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Pretoria - Former world heavyweight boxing champion Corrie Sanders died in Kalafong Hospital on Sunday after being shot in a restaurant in Brits, North West police said.
The boxer was celebrating the 21st birthday of his nephew when three armed men arrived in the restaurant and shot randomly on Saturday night, Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said.
Sanders, 46, was shot in the hand and stomach.
Ngubane said it appeared that gunmen went to the restaurant with the aim to rob it.
"They shot randomly and took a cellphone of the daughter who was turning 21-years-old and they also took a bag of another patron in the premises," he said.
No arrests have been made but police were investigating a murder case.
Sanders's 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.
The boxer was celebrating the 21st birthday of his nephew when three armed men arrived in the restaurant and shot randomly on Saturday night, Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said.
Sanders, 46, was shot in the hand and stomach.
Ngubane said it appeared that gunmen went to the restaurant with the aim to rob it.
"They shot randomly and took a cellphone of the daughter who was turning 21-years-old and they also took a bag of another patron in the premises," he said.
No arrests have been made but police were investigating a murder case.
Sanders's 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.
