Gerhardus Christian "Gerrie" Coetzee (born eight April 1955) is a South African previous Expert boxer who competed from 1974 to 1986, As well as in 1993 and 1997.[one] He was the main boxer within the African continent at any time to battle for, and gain, a planet heavyweight championship, possessing held the WBA title from 1983 to 1984. Considered one of Coetzee's nicknames, "The Bionic Hand", came about because of persistent problems along with his suitable hand, which demanded the insertion of a number of corrective items all through three surgeries. His Afrikaans nickname was "Seer Handjies", or "Tiny Sore Hands", named so by fellow South African boxing terrific Kallie Knoetze. Coetzee fought the likes of Iran Barkley, Greg Web page, Pinklon Thomas, Frank Bruno, Leon Spinks, Mike Weaver, and Michael Dokes. Contents 1 Professional career one.one Rise to championship rivalry 1.two First earth title endeavor 1.3 2nd earth title try one.four Street to a 3rd title bout 1.five WBA heavyweight champion 1.6 Unsuccessful unification and defeat 1.seven Publish-championship profession two Professional boxing report three References 4 Exterior back links Qualified job[edit] Rise to championship rivalry[edit] Coetzee started off boxing skillfully over the night time of 14 September 1974, when he conquer 19 battle veteran and fellow South African Christian Roos by a decision in 4. He adopted that get with 21 consecutive wins to reach a record of twenty-two-0 just before fighting for that WBA heavyweight title for the first time. Amid All those wins was one particular in excess of Roos in a very rematch, which Coetzee won by a knockout in a few rounds; wins above previous globe title challengers Ron Stander, Randy Stephens and Pierre Fourie; a South African Heavyweight championship victory against newbie rival Kallie Knoetze (unanimous decision in 10) in addition to a initial-spherical knockout of previous world heavyweight champion Leon Spinks. With exception from the Spinks bout, held at Monte Carlo, the remainder of Coetzee's fights for the duration of his early run have been held in his indigenous South Africa. Spinks attacked Coetzee and pressured him, throwing punches from numerous angles and seeking to steam-roll the South African. Coetzee composed himself and a brief ideal hand shipped to Spinks' temple knocked down the previous environment winner. Coetzee proceeded to drop Spinks two much more times to record a technological knockout. The gain enhanced Coetzee's status as a real title risk within the write-up-Ali landscape on the heavyweight division. Initial entire world title endeavor[edit] Coetzee faced John Tate for your WBA heavyweight title that were still left vacant by Muhammad Ali. Coetzee turned the primary African-born heavyweight ever to challenge for a world title. Coetzee fought a tentative bout and, immediately after holding his have early, light in the midpoint in the bout onward. Tate received a choice about 15 rounds. Coetzee would reveal later on in his career that in his early combating years, he struggled with self-self esteem, specially in measuring around American fighters. The very first big boxing occasion in South Africa to alter the encounter of athletics in apartheid South Africa was the combat amongst Bob Foster and Pierre Fourie on one December 1973. This laid company foundations for racially combined boxing before racially mixed audiences. Blended bouts between South Africans were being legalised in 1977, but the last vestiges of your colour bar disappeared only two yrs later when the process of white, black and supreme titles was abolished. The main multiracial SA title fights were held with the Rand Stadium in Johannesburg on 27 November 1976 when Gerrie Coetzee and Elijah 'Tap Faucet' Makhatini turned undisputed champions.[2] 2nd planet title attempt[edit] Tate lasted only a brief time as WBA earth titlist, as he was KO'd in spectacular previous-spherical vogue by Mike Weaver in his to start with title defense. In the meantime, Coetzee experienced preserved his standing to be a really rated contender with a get more than Mike Koraniki in the very first round to keep his title hopes alive. Weaver traveled to South Africa in 1980 to defend his title in opposition to Coetzee, combating in front of an exceptionally big crowd. Coetzee dominated the early parts, and had Weaver damage a number of times. During the 8th, Weaver was in difficulty but Coetzee couldn't capitalize. With the opportunity to complete Weaver long gone, Coetzee seemed to wilt. Weaver was beginning to time Coetzee's punches for counters. By round 12 the fight was near to even, with the South African's direct having evaporated. Weaver experienced survived Coetzee's onslaught and also the tide had turned. Coetzee's endurance failed him and he had begun to throw fewer punches soon after spherical nine. Coetzee was now leaning and mauling far more and was acquiring hit more often coming in