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HBO Championship Boxing Klitschko vs. Sanders Forrest vs. Reid
April 24, 2004 Staples Center - 6:30pm PT \ 9:30pm ET Los Angeles, CA On HBO
This Saturday night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, HBO presents the WBC # 1 ranked contender, Vitali Klitschko (33-2, 32 KO's), against the WBC # 2 ranked contender, Corrie Sanders (39-2, 29 KO's), for the vacant WBC heavyweight title. The under card will feature former welterweight champion Vernon Forrest against Teddy Reid.
Vitali Klitschko, arguably the best heavyweight in the division right now, is coming off a second round TKO win over Kirk Johnson (34-2-1, 25 KO's) in December of 2003. Previous to that bout, Klitschko had a slug fest with then WBC champion Lennox Lewis (41-2-1, 32 KO's) in June of 2003 (also at the Staples Center). He was beating Lewis until the sixth round when the fight was stopped because of a severe cut suffered by Klitschko. Klitschko protested but to no avail. His record shows the second loss of his career but all three scorecards on that day had him winning up until the stoppage. Klitschko really wanted a rematch with Lewis but Lewis decided it was time to retire. So now, the twice defeated Klitschko looks to win his second world heavyweight title. The first title came in June of 1999, when he defeated then champion Herbie Hide (35-4, 34 KO's) by second round TKO to capture the WBO heavyweight title. Klitschko defended his title twice successfully before running into his first defeat of his career. In April of 2000, Klitschko was forced to retire in the ninth round against Chris Byrd (37-2-1, 20 KO's) because he suffered a shoulder injury which was later learned to be a torn rotator cuff. He was ahead on all three score cards at the time of the stoppage. Without the two injuries, Klitschko would probably be undefeated. And one other thing, Klitschko won his first 27 bouts in a row, all by either knockout or technical knockout.
Sanders comes into this fight on a three fight win streak after losing for the second time in May of 2000 against Hasim Rahman (37-5-1, 30 KO's) via a seventh round TKO. His only other loss came in 1994 against Nate Tubbs (17-4, 14 KO's) via a second round knockout. Sanders has notable wins over former light heavyweight and cruiserweight champion Bobby Czyz (44-8, 28 KO's) via second round TKO (1998) and Vitali's brother Wladimir Klitschko (42-3, 39 KO's) in his last bout in March of 2003 via second round TKO.
Let's forget about the revenge factor for Vitali. He was winning both the fights he lost on injuries. Klitschko can also take a pretty good punch not to mention he has power. Sanders has been stopped twice and quite frankly, I think he'll be stopped a third time. I don't see Sanders winning - Klitschko by fifth round TKO. And when Klitschko wins, you can count on unification bouts being discussed and again, quite frankly, I think Vitali is the best of all the current champions.
The under card will feature Vernon "The Viper" Forrest (35-2, 26 KO's) return to the ring since his two consecutive losses to Ricardo Mayorga (27-4, 23 KO's) in January (3rd round TKO) and July (Majority decision) of 2003. Forrest may best be known for handing "Sugar" Shane Mosley (39-3, 35 KO's) two consecutive losses - Both came via 12 round unanimous decisions in January and July of 2003 with the first fight seeing Forrest win Mosley's WBC welterweight title. Forrest then lost the title in his next bout to Mayorga (January, 2003).
Reid is the current NABF welterweight champion having captured the title in June of 2002 via a third round TKO over Germaine Sanders (22-3, 16 KO's). He has defend his title twice since then, winning both by TKO - Pat Coleman (29-11, 20 KO's) in March of 2003, and Elio Ortiz (25-6, 19 KO's) in August of 2003.
Both are moving up in weight. I see Forrest being able to handle the extra weight and winning. I do expect a good fight from Reid, however, I think Forrest will be able to stop him six.
SN
Line-Up: WBC Heavyweight Title Bout (12 Rds) - Vacant Vitali Klitschko (33-2, 32 KO's) vs. Corrie Sanders (39-2, 29 KO's)
Jr. Middleweight Bout (10 Rds) Vernon Forrest (35-2, 26 KO's) vs. Teddy Reid (22-5-1, 16 KO's)
Card subject to change
(4/19/04)
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