Heavyweight Champions Wladimir Klitschko and Vitali Klitschko Express Words about the Late Corrie Sanders – Boxing News

K2 Promotions was very saddened to hear about the death of former heavyweight world champion Corrie Sanders over the weekend. The 46-year-old Sanders was shot in an apparent robbery in Britz, near Pretoria, while celebrating the birthday of a family member. “It was a shock to Vitali and Wladimir as well as myself when I heard the news” said Tom Loeffler, managing director of K2 Promotions. “Corrie was a world champion boxer and a true gentleman and a pleasure to work with outside the ring.”

The Klitschko brothers released a statement calling him a “great person”.

“We were shocked to learn of the sudden death of Corrie Sanders and we want to express our sincere condolences to his family,” read the statement. “We will remember Corrie as a great person both inside and outside the ring. He was a great fighter with a big heart who always positively represented the sport of boxing.”

Sanders will always be linked to the Klitschko brothers, having fought both of them. He won the WBO World Title with a devastating second round knockout over Wladimir on March 8, 2003 in Hannover, Germany, winning the WBO World Title.

In his following bout, Sanders traveled to Los Angeles, California on April 24, 2004 and challenged older brother Vitali for the vacant WBC World Title. Fighting valiantly throughout the fight, Sanders was stopped in the eighth round when referee Jon Schorle deemed that he had taken too much punishment.

“The fight at Staples Center against Vitali was the first promotion of K2 and I have very fond memories of working with Corrie and his team. He fought like a true warrior that night” continued Loeffler.

“Corrie fought all over the world but his fights against both Vitali and Wladimir, and Fight of the Year candidate war against Hasim Rahman in Atlantic City in 2000 are probably what he’s best known for.”