USA: BOXING - FORMER HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION CORRIE SANDERS TALKS ABOUT HIS UPCOMING BOUT AGAINST VITALI KLITSCHKO FOR THE VACANT WBC HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE.

Record ID: 647967

  • Title: USA: BOXING - FORMER HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION CORRIE SANDERS TALKS ABOUT HIS UPCOMING BOUT AGAINST VITALI KLITSCHKO FOR THE VACANT WBC HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE.
  • Date: 14th April 2004
  • Summary: (W1) MARINA DEL REY, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (APRIL 14, 2004) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. CORRIE SANDERS LACING UP SHOES 2. SANDERS' HANDS BEING TAPED BY TRAINER 3. PAN FROM CAMERA CREW TO SANDERS AND TRAINER 4. SANDERS STRETCHING 5. VARIOUS OF SANDERS SHADOWBOXING IN RING 6. TRAINER SLAPPING AT SANDERS WITH TOWEL 7. TRAINER LACING UP BOXING GLOVES 8. VARIOUS OF SANDERS THROWING PUNCHES 9. VARIOUS OF SANDERS JUMPING ROPE 10. REPORTERS INTERVIEWING SANDERS 11. SOUNDBITE (English) CORRIE SANDERS BEING ASKED ABOUT VITALI KLITSCHKO, SAYING: "I think he's a tough guy. That's my opinion, you know. He's never been hit proper, even an out-of-shape Lennox Lewis, you know, couldn't catch him proper. And I believe, we'll see .. if we're going to catch him proper, what's going to happen." REPORTER ASKING: "How about focus and concentration?" SANDERS SAYING: "A lot, no, definitely. That's a big part of my boxing career, is concentration, and that's where I believe I lost it on the end of the rounds." 12. MEDIA AND TEAM MEMBERS 13. SOUNDBITE (English) SANDERS BEING ASKED IF THIS IS THE TOUGHEST FIGHT OF HIS CAREER, SAYING: "I've had a lot of tough fights, Hasim Rahman, you know? I had [Vitali's] brother, Vladimir, which they said was the best, better than him. Which I can't say, you know, that's what the people said around. But I had a lot of tough fights, and this is one again. Every fight is tough for me." 14. SANDERS TALKING TO REPORTERS 15. SANDERS PUNCHING SPEED-BAG Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 29th April 2004 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MARINA DEL REY, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVA7DTIQQHOBSBQBLQN56GEZV4DW
  • Story Text: Former heavyweight champion Corrie Sanders talks
    about his upcoming bout against Vitali Klitschko.



    Former WBO heavyweight champion Corrie Sanders of
    South Africa has held a media workout in preparation for
    his fight for the vacant WBC heavyweight crown against
    Vitali Klitschko later this month.

    In March 2003 Sanders registered a major upset when he
    knocked out Vitali's brother Wladimir and defending WBO
    champion in Hanover, Germany. The focus then shifted to
    the matchup between Vitali and Lennox Lewis, who won a
    controversial bout only to retire shortly afterwards.

    Then, last week, Wladimir was defeated by Lamon Brewster in
    Las Vegas, leaving all eyes focused on the Vitali Klitschko
    - Corrie Sanders battle.

    Speaking to reporters after his workout, the South
    African talked about his opponent's speed and agility. "I
    think he's a tough guy," Sanders said of Klitschko, "that's
    my opinion, you know. He's never been hit proper, even an
    out-of-shape Lennox Lewis, you know, couldn't catch him
    proper. And I believe, we'll see .. if we're going to
    catch him proper, what's going to happen."
    When asked about the importance of maintaining focus in
    Saturday's match, Sanders acknowledged that the mental
    aspect will be critical, adding: "That's a big part of my
    boxing career, is concentration, and that's where I believe
    I lost it on the end of the rounds."
    Currently, Sanders has an enviable record, boasting a
    log of 39-2-0. Vitali Klitschko, the favourite in the upcoming
    faceoff, has a comparable tally (33-2-0).

    Still, Sanders does have a few disadvantages, He is
    38, almost six years older than his opponent, Klitschko is
    also 3.5 inches (9cm) taller and has a slightly longer
    reach. What's more, Sanders has only fought three
    opponents in the last three years -- none of which has kept
    him in the ring for more than two rounds.

    Nonetheless, the South African says he's not afraid of
    the elder Klitschko. "I've had a lot of tough fights,
    Hasim Rahman, you know," he said, referring to the American
    who handed Sanders his last defeat. "I had [Vitali's]
    brother, Wladimir, which they said was the best, better
    than him. Which I can't say, you know, that's what the
    people said around. But I had a lot of tough fights, and
    this is one again. Every fight is tough for me."
    Corrie Sanders and Vitali Klitschko will lock gloves at
    Staples Center in downtown L.A on April 24.


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