Gerrie Coetzee, former South African heavyweight boxing champion, dies at 67

[True Dough]

He was a good man.

CAPE TOWN, South Africa -- Gerrie Coetzee, a former South African boxer and WBA heavyweight champion who defied some of his country's racist laws during the height of apartheid in the 1970s and 1980s and won popularity with Nelson Mandela and both Black and white fans, has died. He was 67.

Coetzee died on Thursday in Cape Town just over a week after being diagnosed with lung cancer, his former manager, Thinus Strydom, said Friday.

Coetzee, who was white, was the first African boxer to win a world heavyweight title. He knocked out American rival Michael Dokes in the 10th round in Richfield, Ohio, in 1983 to win the WBA belt, a big upset that was celebrated throughout South Africa despite it being fragmented at the time by the apartheid laws of racial segregation.

Coetzee's victory also made him the first white boxer to win a world heavyweight title in more than 20 years but he made clear after the fight against Dokes how much he disliked being labeled "the great white hope."

https://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/35437508/gerrie-coetzee-former-wba-heavyweight-champion-dies-67

[Schmice3]

1. He was on the right side of history

[GreenWave]

2. +1

[H2O Man]

3. Recommended.

Coetzee was a tough guy who fought many of the best of his era. His one big win was when he won a title by knocking out Dokes. This was in the era when carious commissions began recognizing a number of people as "champion," although Larry Holmes was definitely the actual heavyweight champion.

Dokes was a talented fighter, but like a number of others, he had started using massive amounts of cocaine when he won his title. His defense against Gerrie was supposed to be a tune-up before defending against Greg Page. But one should not "tune-up" on cocaine, in my opinion. (I remember Dokes trying to pick up my sister-in-law at one of the cards my brother fought on. Huge guy.)

In his first defense, he was knocked out by Greg Page -- another talented fighter who could have been great, but for partying. There was controversy in that fight, as the 8th round was allowed to go four minutes before Gerrie was knocked out. Funny how that happened ..... you'd have little trouble in guessing who the promoter was, if you knew who controlled boxing at the time.

All of the other top heavyweights Gerrie fought always really liked and respected him. Much respect.

[True Dough]

4. Nice to hear from you, H2O Man

I remember all the names you mentioned, although I was a bit too young to really appreciate who was who back then. And I vaguely recall hearing about that four-minute round. Back then and still today, boxing can be a dirty game. Don't get me started on judging! I'm sure it makes your blood boil at times too.

I started a thread a few weeks back that I was hoping would catch your attention (it didn't catch anyone's attention, it appears). But it's certainly not too late to chime in, if you feel so inclined. I'd be interested in your thoughts:


https://www.democraticunderground.com/120489749

[H2O Man]

5. Glad I saw this!

There are some good boxing "pages" on facebook, though there are a lot of people who just want to argue and insult fighters. For example, one of my friends fought Roberto Duran -- no small thing -- and some people tell him that he doesn't know anything about boxing. It is more accurate to say that, as they don't know who he is, it is their not knowing. But there are a lot of serious people on them.

I will comment on the linked thread tomorrow. Too tired out right now. But it could be a heck of a fight. Great respect for both.

[True Dough]

6. Looking forward to it

Hope you got some rest and feel refreshed.