(March 8, 2003) Hanover, Germany--
Wladimir Klitschko may hold a PhD and speak several languages but he still couldn't figure out a way to beat an awkward and aging left-hander.
A totally beatable thirty-seven-year-old southpaw Corrie Sanders captured the WBO heavyweight belt by scoring a stunning second-round knockout over the man many figured to eventually defeat Lennox Lewis.
The South African Sanders dropped the 6-foot-7, 240-pound Klitschko with two straight left hands to the face with 35-seconds remaining in the first round. Klitschko struggled to his feet at the count of seven with a blood streaming from a cut over his left eye. Moments later, Sanders unloaded another quick volley of punches that floored the WBO titleholder to his knees for the second time but the champion was able to survive the opening round.
Klitschko seemed composed while sitting on his stool between rounds as his corner took their sweet time to stem the flow of blood from his left eye; however, he was unable to survive another three minutes. The 6-foot-4, 237-pound Sanders drove Klitschko to the deck with another compact left cross to the chin seconds into the second round. Klitschko staggered to his feet at the count of three but after careening across the ring, Sanders dropped him for the final time with a searing left hand to the jaw. With many of the 11,500 shocked German fight fans standing, the native of the Ukraine tumbled to the deck for the fourth and final time and veteran referee Genaro Rodriguez immediately waved off the contest at 2:37 of the second round.
Sanders' chief second vaulted into the ring and into the new WBO heavyweight champion's arms as the South African's handlers and his supporters flooded the ring. Dazed and bloody, the stunned Klitschko dejectedly walked back to the sanctuary of his corner.
"I figured that I had an opportunity to beat him and be the champion of the world and tonight I have proven that," the humbled South African Sanders said after the win. "Seeing his eyes, I knew he couldn't take shots. I caught him with a great left and he was gone." :scared :00hour :0corn :SIB
Despite being on the losing end of a huge upset, Klitschko maintained his poise and addressed the media following the defeat.
"I'm certain I will come back, I'm certain I will be world champion," Klitschko explained. "All great champions have been beaten, then came back. It happened to Ali, it's happened to Lennox Lewis, too."
The robotic Klitschko (40-2, 37 KO's) entered the ring dry and followed the challenger around the ring with a pawing right jab for the first 45-seconds of the opening round. With his back next to the ropes, Sanders (39-2, 29 KO's) suddenly unloaded and drilled Klitschko with a swift left hand that rebounded off the taller man's chin and forced him to retreat. Foreshadowing the eventual conclusion of the bout, Klitschko stepped straight back with his head held high and almost inviting the challenger to throw more blows.
The men traded punches with 1:10 remaining in the opening stanza and the champion did manage to connect with a looping left hook to the head that elicited cheers from the pro-Klitschko crowd. Seconds later, Klitschko scored with a solid right hand but Sanders fired back with a straight left cross that snapped the champion's head back. Klitschko was forced to clinch and he seemingly held on for a few extra seconds before the referee Rodriguez separated the fighters.
Sanders continued to let his hands go and following two brief exchanges Klitschko found himself fighting with his back near the ropes. The challenger pulled the trigger and nailed the champion with two straight left hands to the jaw that Klitschko awkwardly attempted to block. Both blows landed flush on Klitschko's face and he tumbled sideway to the canvas grasping for the ropes as he hit the floor. The champion came to rest flat on his back; his head and shoulders just under the bottom strand of the ropes, but he managed to struggle to his haunches at the count of five before regaining his feet at the toll of seven. However, as Klitschko somewhat regained his balance, blood cascaded from a deep laceration in the corner of his left eye.
As soon as the contest resumed, Sanders caught the still shaken Klitschko with a long telegraphed left hand straight down the middle. The blow exploded off the champion's jaw and he momentarily froze as Sanders followed with a three-punch combination to the head. Klitschko pitched face forward and tumbled to the canvas on his hands and knees. The champion was up before the referee could almost begin his count but Klitschko appeared hurt and disoriented. Sanders landed another flurry of punches as the bell sounded to end the first round.
Klitschko ambled back to his corner on the backs of his heels. Surprisingly, Klitschko's chief second, Fritz Sounek took a fair amount of time before attempting to halt the flow of blood that continued to drip down the left side of the champion's face. Nevertheless, the champion remained poised as he waited on his stool to answer the bell for the second round.
In the opening seconds of the second stanza, Sanders ripped Klitschko with a left hand to the belly and then nailed him again with another straight left to the chin.:00hour Looking like an angular automaton, Klitschko collapsed straight back on his wallet and came to rest in the sitting position. Klitschko attempted to rise only to briefly fall back to the floor before finally regaining his balance and standing at the count of three.
When the action resumed, the off balance Klitschko stumbled forward with his hands held high but with little sense of equilibrium as he meandered across the ring. Sanders fired and landed four blows that thudded off the side of the champion's face as Klitschko ricocheted off the ropes. Looking like a Spanish matador, Sanders let Klitschko pass before hammering the staggering WBO heavyweight king with a brutal left cross square on the jaw.
Klitschko staggered two steps before collapsing face first to the canvas for the final time. As he crashed to the floor, Klitschko was able to cushion the knockdown with his forearms but it was clearly evident he could continue. The referee Rodriguez didn't even bother to count but immediately waved off the fight and thus ending Klitschko's third title defense.
......................................................
An aging left hander dropped him.
