Sanders stuns Wladimir Klitschko to win WBO heavyweight title
HANNOVER, Germany - Wladimir Klitschko, widely considered the top contender to Lennox Lewis' throne, was stunned by 37-year-old South African Corrie Sanders on Saturday in a fight for the WBO heavyweight title.
Sanders recorded a second-round technical knockout of the heavily favored Klitschko, using big left hooks to drop the 6-7 giant twice in each round. Referee Genaro Rodriguez stopped the fight 27 seconds into the second round.
Klitschko suffered just his second loss, falling to 40-2 with 37 knockouts. He was seeking his sixth successful defense of the lightly regarded WBO crown in the opener of a nine-fight HBO deal.
Klitschko's brother, Vitali, is ranked No. 1 by the WBC and WBA and is waiting for a possible fight with Lewis. The brothers are from the Ukraine, although they spent much of their early careers in Germany.
The 6-4 Sanders improved to 39-2 by recording his 29th knockout. He won his 24th consecutive fight and just missed his 19th first-round KO.
Sanders knocked down Klitschko twice in the final minute of the opening round. Klitschko never recovered from the first left hook that sent him to the canvas.
It was a stunning performance by Sanders, who had fought only three rounds since being knocked out three years ago by former champion Hasim Rahman.
Klitschko had not fought since his victory over Jameel McCline last December. He also moved up the ranks in the heavyweight division with an impressive knockout of Ray Mercer.
HANNOVER, Germany - Wladimir Klitschko, widely considered the top contender to Lennox Lewis' throne, was stunned by 37-year-old South African Corrie Sanders on Saturday in a fight for the WBO heavyweight title.
Sanders recorded a second-round technical knockout of the heavily favored Klitschko, using big left hooks to drop the 6-7 giant twice in each round. Referee Genaro Rodriguez stopped the fight 27 seconds into the second round.
Klitschko suffered just his second loss, falling to 40-2 with 37 knockouts. He was seeking his sixth successful defense of the lightly regarded WBO crown in the opener of a nine-fight HBO deal.
Klitschko's brother, Vitali, is ranked No. 1 by the WBC and WBA and is waiting for a possible fight with Lewis. The brothers are from the Ukraine, although they spent much of their early careers in Germany.
The 6-4 Sanders improved to 39-2 by recording his 29th knockout. He won his 24th consecutive fight and just missed his 19th first-round KO.
Sanders knocked down Klitschko twice in the final minute of the opening round. Klitschko never recovered from the first left hook that sent him to the canvas.
It was a stunning performance by Sanders, who had fought only three rounds since being knocked out three years ago by former champion Hasim Rahman.
Klitschko had not fought since his victory over Jameel McCline last December. He also moved up the ranks in the heavyweight division with an impressive knockout of Ray Mercer.
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