Bongani Magasela
Bongani Magasela
When a young Corrie Sanders made an impression as a prospect in 1991 he stopped Johnny du Plooy in one round and won the SA heavyweight title on July 27.
Sanders' exit after 19 years came via the same route - the first round - against a young Osborne Machimana.
Their eagerly awaited fight on Saturday night was scheduled for 10 rounds but it ended in two minutes and 41 seconds.
A swift and well executed left uppercut to the shortrib sent the 42-year-old former WBU and WBO champion down on his knees. Referee Jaap van Niewenhuizen reached the count of 10 while Sanders was still gasping for air.
That is how quick and easy Machimana, 27, the current SA heavyweight king, provided answers to questions about his future. About 2500 fight fans inside Emperors Palace's Centre Court were thrilled.
"This is the man who took me to America to taste dollars. Tonight I used him as a stepping stone," said the Limpopo fighter who was not taken seriously as a fighter because of his lackadaisical approach to the sport.
At one stage "Big Daddy" weighed around 125 kilograms and looked like a sumo wrestler. But new trainer Nick Durandt has trimmed him down to less than 110 kilograms.
Durandt's gruelling training methods has made Machimana more meaner that he had ever been. He stopped Jake Els in seven and Pieter Cronje in five.
"Osborne will continue with his boxing while Corrie must focus on his golf, and I will carry his bag sometimes," said Durandt, tongue in cheek.
Sanders gave no excuses.
"I was fit. I trained hard but obviously age has caught up with me. I am done over with it.'
play golf, Corrie
Bongani Magasela
Bongani Magasela
When a young Corrie Sanders made an impression as a prospect in 1991 he stopped Johnny du Plooy in one round and won the SA heavyweight title on July 27.
Sanders' exit after 19 years came via the same route - the first round - against a young Osborne Machimana.
Their eagerly awaited fight on Saturday night was scheduled for 10 rounds but it ended in two minutes and 41 seconds.
A swift and well executed left uppercut to the shortrib sent the 42-year-old former WBU and WBO champion down on his knees. Referee Jaap van Niewenhuizen reached the count of 10 while Sanders was still gasping for air.
That is how quick and easy Machimana, 27, the current SA heavyweight king, provided answers to questions about his future. About 2500 fight fans inside Emperors Palace's Centre Court were thrilled.
"This is the man who took me to America to taste dollars. Tonight I used him as a stepping stone," said the Limpopo fighter who was not taken seriously as a fighter because of his lackadaisical approach to the sport.
At one stage "Big Daddy" weighed around 125 kilograms and looked like a sumo wrestler. But new trainer Nick Durandt has trimmed him down to less than 110 kilograms.
Durandt's gruelling training methods has made Machimana more meaner that he had ever been. He stopped Jake Els in seven and Pieter Cronje in five.
"Osborne will continue with his boxing while Corrie must focus on his golf, and I will carry his bag sometimes," said Durandt, tongue in cheek.
Sanders gave no excuses.
"I was fit. I trained hard but obviously age has caught up with me. I am done over with it.'
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