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Top 10 Outstanding Facts about Corrie Sanders

Cornelius Johannes Sanders during his win. Photo Sourced from

Cornelius Johannes Sanders alias Corrie was a South African professional boxer who was active from 1989 to 2008. He was born on 7th January 1966 and grew up in Brits, South Africa. 

Corrie was of Afrikaner descent and enjoyed success in his blissful career. He was introduced to boxing by his uncles.

Corrie fought 191 amateur matches which he won 180 matches and lost only 11 finishing his career in the late 1980s. In his professional career, Corrie won several awards including the World Boxing Heavyweight title in 2003.

The WBO heavyweight win was one of the greatest and most shocking boxing matches which shocked many across the world. Other than the WBO bout, Corrie won several other notable championships before he retired.

Corrie was nicknamed the Sniper because of how he used to throw his punches and prowess in knockouts. His 2003 heavyweight opponent praised him in 2014 and revealed that Corrie was the best fighter and most difficult opponent he ever faced.

Here are the top 10 Outstanding Facts about Corrie Sanders;

1. Corrie was a Talented Sporting All-Rounder due to His Physique 

Growing up in Brits, Corrie Sanders was among the most decorated young lads in sports. He was naturally gifted plus his well-built physique was a huge advantage to him.

Corrie was a Talented sporting all-rounder as a young lad. He played rugby and cricket during his school days.

Later on, Corrie honed a golf game until near professional standard. However, he decided to concentrate on boxing after being trained by his uncles.

2. Corrie was Taught Boxing by his Uncles and had 180 Amateur Wins

Corrie Sanders’s boxing introduction was from his uncles. He mostly lived with them with his physique encouraging the uncles to teach him.

His amateur career was in the 1980s and was full of success. Corrie fought in 191 matches and won 180, losing only 11.

3. Corrie鈥檚 Professional Career Began with a Knockout Win and 14 More Knockouts

After a successful amateur career, Corrie Sanders started his professional career in 1989. On 2nd April 1989, Corrie faced off King Kong Dyubele.

His debut match never lasted long as he knocked out Kong in the first round. Corrie went ahead to fight in 22 more bouts.

He won them all with fourteen being through knockouts. During this winning streak, he defeated Steve Zouski, Art Card, future WBO cruiserweight Johnny Nelson and Bert Cooper.

However, the winning streak of Corrie Sanders came to an end in his 24th bout. He was knocked out by Nate Tubbs in the second round.

4. Corrie Knocked Out Wladimir in WBO Heavyweight in the Upset of 2003 Bout

After several wins and challenges with top boxers, Corrie faced a strategic and intelligent opponent, Wladimir Klitschko. In the 2003 World Boxing Organisation heavyweight bout, Corrie Sanders managed to shock the world with his performance.

The bout took place in Hanover, Germany where Corrie disappointed the WBO challenger. In the bout, Corrie dropped Wladimir four times but he kept standing up.

In the second round, Corrie managed to snatch the title by a Knockout. The Ring magazine was amazed by Corrie’s professionalism and named this win one of the biggest upsets in heavyweight boxing.

5. Corrie Vacated WBO Title to Challenge for WBC which he Lost

In December 2003 after winning the WBO heavyweight win, Corrie Sanders decides to drop this title and concentrate on another greater challenge. Corrie wanted to win the WBC title as it was more lucrative than the previous.

His challenger was the elder brother Wladimir Klitschko who he had defeated in the WBO. The match took place on 24th April 2004 at Staples centre in Los Angeles against Vitali.

This match was controversial as the referee denied Corrie a knockdown in the first round. In the eighth round, Corrie lost the WBC belt to Vitali.

6. Corrie was Nicknamed The Sniper for his Punches

Corrie Sanders was a real challenger to his opponents who put some real respect for him. He was given the nickname the Sniper.

Corrie was a left-handed boxer who used the southpaw technique making him more dominant in bouts. His long reach was exceptional and was known for his formidable knockout power using his left hand.

7. Corrie鈥檚 Last Bout was Loss Due to a Beforehand Injury

In 2004, Corrie Sanders retired for some time. Later in 2007, Corrie Sanders participated in his final bout that never ended well.

Corrie faced Osborne Machimana for the South African heavyweight title. The bout took place even though he had an injury beforehand. 

Corrie lost this bout and decided to retire fully from boxing.

8. Corrie Won 42 Out of 46 Paid Professional Fights

Sanders had a near-perfect boxing career after his professional bouts. He had a total of forty-six paid professional fights in his active service. 

Corrie won forty-two out of the forty-six fights he fought in. Thirty-one of them were through knockouts, eleven through judge’s decisions and lost only four.

He never left South Africa for America to establish himself as an international fighter which made many claims he could have won more. Corrie defended his decision of staying in South Africa by professing his love for the country, and the several black fans he had than the white fans.

9. Corrie was Shot Protecting his Daughter and Died Following an Armed Robbery Incident

On 22nd September 2012, Corrie Sanders and his family were in a restaurant known as Thatch Haven for his nephew鈥檚 birthday. Corrie was talking to his daughter and cousin at the entrance of the restaurant when armed robbers stormed.

The three were firing their guns aimlessly as they were robbing them. Corrie Sanders stepped in to protect his daughter from the bullets which landed on her stomach and hand.

He was bleeding badly but ordered his daughter to pretend to be dead to avoid being shot. After the robbery, Corrie was rushed to a hospital in Pretoria.

In the early hours of 23rd September 2012, Corrie was pronounced dead. His wife praised him as a hero who was protective of his family.

10. Corrie was given Tribute by his Fiercest Opponent after his Death

In an interview in December 2014, Corrie Sanders鈥� fiercest WBO heavyweight opponent Wladimir Klitschko paid a respectful tribute. Wladimir named Corrie Sanders as the hardest puncher he ever faced.

鈥淚 have been in boxing for 25 years and have never fought anybody who punched like Corrie Sanders,鈥� Wladimir stated.

Corrie Sanders died in the worst way which should not have happened, but he remains to be a hero and mentor for several young generations due to his heroics.