Corrie Sanders, former WBO heavyweight champion, shot dead
• Sanders died in hospital after being shot in robbery • South African beat Wladimir Klitschko to win WBO belt in 2003
Agencies
guardian.co.uk, Sunday 23 September 2012
The former WBO heavyweight champion Corrie Sanders has died in hospital after being shot in an armed robbery in his native South Africa.
Initial reports say that Sanders, who beat Wladimir Klitschko to claim the WBO belt in 2003, was shot in the stomach at a restaurant in Brits, near the capital Pretoria, on Saturday. He died in the early hours of Sunday.
The North West Police Brigadier Thulani Ngubane that gunmen entered a restaurant in the town of Brits where 46-year-old Sanders was attending his nephew's birthday celebrations.
Ngubane said: "I can confirm Corrie and his family were celebrating his nephew's birthday, turning 21, and enjoying a meal last night. In the midst of the celebrations, at about 7.45pm in the evening, about three suspects came in.
"They were planning to commit an armed robbery. Then in the armed robbery they shot randomly. Corrie was shot in the hand and also the stomach. They fled with a digital camera and also a handbag of one of the people who was in the restaurant."
Sanders's second-round knockout of Klitschko in Germany was considered one of the biggest upsets in heavyweight boxing. He lost to Wladimir's older brother Vitali for the vacant WBC title the following year. A southpaw renowned for his hand speed, Sanders retired in 2008 with a 42-4 record
Corrie Sanders, former WBO heavyweight champion, shot dead• Sanders died in hospital after being shot in robbery • South African beat Wladimir Klitschko to win WBO belt in 2003 Agencies guardian.co.uk, Sunday 23 September 2012The former WBO heavy
Corrie Sanders, former WBO heavyweight champion, shot dead
• Sanders died in hospital after being shot in robbery • South African beat Wladimir Klitschko to win WBO belt in 2003
Agencies
guardian.co.uk, Sunday 23 September 2012
The former WBO heavyweight champion Corrie Sanders has died in hospital after being shot in an armed robbery in his native South Africa.
Initial reports say that Sanders, who beat Wladimir Klitschko to claim the WBO belt in 2003, was shot in the stomach at a restaurant in Brits, near the capital Pretoria, on Saturday. He died in the early hours of Sunday.
The North West Police Brigadier Thulani Ngubane that gunmen entered a restaurant in the town of Brits where 46-year-old Sanders was attending his nephew's birthday celebrations.
Ngubane said: "I can confirm Corrie and his family were celebrating his nephew's birthday, turning 21, and enjoying a meal last night. In the midst of the celebrations, at about 7.45pm in the evening, about three suspects came in.
"They were planning to commit an armed robbery. Then in the armed robbery they shot randomly. Corrie was shot in the hand and also the stomach. They fled with a digital camera and also a handbag of one of the people who was in the restaurant."
Sanders's second-round knockout of Klitschko in Germany was considered one of the biggest upsets in heavyweight boxing. He lost to Wladimir's older brother Vitali for the vacant WBC title the following year. A southpaw renowned for his hand speed, Sanders retired in 2008 with a 42-4 record
Corrie Sanders, former WBO heavyweight champion, shot dead• Sanders died in hospital after being shot in robbery • South African beat Wladimir Klitschko to win WBO belt in 2003 Agencies guardian.co.uk, Sunday 23 September 2012The former WBO heavy
A formidable natural puncher. In truth he did coast on his talent far too much. With some dedication he could have surely put a proper reign together and perhaps notched the older brother as well.
A formidable natural puncher. In truth he did coast on his talent far too much. With some dedication he could have surely put a proper reign together and perhaps notched the older brother as well.