King wants Sanders to fight

2004-04-29 21:29

Jaco van der Merwe

Johannesburg - Corrie Sanders is contemplating retirement, but promoter Don King's chequebook may make the South African heavyweight boxer change his mind.

King is to visit South Africa next month for the "All the King's Men" tournament at Carnival City in Brakpan, an event he will be co-promoting with Rodney Berman.

The highlight of the tournament will be the World Boxing Association junior-heavyweight title bout between Jean-Marc Mormeck of France and American Virgil Hill.

"I would love to talk to Corrie, and I'd also like to work with Rodney in getting Corrie another title shot," said King from the United States during a teleconference on Thursday.

"He (Sanders) deserves to take the title home."

Winning friends ahead of visit

King believes the South African - who was stopped in the eighth round of his World Boxing Council heavyweight title bout with Vitali Klitschko last weekend - still has a lot to offer at the age of 38.

King obviously realises the worth to the sport of good white boxers in the heavyweight division, where they are in a minority.

And, he wasted no time in trying to win friends ahead of his vist by praising South Africa for 10 years of democracy.

"There's so much instability all around the globe. Since the end of apartheid, South Africa has set an example for the rest of the world, and that's why I'm so excited about visiting your country."

"I would love to experience a bit of Madiba Magic and also shake hands with (president) Thabo Mbeki.

"I've never visited South Africa, but I've heard that it's one of the most-beautiful places in the world," said King.

- Beeld