Wlad says he underestimated Sanders and didn't prepare himself properly for the fight. He didn't even spar with southpaws before fighting Corrie.
Yep the first punch that hurts Wlad is a counter after Wlad throws a 3 punch combo. The next good shot is a counter straight left over Wlad's straight right and the first knock down is a counter straight left as Wlad throws a right hand. After that Wlad is a sitting duck and Sanders is able to beat him to the punch because Wlad's head isn't clear.
Yep. I think youre spot on with him using his reach effectively, you dont see his left hook so much these days which opened his defence up. He's fighting prudently and patiently. Saying that, what would be the blueprint to getting inside that? Simply bobbing and weaving speedily to get to him? Seems an almost unbeatable system at the moment
I think thats the key here. Wlad underestimated a criminally underrated fighter in Sanders and payed for it. Sanders was one of the biggest under achievers in the history of the HW division. He had terrible promoters and management and he probably didn't as hard as he should have for most of his fights. Just by looking at the Klitschko fights you could see that Corrie was a great fighter that could of had a MUCH better career. Either way, Corrie was a banger and the monster dangerous HW southpaw of all time. R.I.P champion :deal
What was most important is Sanders had the size and strength to take away Wlad's clinch. He tried to hold and Sanders easily pushed him off, leaving him open where he has no defence and no inside game. If you can out muscle Wlad inside he's a goner.
at no time was Sanders on the 'back foot' in that fight he was either moving to the side with a side step or moving forward.
Always with the excuses.. You can tell when a fighter ain't shi.t when his excuses are more impressive than his fighting style. Ross Purrity........:rofl
He's been trashed so many times before...the heavies are weaker now since he was last bounced off the floor.
Well darn, another I have my panties in a bunch b/c someone like Wlad is HW champ. The HW div. has never been better except to small minded trolls. We have true WORLD COMPETITION now. It's 2013, not 1963, 73, or 83 :bart
He most likely did, and that was a mistake which cost Wlad. Sanders was one of the more underrated HWs. If only he had better management, was more focused... why didn't he and LL ever fight?
He was never is a serious position to get a major title shot prior to beating Wlad. He was a fringe contender at best, his resume was **** poor, his most notable win being a win over former crusierweight Bobby Czyz. He was on a level with guys like Joe Mesi or Lou Savarese. He had set backs being KO'ed by Tubbs and when finally stepping up against solid contender Rahman was knocked out again. There was probably always 20 guys above him with a better ranking more worthy of a title shot during the stacked 90's era. Had any of the major title holders fought him they would have been ridiculed for fighting him. He had his chance against Rahman to prove himself as a genuine contender but fell short again. He had opportunities he just didn't make the best of his chances until he fought Wlad. By the time he beat Wlad and was seen as a genuine contender Lewis was about to have his last fight so he was never in a position to have fought him.