Corrie fought for peanuts

2003-03-31 22:45

Lizel Steenkamp

Johannesburg - Corrie Sanders's dream of owning a game farm in the Bushveld is on hold after a new development which could cost him about $3 million (about R24 million) in loss of income.

Sanders, who was crowned as the World Boxing Organisation's (WBO) new heavyweight champion last month after his victory over Vladimir Klitschko, was apparently misled by Klitschko's promoters.

According to the contract, which the two parties signed prior to the bout, Sanders would have had the right to fight anyone of his choice if he won the fight.

Sanders and his promoters hoped to earn "big money" from this fight and two others, including a rematch with Klitschko.

"Golden Gloves would have hosted these fights and they would determined Corrie's prize money. The broadcasting rights could also have been sold to television channels, which would have made it more lucrative for us," Vernon Smith, manager of Sanders, said on Monday.

These plans are now in the balance after a new arrangement by the WBO that forces Sanders to defend his title against the number one challenger.

"A week after Corrie's victory, they told us that he would have to fight Lamon Brewster (of America) on June 28. Klitschko's promoters must have known about this arrangement beforehand, they misled us," said Smith.

Smith said they would never have signed the contract if they were aware of this.

"Corrie fought Klitschko for peanuts. The plan was to secure a fight for big money after his win. His potential loss of income is estimated at between $2 and $3 million. It is a real setback for him."

Promoters from all over the world bid against one another a week ago for the rights to host the Sanders/Brewster fight. Universum Promotions, Klitschko's promoter, won the bid.

"They can sell the broadcasting rights for this fight to any television channel and Corrie will not see a cent of that money," Smith said.

Golden Gloves and Smith filed an urgent application with the New York high court to have the WBO arrangement set aside.

- Beeld