Sultan is going to be ready, Freddy.
Wladimir Klitschko may hold a PhD and speak several languages but he still couldn't figure out a way to beat an awkward and aging left-hander.
A totally beatable thirty-seven-year-old southpaw Corrie Sanders captured the WBO heavyweight belt by scoring a stunning second-round knockout over the man many figured to eventually defeat Lennox Lewis.
The South African Sanders dropped the 6-foot-7, 240-pound Klitschko with two straight left hands to the face with 35-seconds remaining in the first round. Klitschko struggled to his feet at the count of seven with a blood streaming from a cut over his left eye. Moments later, Sanders unloaded another quick volley of punches that floored the WBO titleholder to his knees for the second time but the champion was able to survive the opening round.
Klitschko seemed composed while sitting on his stool between rounds as his corner took their sweet time to stem the flow of blood from his left eye; however, he was unable to survive another three minutes. The 6-foot-4, 237-pound Sanders drove Klitschko to the deck with another compact left cross to the chin seconds into the second round. Klitschko staggered to his feet at the count of three but after careening across the ring, Sanders dropped him for the final time with a searing left hand to the jaw. With many of the 11,500 shocked German fight fans standing, the native of the Ukraine tumbled to the deck for the fourth and final time and veteran referee Genaro Rodriguez immediately waved off the contest at 2:37 of the second round.
Sanders' chief second vaulted into the ring and into the new WBO heavyweight champion's arms as the South African's handlers and his supporters flooded the ring. Dazed and bloody, the stunned Klitschko dejectedly walked back to the sanctuary of his corner.
"I figured that I had an opportunity to beat him and be the champion of the world and tonight I have proven that," the humbled South African Sanders said after the win. "Seeing his eyes, I knew he couldn't take shots. I caught him with a great left and he was gone." :scared :00hour :0corn :SIB
Despite being on the losing end of a huge upset, Klitschko maintained his poise and addressed the media following the defeat.
"I'm certain I will come back, I'm certain I will be world champion," Klitschko explained. "All great champions have been beaten, then came back. It happened to Ali, it's happened to Lennox Lewis, too."
The robotic Klitschko (40-2, 37 KO's) entered the ring dry and followed the challenger around the ring with a pawing right jab for the first 45-seconds of the opening round. With his back next to the ropes, Sanders (39-2, 29 KO's) suddenly unloaded and drilled Klitschko with a swift left hand that rebounded off the taller man's chin and forced him to retreat. Foreshadowing the eventual conclusion of the bout, Klitschko stepped straight back with his head held high and almost inviting the challenger to throw more blows.
The men traded punches with 1:10 remaining in the opening stanza and the champion did manage to connect with a looping left hook to the head that elicited cheers from the pro-Klitschko crowd. Seconds later, Klitschko scored with a solid right hand but Sanders fired back with a straight left cross that snapped the champion's head back. Klitschko was forced to clinch and he seemingly held on for a few extra seconds before the referee Rodriguez separated the fighters.
Sanders continued to let his hands go and following two brief exchanges Klitschko found himself fighting with his back near the ropes. The challenger pulled the trigger and nailed the champion with two straight left hands to the jaw that Klitschko awkwardly attempted to block. Both blows landed flush on Klitschko's face and he tumbled sideway to the canvas grasping for the ropes as he hit the floor. The champion came to rest flat on his back; his head and shoulders just under the bottom strand of the ropes, but he managed to struggle to his haunches at the count of five before regaining his feet at the toll of seven. However, as Klitschko somewhat regained his balance, blood cascaded from a deep laceration in the corner of his left eye.
As soon as the contest resumed, Sanders caught the still shaken Klitschko with a long telegraphed left hand straight down the middle. The blow exploded off the champion's jaw and he momentarily froze as Sanders followed with a three-punch combination to the head. Klitschko pitched face forward and tumbled to the canvas on his hands and knees. The champion was up before the referee could almost begin his count but Klitschko appeared hurt and disoriented. Sanders landed another flurry of punches as the bell sounded to end the first round.
Klitschko ambled back to his corner on the backs of his heels. Surprisingly, Klitschko's chief second, Fritz Sounek took a fair amount of time before attempting to halt the flow of blood that continued to drip down the left side of the champion's face. Nevertheless, the champion remained poised as he waited on his stool to answer the bell for the second round.
In the opening seconds of the second stanza, Sanders ripped Klitschko with a left hand to the belly and then nailed him again with another straight left to the chin.:00hour Looking like an angular automaton, Klitschko collapsed straight back on his wallet and came to rest in the sitting position. Klitschko attempted to rise only to briefly fall back to the floor before finally regaining his balance and standing at the count of three.
When the action resumed, the off balance Klitschko stumbled forward with his hands held high but with little sense of equilibrium as he meandered across the ring. Sanders fired and landed four blows that thudded off the side of the champion's face as Klitschko ricocheted off the ropes. Looking like a Spanish matador, Sanders let Klitschko pass before hammering the staggering WBO heavyweight king with a brutal left cross square on the jaw.
Klitschko staggered two steps before collapsing face first to the canvas for the final time. As he crashed to the floor, Klitschko was able to cushion the knockdown with his forearms but it was clearly evident he could continue. The referee Rodriguez didn't even bother to count but immediately waved off the fight and thus ending Klitschko's third title defense.
......................................................
An aging left hander dropped him.
Sultan is going to be ready, Freddy.
