Cape Town - The Golden Lions Rugby Union (GLRU) has donated money to help the family of deceased boxing champion Corrie Sanders.
GALLERY: Sanders in pictures
VIDEO: Sanders knocks out Klitschko
The former WBO champion Sanders died on Sunday morning after being shot when a group of armed men entered the restaurant where he was celebrating the 21st birthday of his nephew with other family members in Brits, North West.
Kevin de Klerk, president of the GLRU, told Beeld that they decided to make a donation to honour a "big sporting hero of South Africa".
De Klerk did not specify how much the donation from the Lions was.
"He was a big hero for our people and the money goes to his children, Dean (11) and Marinique (15), and also to help with the funeral costs.
Another former boxing champion and a friend of Sanders, Kallie Knoetze, said several members of the public have also donated money to help pay for the funeral.
Sanders will be buried on Monday at a church in the north of Pretoria.
His second-round knockout of Wladimir Klitschko in Germany in 2003 was considered one of the biggest upsets in heavyweight boxing. He lost to Wladimir's older brother Vitali for the vacant WBC title the following year.
A southpaw renowned for his hand speed, Sanders retired in 2008 with a 42-4 record, including 31 knockouts.
GALLERY: Sanders in pictures
VIDEO: Sanders knocks out Klitschko
The former WBO champion Sanders died on Sunday morning after being shot when a group of armed men entered the restaurant where he was celebrating the 21st birthday of his nephew with other family members in Brits, North West.
Kevin de Klerk, president of the GLRU, told Beeld that they decided to make a donation to honour a "big sporting hero of South Africa".
De Klerk did not specify how much the donation from the Lions was.
"He was a big hero for our people and the money goes to his children, Dean (11) and Marinique (15), and also to help with the funeral costs.
Another former boxing champion and a friend of Sanders, Kallie Knoetze, said several members of the public have also donated money to help pay for the funeral.
Sanders will be buried on Monday at a church in the north of Pretoria.
His second-round knockout of Wladimir Klitschko in Germany in 2003 was considered one of the biggest upsets in heavyweight boxing. He lost to Wladimir's older brother Vitali for the vacant WBC title the following year.
A southpaw renowned for his hand speed, Sanders retired in 2008 with a 42-4 record, including 31 knockouts.