately, has been an integral part of the story of Sanders career. The big fights have eluded him.

He's trained hard enough for this weekend, but a match-up with Tisdale is a rather tame ending to his preparations.

The "Great White Hope" story has been and still is an important part of heavyweight boxing down the years, but Sanders is probably too hopeful. If anything he's been too good for his own good.

In good shape for a heavyweight, Sanders is a quick, skilful boxer and has a punch that has sent many an opponent to dreamland. That, however, makes him a dangerous proposition for the likes of the Mike Tyson's and Lennox Lewis's of this world, who stand to win and lose telephone number pay cheque whenever they climb into the ring.

Journeymen like Sanders' countryman Fransie Botha, who is good for six or seven rounds before politely taking a fall, are perfect and have made good money down the years as the professional fall guy.

Sanders, however, actually has the temerity to try and win.

"Corrie's really had a raw deal in his boxing career," says Sanders' trainer Harold Volbrecht, who was with him virtually from day one.

"I believe he was wasted, because he's so talented. I still thinkhe is the quickest heavyweight in the world."

Indeed he has won 37 of his 39 professional fights and was formerly the World Boxing Union heavyweight champion.

His two losses, against Nate Tubbs and former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world Hasim Rahman, came at crucial times and were probably unfairly held against him.

So, instead of being the "contender" he always knew he was, Sanders (36) perhaps senses that his moment has passed and he is in the game for a few more big paydays before he finally calls it quits.

"I've been unlucky," a philosophical Sanders said this week with great understatement.

"I can't complain. Boxing's been good to me, I've made a bit of money out of it and maybe there's still a chance or two left for me. It's the choice I made and I have no regrets. I am still striving to be a world champion and striving for a few more big paydays. But I'm getting older now and it's getting harder to keep going. I want to go out in good health."

Having campaigned for so long, retiring in one piece, on his terms, is probably the best gift he could give himself.

Suntimes.co.za

Corrie's last, greatest chance

'Mind-boggling possibilities' if he beats giant Ukrainian Vitali Klitschko in main supporting bout on the Lewis-Tyson bill

David Isaacson

Pretoria heavyweight Corrie Sanders gets the break of a lifetime when he fights the former WBO world champion, Vitali Klitschko, on the Lennox Lewis-Mike Tyson bill on June 8.

After a career on the fringe of the heavyweight division, Sanders will meet the Ukrainian giant in the main supporting bout of a contest that is expected to attract the largest audience in boxing history.

The Lewis-Tyson showdown for the Briton's WBC and IBF crowns in Memphis, Tennessee, is also likely to be the richest-grossing bout of no less than 150-million (about R1.65-billion).

Sanders, 36, has never broken into the lucrative mainstream of heavyweight boxing - mainly because he was not signed by the dominant pay-per-view cable networks, like HBO and Showtime, which are both involved in Lewis-Tyson.

Klitschko, 30, the European champion, stands 2.02m and is the older brother of WBO heavyweight titleholder Wladimir, who "boxed" Lewis in the Hollywood hit Ocean's Eleven and, in his last defence, battered South Africa's Fransie Botha into submission.

Vitali himself held the WBO crown until he was dethroned in his only loss by American Chris Byrd, now the IBF's mandatory challenger who recently failed in a bid to force Lewis to fight him instead of Tyson.

"The possibilities are mind-boggling if Corrie wins," promoter Rodney Berman said. "There would be an HBO contract."

Even when he held the marginal WBU title, Sanders was unable to work his way into the limelight.

His purse has yet to be finalised, but Berman estimated it will be around 250 000 (R2.75-million) - Sanders's biggest yet.

Still, that is chicken-feed in the upper echelons of heavyweight boxing, with Lewis and Tyson expected to rake in at least $25-million (R275-million) each.

Sanders's trainer, Harold Volbrecht, says his fighter knows this is his final chance.

"If he doesn't beat Klitschko, then Corrie should retire."

But the mentor, who failed in two world welterweight championship bids in his own career as a fighter, is confident of victory.

"Klitschko is stronger, but he's too slow for Corrie. I don't care if Corrie has to be defensive the whole fight, just as long as he wins."

Sanders blew his previous biggest opportunity in 2000 when he was stopped by Hasim Rahman, who went on to upset Lewis on a knockout in South Africa last year.

Sanders, who lifted the vacant WBU belt against Ross Puritty in 1997, had not been able to get properly fit for the Rahman showdown because of a knee operation he underwent shortly before the bout.

The Klitschko brothers rule the heavyweight division in Europe and have suffered one loss apiece - with each going on to avenge the other's defeat.

Vitali was stopped by Byrd and Wladimir was beaten by Sanders's points victim, Puritty.

Puritty and Levi Billups are the only opponents Klitschko and Sanders have in common. Vitali beat both inside the distance although the South African emphatically blasted the once-rated Billups inside of one round.

Sanders's biggest problem has been a lack of belief in his own ability, but his strengths are hand-speed and punching power.

"If Corrie's mind is right on the night, we'll win," said Volbrecht.

One possible advantage for Sanders is that like Vitali's conqueror, Byrd, he is a southpaw.

The only snag facing the Sanders team at the moment is finding decent sparring partners.

"We're getting a guy from overseas and then we're going to leave three weeks before and spar in the United States," said Volbrecht.

They will set up camp either in Houston, Texas, or St Petersburg, Florida.

Klitschko's record is 31 wins, 30 by stoppage, and one loss. Sanders is 37-2 (27).