KLITSCHKO, VITALI-CORRIE SANDERS HBO POSTER (2004)

On April 24, 2004 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles Vitali Klitschko and Corrie Sanders fought for the vacant WBC heavyweight tile. Klitschko prevailed stopping Sanders in the 8th round. The fans booed Lennox Lewis when he entered the Staples Center on Saturday night, and roared for his successor after Vitali Klitschko survived early and late barrages from Corrie Sanders to claim the World Boxing Council title that Lewis vacated in February. The referee, John Schorle of Sacramento, stopped what had turned into a pounding at 2 minutes 46 seconds of the eighth round, with Sanders still standing after absorbing at least 20 punches without answer. The bout may not have saved the heavyweight division, but it woke it up. Klitschko, from Ukraine, was ahead of Lewis when they met here 10 months ago, but the bout had to be stopped because of cuts above Klitschko's left eye. Saturday night, Klitschko stamped himself No. 1 among the four heavyweight champions on this planet. He also avenged a two-round knockout of his little brother, Wladimir, by Sanders 13 months ago. Sanders, a 38-year-old South African who had been contemplating a professional golf career before stunning the boxing world with his upset of Wladimir Klitschko, found the big brother a much tougher problem: Vitali Klitschko has a chin. Klitschko took some big left hands in the opening round from Sanders, a southpaw, and though that was the only round Sanders won on all judges' cards, he landed many other big punches later in the fight. In the eighth, he shocked Klitschko by landing a couple of right hooks and, though tiring and bleeding from the nose, Sanders gave it one more try. He pressured Klitschko and seemed to be turning the bout around when he took a sudden straight right and was hurt. Klitschko did not let this chance escape. "I was surprised he never went down," said Klitschko, 34-2 with 33 knockouts. "He took so many punches it was unbelievable." (Michael Katz). Offered here is an original HBO poster advertising this bout.
This is an original, paper, HBO poster which pictures both fighters. Bold color and print. Bold, clear images. No tack holes. Clean front and back. No center crease. Minor edge and corner wear. `27" x 40."