Compubox at Ringside!
April 27, 2004
By Bob Canobbio
For scratch golfer Corrie Sanders who was fighting for a piece of the biggest prize in sports, coming into his fight vs. Vitali Klitschko weighing ten pounds more than he did last March when he upset Wladimir, would be like Tiger Woods teeing off at Augusta with six clubs in his bag.
Sanders lack of training gave himself nothing more than a puncher’s chance vs. the seemingly tight Vitali, and the CompuBox stats showed it. He rocked Vitali, returning to the scene of his courageous performance vs. Lennox Lewis 10 months earlier, several times in rounds one and two -- but it was just one punch at a time. He got off 52 punches in round one, outlanding Vitali 13-6 in the power punch department. After throwing 40 punches in round three, it was like the 10th green at Pebble Beach for Sanders -- all downhill. He threw just 12 punches in round four, 16 in round five, 18 in round seven and 26 in the eighth and final round.
Vitali, the memory of his younger brother’s meltdown vs. Lamon Brewster two weeks earlier still fresh on his mind, paced himself, averaging 52 punches per round, landing a whopping 56%. (Wladimir averaged 77 punches in the first two rounds vs. Brewster. The heavyweight average is 46 thrown per round). He also worked Sanders’ soft midsection, which led to a connect percentage of 60% in the power punch department.
Let’s give the 38-year old Sanders some credit. He did not quit while absorbing a fearful beating. He was outlanded 158-19 over the last four rounds. Vitali closed the show by landing 46 of 74 total punches (62%), including 40 of 59 power shots (68%) in round eight. If Sanders ever posted a golf score that lopsided he’d be relegated to the local putt-putt course instead of contemplating life on the senior golf tour.
As for Vitali, it wasn’t a defining performance. At times he looked awkward and tight. However, he’s got a belt now and is probably regarded as the most capable of the four (what’s wrong with boxing) champions out there today. They are Chris Byrd, John Ruiz and Lamon Brewster in addition to Vitali. The newly-retired,
270-lb-plus Lennox Lewis commented after the fight,
“I would have taken Vitali out tonight.” Did he mean as is? Without any training? What’s he waiting for?
Lewis ist mittlerweile also schon bei 270 lb angelangt...

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