Corrie Sanders vs Levi Billups

Sanders had real ability. Talented guy with poor coaching and poor discipline. Against Rahman he was doing really well in a great action fight, but he was so open for the counter because he was over aggressive with a low defensive posture. He still was stopped on his feet while covering up and had he survived I think he would of won the fight. He didn't seem overly hurt at time of stoppage just couldn't fire back.
That fight, coupled with the Wlad devastation and the very good challenge of Vitali is more than enough to show me the man had world class talent.
He possessed fast hands, a big and accurate punch that came out of a southpaw stance and which often gets overlooked a real aggressive fighters mentality. The guy had moxy.
If an elite trainer would of gotten ahold of him early in his youth he could of been something. Let him work behind his jab more and maybe not become so overly aggressive when he had his man hurt like he Did against Hasim which let Rahman get back into the fight with great counters on he button. As it is he had good win loss record but it lacks elite comp outside those three.

 

Agree with this. I think that his being stuck with ****py promoters who couldn't get him the big fights sort of sucked the heart out of him.

Regarding the Rahman fight, I have to say that when Rahman set his mind to it, he was a top-shelf boxer/brawler himself. Against Sanders that night it was clear that he would have walked through hell to get the win. Hats off to him. I frankly don't think Sanders would have won, even if they had let it continue. I think his gas tank was empty, a consequence of doing ZERO roadwork (apparently because of an injury) before that fight.

I've always liked Sanders because of his do-or-die attitude; a really good finisher. His own attitude outside of the ring was equally good ... after Rahman the interviewer said to him something along the lines of "you had a really bad training camp didn't you?" and Sanders replied (iirc) "I don't want to be one of those guys who says no excuses and then makes nothing but excuses. Ja my camp could have been better, but maybe his could have been too." Class act.

 

Yes Sanders - Billups was brutal KO.

And Billups was tough and had decent chin. Lewis hit him with some good power shots through 10 full rounds and never even put him down.

Vitali Klitschko said Sanders was the hardest hitter in his career, harder than even Lennox.

Vitali was never as hurt as in Sanders fight (1st round).

Wlad in 67 fights was never as hurt as in 1st round vs Corrie who put him down for the 9 count with a single left.

I believe Sanders hit harder than Lennox, but the problem is that Corrie had questionable stamina and never carried his power late.

Lennox also never scored any KO's past 8th, but at least he has few 7-8 round stoppages.

Corrie in his entire career had 1 mid' rounds KO (against Marshall Tillman KO6) and 1 4th round KO (Steve Gee).

Other 29 Sanders' KOs were scored in the first 3 rounds.

So if you survive Sanders' power in the first 3-4 rounds, you'll likely hear the final bell.

But early in the fights Corrie had power 10 out of 10.

 

I think Corrie has to fight the guy identical to Puritty. And come into the fight in that kind of shape as well.

If we get the non-conditioned guy and version that drains himself the first 4 rounds of the fight, he very well can lose or end up with a draw. Levi sure was a survivor but I'm not sure he goes to the next step and gets rid of Sanders.

Same thing with a Wilson fight for Sanders. He can easily lose the fights and lets say if he fought Billups and Wilson back to back, he loses once. Because he simply is not showing up with his A game in top shape twice in a row against the journeyman/stepping stone guys. Pretty much on par with lots of the 80's heavies as far as consistency is concerned.

 

Can't always blame the coach for a fighter's weaknesses.
All fighters make mistakes, whoever their trainers are.

Sanders had a decent career.

 

against prime sanders, levi may well get outpointed.


but against the fat retired sanders who totslly destroyed wlad in seconds, he will win a decision.

 

Maybe you ought to WATCH THE FIGHT.

Outpointed indeed ... :nono

 

Those fights and Billups' meeting with Sanders were roughly two years apart.

 

outpointed yup, sanders was no great puncher.

 

Agreed.

Also, prime young Tyson would beat Marvis Frazier by decision, too. Had they met.

 

what does prime ATG undisputed champ, youngest titlist in history Tyson who walked through top men again and again, have to do with fat retired failed sanders?

be specific.

 

What do you reckon - Corrie Sanders v. Levi Billups ?