together with his unprotected head held substantial. Weaver was accelerating and was obtaining the greater of exchanges as the bout wore on. Coetzee was knocked down for The 1st time in his occupation and out by a huge counter punch within the thirteenth round. Street to a third title bout[edit] Fewer than 5 months after the loss versus Weaver, Coetzee returned on the ring and conquer fringe contender George Chaplin just before dealing with Renaldo Snipes. Coetzee dropped Snipes early and looked as if it would dominate the motion. However, the combat was scored by rounds instead of on points, this means a round received greatly with knockdowns was no a lot more valued than a spherical dropped narrowly, and he shed a ten-round selection which was considered among the list of worst on the decade.[citation wanted] Coetzee had absent 5-1 inside the six fights Because the Weaver bout. One of the wins was just one more than previous title challenger Scott Le Doux heading into a bout Together with the up-and-coming foreseeable future WBC champion Pinklon Thomas. Once more, Coetzee held the sting in the main 50 % from the bout but Thomas rallied to hold Coetzee to a draw. Pursuing his reduction to Snipes and attract with Thomas, Coetzee was not regarded as a strong title contender. WBA heavyweight champion[edit] Principal article: Gerrie Coetzee vs. Michael Dokes Coetzee obtained his third entire world title try versus WBA champion Michael Dokes. By now often called somebody that could not win "The large Just one", Coetzee's predicted destiny With this bout was to point out-circumstance the Don King-promoted Dokes' skills and status as being a soaring star. The combat took place on 23 September 1983 with the Richfield Coliseum in Richfield, Ohio. Coetzee dominated Dokes following a number of rounds of even preventing. The South African led with aggression but also applied counter punching also. Coetzee's poise was obvious, and he boxed much more deftly than typical utilizing additional remaining hooks whilst continue to eschewing A great deal in the best way of defense, sponging just about anything Dokes could land and scoring a knockdown. Coetzee knocked out Dokes while in the tenth spherical to become South Africa's initially planet Heavyweight title holder. He also became the primary Caucasian earth heavyweight champion in 23 decades. The combat was KO Magazine's "Upset in the Yr" for 1983.[citation required] It turned out which the punch that knocked out Dokes damage Coetzee all the more: his correct hand was broken and required surgical procedure five times after the struggle, in Ny city. Unsuccessful unification and defeat[edit] There was Substantially talk about a unification bout Using the regarded best fighter in the division and now International Boxing Federation Champion, Holmes, in 1984, as well as a contract to get a worthwhile bout was signed. Holmes possessed only one of many three title belts but was regarded by most as the real, bona fide, winner.[citation required] Economic difficulties arose if the backer from the bout, JPD Sports from Dallas, Texas, could not elevate the first purse essential. Caesar's Palace spoke of conserving the promotion, but it surely fell by means of. Don King's involvement as Coetzee's promoter, in addition to Larry Holmes' break up with King previously also contributed towards the bout not currently being designed. Holmes needed to preserve the bout which would have gained the two him and Coetzee a big sum of money. Coetzee was Individually keen and eager for your bout. He even indicated he was prepared to undergo While using the bout even though he would probably enter the ring without the WBA title. The WBA had mentioned that with the bout to occur with its blessing, it necessary Holmes to fight to be a contender for Coetzee's belt. Or, the WBA would have to have Coetzee to drop his belt to qualify as being a challenger for Holmes'. Holmes observed no cause of the WBA to preside about a bout concerning The 2 Gentlemen. The WBA insisted Coetzee couldn't encounter Holmes, Regardless of the reality Holmes were regarded as the top heavyweight on the planet given that 1978. In almost any celebration, Coetzee re-wounded his hand for the duration of schooling camp, demanding further surgical procedures, as well as the struggle was cancelled. On his return on the ring, immediately after an extended absence, Coetzee was paired with Greg Website page (the real #1 contender David Bey, refused to go to South Africa as described in "Only in the united states: The Existence and Crimes of Don King" by Jack Newfield, Bey grew to become the #1 by outpointing Greg Web page about 12 rounds). Webpage was all the more stigmatized by failing to acquire big fights than was Coetzee. He was witnessed as supremely gifted and like numerous fighters from the instant put up-Ali era, his sizing, speed and coordination supposedly portended fantastic expectations

gerrie coetzee