Could Wladimir Klitschko ever have beaten Corrie Sanders?

Personally, I see this as a Raman vs Lewis situation. I would expect Wlad to win nine out of ten. After saying that, Sanders was a good heavyweight.

 

Personally, I think Corrie is a real bad matchup for Wlad. He holds that right hand of his in that one position and Sanders has the speed and technique to come right over the top of it. Wlad does not do a lot of head movement for his defense and I think he gets caught clean by the guy.

 

Sanders was always a major underachiever, and he finally managed to show his level with the chance that he got against Wlad. The truth is, he's a horrible matchup for Wlad, and particularly that version of Wlad.

Not only was he able to match Wlad in terms of dimensions, but he had a good jab himself and very quick, powerful hands. This isn't a Rahman / Lewis or McCall type of situation; Sanders was genuinely dangerous and once he had his man hurt he rarely failed to finish him off. You can see even in the lead-up to the KD that was the beginning of the end, that Sanders managed to clip Wlad a couple of good ones. I think that his timing, power and speed were always going to be problematic for Klitschko.

That version of Wlad was a careful, technical boxer-puncher that would build a win and that wasn't scared to engage. Unfortunately Sanders was a faster, more aggressive boxer-puncher and that's a problem. Furthermore, when Corrie did get Wlad hurt, Wlad wasn't able to effectively clinch and smother the action, something that his later self under Steward did much better.

I think that "yes, Klitschko could have beaten Sanders" but frankly I favour Sanders to win more than he'd lose against that version of Wlad, and by a fair bit.

 

You'd have to say no considering how he got polaxed by Sanders and then RAN from the rematch. And that was against a Sanders who was way past prime.

 

He didn't run from the rematch.

It's all here in

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https://www.boxingforum24.com/threa...e-other-way-round.583384/page-6#post-18454027

 

Interested by the amount of people favoring Sanders here. This is the kind of situation where list-making youngsters such as myself learn from the classic posters who have grown up watching the sport for a longer period than me. Although I have watched a lot of Sanders fights based on recommendations from this forum, I obviously have a lot to learn. I base my picks too often on records. Although the two fighters being discussed here are readily available to watch on YouTube, this is a modern phenomenon. Fair play.

 

To be fair, Sanders blew hot and cold. He was sometimes quite happy to lazily circle around the ring and outbox the opponent, like against Puritty and some others. On the other hand when he was in a mood to engage, he was singularly dangerous. Sprott taunted him and got him riled up; it didn't end well. Weathers managed to score a flash KD in the opening seconds ... Sanders carpet bombed him like it was WW2.

Corrie was very motivated going into the Wlad fight, possibly the most he'd been in his career. He knew that at his age he was just about out of boxing and he knew that he'd never fulfilled the very big promise he'd shown as a young boxer. He knew that off this fight he could set himself up for life. I was one of the very few that "knew" he was going to splatter Wlad.

And let's be fair: Wlad, while in great shape, was facing the substitute of a substitute. He probably wasn't mentally ready for the war that Sanders would bring to the ring, worse luck for him.

 

A lot of people don't back up their opinions on this forum. You always seem to do so, BCS8. Due to size, many are surprised I rate Wlad in the lower regions of a top 20 atg heavy list. But I feel my 17 is about right. Too many here love talking about boxing without watching enough. I'll always ask opinions, get a few beers in, and watch some stuff.

 

According to HBO 12 other American heavyweights turned this fight down, Sanders was a sub in.

This match took place pre-Manny Stewart, and he was overconfident. Wlad had Fritz Sdunek in his corner, and Sdunek was new to the pro game. He didn't even splash water on his face in between rounds, and his advice was somewhat comical in the corner.

Sanders for his part was in shape and motivated. Blessed with great power and speed; the big Southpaw caught him early. When this fight was announced, I felt Sanders had a puncher chance.

I think Wlad who later developed clinching skills and the concept of how to be defensive with his footwork and jab under Stewart's guidance would have won the rematch. Wlad from 2006-2014 knew was a much smarter and more technical fighter.

Bottom line, Wlad in his early days had a destroyer style and was smug about blowing out Mercer, Botha, Byrd, those guys. When he switched his tactics, he was far less prone to be upset.

 

One of the reasons the rematch didnt happen nor any other Sanders bouts until the Vitali jackpot...was Sanders injured himself punching a window and couldnt get motivated to get back in shape.

The odds of Sanders ever finding that form again are slim to none. He was always a threat but Wlad likely beats him any other night.

Now...matching that version of Sanders with the best Wlad. A wiser Wlad avoids over reaching and getting countered, and defeats Sanders probably via very cautious late stoppage.

 

Wlad had those clinching (cheat tactics) skills in 2008 when fought Tony Da Tiger and it didn't stop Tony from peppering his bonce all night with left hand leads.

Some stats -

Tony outlanded WK on power punches and on total punches thru 11 rounds. That was a slow ass Thompson who fought the fight with a bum knee. He had none of the speed and power of a prime Sanders.

It goes without saying that Sanders would have creamed that Wlad , or any Wlad again in similar fashion based off those stats.

Bottom line is Wlad was never a come forward destroyer


Knockout by Klitschko Finally Comes in 10th

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That certainly doesn't describe a destroyer type to me. .

 

False.

It didn't happen becuae he was steered away from the fight by his management , which was Wlad himself.

Sanders never complained about any cut on his hand with he was trying to defend Wlads WBO belt against Roy Jones.

Wlad bottled it and RAN. Its been proven as Fact 100X already.

 

I would favor the Klitschko of the Pulev fight over any version of Sanders that we saw in the ring.