Gerhardus Christian "Gerrie" Coetzee (born 8 April 1955) can be a South African previous Qualified boxer who competed from 1974 to 1986, and in 1993 and 1997.[one] He was the main boxer from your African continent at any time to struggle for, and gain, a planet heavyweight championship, obtaining held the WBA title from 1983 to 1984. Considered one of Coetzee's nicknames, "The Bionic Hand", came about because of persistent difficulties together with his correct hand, which needed the insertion of several corrective products all through 3 surgeries. His Afrikaans nickname was "Seer Handjies", or "Very little Sore Arms", named so by fellow South African boxing fantastic Kallie Knoetze. Coetzee fought the likes of Iran Barkley, Greg Web page, Pinklon Thomas, Frank Bruno, Leon Spinks, Mike Weaver, and Michael Dokes. Contents one Skilled career 1.one Increase to championship competition one.2 Very first globe title attempt 1.three Next world title endeavor one.4 Road to a third title bout 1.five WBA heavyweight champion 1.six Unsuccessful unification and defeat one.7 Put up-championship profession two Specialist boxing document three References 4 Exterior hyperlinks Experienced career[edit] Increase to championship competition[edit] Coetzee commenced boxing skillfully on the night of fourteen September 1974, when he beat 19 struggle veteran and fellow South African Christian Roos by a decision in four. He followed that gain with 21 consecutive wins to succeed in a record of twenty-two-0 ahead of preventing for that WBA heavyweight title for the first time. Among the Those people wins was a single in excess of Roos in a rematch, which Coetzee gained by a knockout in 3 rounds; wins over former entire world title challengers Ron Stander, Randy Stephens and Pierre Fourie; a South African Heavyweight championship victory towards beginner rival Kallie Knoetze (unanimous final decision in 10) in addition to a initially-spherical knockout of previous planet heavyweight champion Leon Spinks. With exception of the Spinks bout, held at Monte Carlo, the remainder of Coetzee's fights through his early run had been held in his native South Africa. Spinks attacked Coetzee and pressured him, throwing punches from quite a few angles and looking to steam-roll the South African. Coetzee composed himself and a short right hand shipped to Spinks' temple knocked down the former planet winner. Coetzee proceeded to drop Spinks two far more situations to history a technological knockout. The acquire Increased Coetzee's popularity as a true title risk during the put up-Ali landscape in the heavyweight division. Initially globe title try[edit] Coetzee confronted John Tate to the WBA heavyweight title that had been still left vacant by Muhammad Ali. Coetzee became the initial African-born heavyweight ever to problem to get a earth title. Coetzee fought a tentative bout and, immediately after Keeping his own early, faded with the midpoint from the bout onward. Tate won a decision over 15 rounds. Coetzee would expose afterwards in his career that in his early battling a long time, he struggled with self-self confidence, notably in measuring around American fighters. The first big boxing party in South Africa to change the confront of sporting activities in apartheid South Africa was the battle in between Bob Foster and Pierre Fourie on one December 1973. This laid business foundations for racially combined boxing before racially combined audiences. Combined bouts involving South Africans were legalised in 1977, but the final vestiges of your colour bar disappeared only two a long time later on in the event the technique of white, black and supreme titles was abolished. The initial multiracial SA title fights had been held with the Rand Stadium in Johannesburg on 27 November 1976 when Gerrie Coetzee and Elijah 'Tap Faucet' Makhatini turned undisputed champions.[2] Second world title endeavor[edit] Tate lasted only a brief time as WBA earth titlist, as he was KO'd in magnificent previous-spherical trend by Mike Weaver in his very first title defense. Meanwhile, Coetzee had taken care of his standing being a very rated contender by using a get more than Mike Koraniki in the first round to help keep his title hopes alive. Weaver traveled to South Africa in 1980 to defend his title against Coetzee, preventing before an extremely massive crowd. Coetzee dominated the early portions, and had Weaver damage quite a few periods. From the 8th, Weaver was in issues but Coetzee couldn't capitalize. With the chance to finish Weaver gone, Coetzee seemed to wilt. Weaver was beginning to time Coetzee's punches for counters. By round 12 the combat was near to even, With all the South African's guide acquiring evaporated. Weaver had survived Coetzee's onslaught along with the tide had turned. Coetzee's stamina failed him and he had started to toss much less punches after spherical 9. Coetzee was now leaning and mauling a lot more and was