Original geschrieben von Gladiator
Interview mit Corrie Sanders:
http://www.boxingtalk.net/pages/press33-release7-TEMP.htm
Mit Vorsicht zu geniessen (Boxingtalk.net), im Einzelnen:
Corrie Sanders Interview
Conference Call Transcripts
April 13, 2004; Sanders held a conference call to discuss his upcoming fight against former world champion and current WBC No. 1 contender, Vitali Klitschko, for the vacant WBC heavyweight crown on Saturday, April 24, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles. In his most recent start, Sanders registered one of 2003’s biggest upsets when he knocked out defending WBO champion Wladimir Klitschko in the second round on March 8 from Hannover, Germany. Sanders, who decked Klitschko four times, has since relinquished the title. For only the second time in 45 years, Los Angeles will host a world heavyweight championship fight when Vitali Klitschko and Sanders square off.
Question: How is training going?
Sanders: Training is going very well. It is a lot of hard work. We are just looking forward to the 24th of April.
Question: There has been a lot of attention paid to the Klitschkos. How has that affected you in terms of all the attention being paid to them rather than the fact that you beat Wladimir and now have the chance to defeat his brother, Vitali?
Sanders: It was all right. Obviously, they (the Klitschkos) are two big guys, and everybody was looking at them and believed they would be the next heavyweight champions of the world. Everybody was talking about them. One is gone, and obviously one is left. I just have to sort that out.
Question: Do you think Vitali presents a tougher challenge?
Sanders: It looks like it, to be honest with you. It looks like he (Vitali) is going to be a tougher challenge. I have done the hard work. Whatever comes, I will take it. I am sure it (fight against Vitali) is going to be tougher, but we also thought Wladimir would be tougher. But, once he has been exposed, it is a different story. But, I believe Vitali will be tough.
Question: You came right at Wladimir in that fight in the first round. Do you plan to come at Vitali in a similar way, or do you think he is going to be expecting you to do that?
Sanders: I believe he (Vitali) will probably expect it. But, it all depends on the night. When you start the fight, you take what is going to happen. I believe he is going to come straightforward or get on the outside and stay away from me.
Question: There was a lot of talk before your last fight about retirement or playing golf. What is the status with that?
Sanders: It all depends on what happens. I believe I can win the fight next Saturday (April 24), and then I will have one or two defenses. As long as I keep winning, I will probably be in the ring. Obviously age is not on my side. So, the time may come to call it a day.
Question: If you get by Vitali Klitschko, do you want to unify the different titles?
Sanders: I would love to unify the titles. It would be great to do it. But, at the end of the day, it is where the money is. We have to make money off of it. It is already a tough sport, so it depends.
Question: Were you surprised that Wladimir went down the way he did against Lamon Brewster?
Sanders: I believe it is a mental thing. You could see when he (Wladimir) was going to the ring. I believe mentally when he had the guy down and forward, and then he got up, he did not know what to do. Mentally he got lost.
Question: Was it a hangover from what happened in your fight?
Sanders: I believe it was a hangover. Once a fighter has been exposed, everyone goes for it. And, Lamon Brewster definitely did.
Question: Will what happened to Wladimir have a positive or negative effect on Vitali?
Sanders: Obviously, it could go both ways. It could be ‘what happened to my brother, I want to make it right.’ But doubts could also go through his head. ‘It could happen to me too.’ It is going to be tough to get into the ring and know he has to win the fight. There is a lot of pressure on him.
Question: Most people had never heard of you until you fought Wladimir and won last year. Here you are a year later and you are about to fight for the heavyweight championship. Can you describe what it has been like to be in that position, then have a year off because of the politics in boxing largely, and now be on the precipice of fighting for the heavyweight championship?
Sanders: It is fantastic. Like you said, I was nobody. It means something special to me. Obviously, it is a big opportunity for me in my boxing career, which is the first in years. I am just going to go in there and take it with both hands again. Afterward, we will see what happens. I will take it to him and see what happens.
Question: Can you talk about the frustration of having fights on and off all over the place over the past year? After you beat Wladimir, you were unable to cash in on it.
Sanders: There is a lot of politics involved. I knocked him (Wladimir) out and Wladimir was still ranked No. 2 by the WBO, so he got the chance again. There is a lot of politics. They wanted me to fight Brewster, but the money they put on the table was not right. For the first WBO defense, you have to have one year to defend the title against the No. 1 contender. They sent me straight to the No. 1, which was Brewster.
Question: Did you watch fellow South Africa, Ernie Els, come up short against Phil
Mickelson?
Sanders: We went to play at Lost Canyons (Simi Valley, Calif.), and when we got back, there were two holes left to play for Els. He went par and par to finish at eight under. And, we saw Mickelson coming back. It was sad to see, but Mickelson played well and obviously deserves it.
Question: How many times have you played with Els?
Sanders: I played with Els a couple of times back home in South Africa. Every December we have the Ernie Els Invitational back home. I play every year there. After I golf with Els, we go back to his house and I enjoy it.
Question: Are you good enough to play on the PGA Tour?
Sanders: A lot of people say I can do it (play on the PGA Tour). It all depends. Obviously, right now, boxing is my first priority. If it is not, I have a good chance, I believe.
Question: Who would be your first choice to fight for money?
Sanders: If you look at it money wise, the first choice obviously is Mike Tyson. Everybody wants to see him again.
Question: This time around Emanuel Steward is in Vitali’s corner. Has Lennox Lewis said anything to you about that? Is he surprised by the turn of events?
Sanders: Lewis was surprised, but who cares what Manny Steward does? The sad thing with Wladimir is it did not help him. You cannot change a fighter in six or eight weeks. You have got to have the talent, or it is not there.
Question: After you beat Wladimir, there were words exchanged between you and Vitali. Are there any bad feelings remaining, or was it just heat of the moment?
Sanders: It was the heat of the moment. But we had a press conference, and he said he wants to exact revenge. If it is revenge time, that could be his downfall too.
Question: Before the Klitschko fight, were you about to get on the European or PGA Tour?
Sanders: It all depended on where I get my card. I would love to get into the PGA tour. But, it all depends. If I could have gotten on the European tour, I would have done that too.
Question: Is it easier to get on the European Tour than the PGA Tour?
Sanders: I would not say it is easier. All the guys on the Europe tour are good too. If they do well, they will be on the PGA Tour in America.
Question: Did it disappoint you that you have not fought for almost a year after the big win over Wladimir Klitschko?
Sanders: Well, the WBO has political problems. They forced me to fight the No. 1 contender, but the money they put on the table was not right. We had 12 months before we had to take on the No. 1 contender as the mandatory defense. That is why we had to relinquish the title.
Question: What are your thoughts on the heavyweight division after Lewis retired?
Sanders: It is hard to say. There is no super great guy out there to step into Lewis’ footsteps. It is going to be tough, but I am sure that someone will come along again.
Question: Do you swing a golf club left-handed or right-handed?
Sanders: I swing left-handed. It was good that I won. It puts lefthanders more on the market.
Question: How far was your longest drive?
Sanders: We work in meters. In yards, I reckon around 300, 320 around there.
Question: How will the fight against Vitali Klitschko play out?
Sanders: It is hard to say. There is going to be a stoppage or knockout. That is my prediction. I cannot see it going 12 rounds. Obviously, I think I will be on the winning side. I know it is going to be tough. I am ready to go 12 rounds, but, in my mind, I do not think it will go 12 rounds.
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Roberts