Eyewitness News can confirm that former heavy weight boxing champion Corrie Sanders has died after he was shot while at a restaurant outside Brits, northwest of Pretoria.

It is understood he was shot in the stomach. He was transferred to the Kalafong Hospital for further treatment but has since passed away. Police say they are investigating.

Sanders pulled one of the heavyweight divisions greatest upsets when he stopped Wladimir Klitschko in the second round on March 8, 2003 to win the WBO heavyweight title.