getting hit more frequently coming in together with his unprotected head held substantial. Weaver was accelerating and was receiving the superior of exchanges since the bout wore on. Coetzee was knocked down for The 1st time in his vocation and out by a major counter punch during the 13th round. Highway to a third title bout[edit] Lower than 5 months following the decline against Weaver, Coetzee returned to your ring and conquer fringe contender George Chaplin prior to going through Renaldo Snipes. Coetzee dropped Snipes early and looked as if it would dominate the action. However, the fight was scored by rounds rather than on factors, which means a spherical won extensively with knockdowns was no much more valued than a spherical shed narrowly, and he misplaced a 10-spherical conclusion that was deemed one of many worst of your 10 years.[citation desired] Coetzee had long gone five-1 inside the six fights Because the Weaver bout. Among the wins was a person over previous title challenger Scott Le Doux heading right into a bout Together with the up-and-coming long term WBC winner Pinklon Thomas. Once again, Coetzee held the sting in the very first half with the bout but Thomas rallied to hold Coetzee to the draw. Subsequent his loss to Snipes and draw with Thomas, Coetzee was not viewed as a powerful title contender. WBA heavyweight winner[edit] Main short article: Gerrie Coetzee vs. Michael Dokes Coetzee gained his third earth title test versus WBA winner Michael Dokes. By now referred to as someone who could not win "The large Just one", Coetzee's predicted destiny In this particular bout was to show-scenario the Don King-promoted Dokes' qualities and standing for a rising star. The struggle came about on 23 September 1983 on the Richfield Coliseum in Richfield, Ohio. Coetzee dominated Dokes after a number of rounds of even combating. The South African led with aggression but also employed counter punching likewise. Coetzee's poise was evident, and he boxed additional deftly than usual employing more remaining hooks although even now eschewing much in the best way of protection, sponging anything Dokes could land and scoring a knockdown. Coetzee knocked out Dokes during the tenth spherical to become South Africa's 1st entire world Heavyweight title holder. He also became the 1st Caucasian earth heavyweight winner in 23 decades. The battle was KO Magazine's "Upset of your Calendar year" for 1983.[citation needed] It turned out which the punch that knocked out Dokes hurt Coetzee much more: his proper hand was damaged and expected surgical treatment five days after the combat, in Ny city. Unsuccessful unification and defeat[edit] There was Substantially talk about a unification bout Along with the acknowledged finest fighter during the division and now Intercontinental Boxing Federation Winner, Holmes, in 1984, and a deal for just a lucrative bout was signed. Holmes possessed only one of many three title belts but was recognized by most as the true, bona fide, champion.[citation desired] Financial issues arose in the event the backer on the bout, JPD Sports activities outside of Dallas, Texas, could not increase the original purse needed. Caesar's Palace spoke of saving the promotion, however it fell as a result of. Don King's involvement as Coetzee's promoter, along with Larry Holmes' break up with King previously also contributed on the bout not being built. Holmes wished to help you save the bout which might have earned both equally him and Coetzee a substantial sum of money. Coetzee was personally willing and eager for your bout. He even indicated he was prepared to go through Using the bout however he would very likely enter the ring with no WBA title. The WBA had mentioned that with the bout to happen with its blessing, it necessary Holmes to combat like a contender for Coetzee's belt. Or, the WBA would call for Coetzee to drop his belt to qualify being a challenger for Holmes'. Holmes observed no cause for the WBA to preside in excess of a bout amongst the two Gentlemen. The WBA insisted Coetzee could not experience Holmes, despite the truth Holmes were regarded as the most beneficial heavyweight on earth due to the fact 1978. In any event, Coetzee re-injured his hand in the course of schooling camp, demanding additional surgical procedures, and the struggle was cancelled. On his return into the ring, following an prolonged absence, Coetzee was paired with Greg Page (the real #one contender David Bey, refused to head over to South Africa as explained in "Only in the usa: The Existence and Crimes of Don King" by Jack Newfield, Bey turned the #one by outpointing Greg Website page around 12 rounds). Site was more stigmatized by failing to acquire big fights than was Coetzee. He was noticed as supremely talented and like quite a few fighters inside the fast post-Ali era, his size, speed and coordination supposedly portended great anticipations of accomplishment. Though

gerrie coetzee