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Knockout win, but by whom?
23/04/2004 21:46 - (SA)
Michael Green
Sun City - Who can plant the hardest punch... Corrie Sanders or Vitali Klitschko?
That is the big question posed by everyone when these two tackle each other in Staples Stadium in Los Angeles for the World Boxing Council's vacant heavyweight title on Sunday morning (SA time).
In South Africa, the fight will be screened live only at Sun City after a Golden Gloves tournament which begins at 23:30.
Practically no one expects the bout to last 12 rounds. Sanders believes everything will be over and done with before they reach the halfway stage.
Klitschko really doesn't have to say anything. He's planted knockout blows in 32 of his 33 victories. Only Lennox Lewis and Chris Byrd could win against him.
Sanders also has dynamite in his fists and has 29 victories to his credit... 18 of them knockouts in the first round. Nate Tubbs and Hasim Rahman managed to beat him.
Punching ability is deceptive
There's also no lost love between the two, especially after Klitschko swore revenge last year when Sanders knocked out his brother, Vladimir, in the second round.
Brian Mitchell, former junior lightweight world champion and one of the country's top trainers these days, doesn't believe the match will last the scheduled 12 rounds.
"Both men really pack a punch. I can't see that both of them will still be standing at the end.
"Corrie can't be seen to be the favourite. But he has a good chance because of his speed and his punching ability is deceptive.
"It's going to be a close contest, but hopefully he can bring the title home," he says.
Andr&eacue; Thysse, South Africa's super middleweight champion, says he believes "Sanders will win the match within four rounds."
Top trainer says a points victory
"Klitschko is too slow and I think Corrie's speed will be too much for him," he says.
He is worried, though, because in the fight against Lennox Lewis, Klitschko showed that he could take a punch.
Although most boxing experts, as well as the man in the street, think that either Sanders or Klitschko can win the fight with a knockout punch, Manny Fernandez, one of the country's top trainers, disagrees.
"I've got a funny feeling that Corrie may win on points," he says.
"If I was Harold Volbrecht, I would ask Corrie to use his speed to fight from a distance and I believe, using this technique, he can win on points."
Fernandez says if Sanders uses this tactic, it can become a boring fight, but the South African should win.
"My prediction is that either of the boxers will win with a knockout early in the fight or that Corrie will win on points."
- Die Burger Oos
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