Poché Pictures
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Gerrie Coetzee Boxing DVD:
$19.95
$19.95
Gerhardus Christian Coetzee (born April 8, 1955 in Boksburg), better known as Gerrie Coetzee, is a South
African former boxer. He made history twice: he was the first boxer from the African continent ever to fight for the
World Heavyweight Title, and the first to win the World Heavyweight Title. His nickname was The Bionic Man,
because he always had trouble with his right hand, and had a few corrective items put in it during three surgeries.
His Afrikaans nickname was "Seer Handjies" or little sore hands, named so by South African boxing great Callie
Knoetze.
Rise to championship contention
Coetzee started boxing professionally on the night of September 14, 1974, when he beat 19 fight veteran
Christian Roos by a decision in four. He followed that win with 21 consecutive wins to reach a record of 22-0
before fighting for the World Heavyweight Championship (WBA version) for the first time. Among those wins was
one over Roos in a rematch, which Coetzee won by a knockout in three rounds; wins over former world title
challengers Ron Stander, Randy Stephens and Pierre Fourie; a South African Heavyweight championship victory
against Kallie Knoetze (unanimous decision in 10) as well as a first round knockout of former world Heavyweight
champion Leon Spinks. With exception of the Spinks bout, held at Monte Carlo, the rest of Coetzee's fights during
his early run were held in his native South Africa.
Coetzee had displayed impressive right-hand power, speed and composure in the Spinks win, legitimizing his
reputation as a title threat.
First attempt at a world title
He was able to challenge John Tate for the WBA's world Heavyweight title that had been left vacant by
Muhammad Ali. The fight, according to many South African historians, did cause some social impact because it
united 135,000 people to watch an event between a Black (Tate) and a White (Coetzee) in a South Africa that
was split by apartheid. It was one of the first major public events where Blacks and Whites could join together in
public since that ideology had taken over in South Africa. Coetzee became the first African born heavyweight
ever to challenge for a world title, but his dream of becoming the first person from Africa to win the world
Heavyweight champion had to wait, because he was beaten on points over 15 rounds.
Coetzee fought lethargically and his stamina and pace were lacking. Such would be the story of much of his
career. Aggressive and willing, Coetzee nonetheless seemed to have no Plan B if he did not knock out his
opponent. In future matches, his self-awareness of his stamina issues seemed to play on his performances.
Second attempt at a world title
Tate lasted only a short time as world champion, as he was beaten by Mike Weaver in his first title defence.
Coetzee knocked out Mike Koraniki in the first round to keep his title hopes alive. Weaver then travelled to South
Africa to defend his title against Coetzee, fighting in front of a very large crowd. Coetzee's dream was almost
achieved in this fight, as his pressure and aggression saw him leading through 8 rounds, but Coetzee's stamina
failed him and he began to throw fewer punches, lean and maul more and get hit more often coming in with his
unprotected head high. He was knocked out by a counter right-hand in the 13th round.
Road to a third title bout
Undaunted, Coetzee went back to boxing soon and beat fringe contender George Chaplin before facing Renaldo
Snipes, a man who later would be seconds away from becoming world champion when he dropped Larry Holmes
in a title challenge. Coetzee dropped Snipes multiple times and seemed to dominate, but the fight was scored by
rounds and not on points, and he lost a ten round decision that was deemed one of the worst of the decade.
Coetzee racked up four victories between 1981 and 1983, including a defeat of former world title challenger Scott
Le Doux. He faced future world champion Pinklon Thomas, who held him to a draw in a bout where Coetzee again
had an early lead.
Third title bout
Main article: Gerrie Coetzee vs. Michael Dokes
Despite the outcome of the Thomas fight, (or perhaps because of it) Coetzee received his third world title try
against WBA title-holder Michael Dokes. By now known as someone who could not win "The Big One", the third
time turned out to be the charm for Coetzee. In front of a crowd in Akron, Ohio and a HBO Boxing audience,
Coetzee dominated Dokes, counter punching and utilizing his rarely used left hand in knocking out Dokes in the
tenth round to become South Africa's first world Heavyweight champion. He also became the first caucasian world
Heavyweight champion in 23 years. The fight was KO Magazine's Upset of The Year for 1983.
It turned out that the punch that knocked out Dokes hurt Coetzee even more: his right hand was broken and
required his second surgery five days after the fight, in New York.
Short championship reign
There was much talk about a unification bout with the other world Heavyweight champion, Holmes, in 1984, and a
contract was duly signed. There were massive financial issues when the backer of the bout could not raise the
original purse necessary, and Coetzee re-injured his hand during training camp, requiring another surgery. The
fight was cancelled.
On his return to the ring, Coetzee was paired with Greg Page (the real #1 contender David Bey, refused to go to
South Africa as described in "Only in America: The Life and Crimes of Don King" by Jack Newfield, Bey became
the #1 by outpointing Greg Page over 12 rounds). In a give-and-take match highlighted by Coetzee's total lack of
form and apparent overconfidence as well as Page's strong chin, the two exchanged momentum. It was clear
however that Coetzee was a sitting duck for Page's counter-punching and his once dependable chin seemed to
fail him. Coetzee lost his world title when he was knocked out by a left in round eight. This proved to be another
controversial bout. Coetzee's camp protested that while Coetzee was on the canvas, the bell had sounded and
the referee's count should have been waved off, which would have allowed Coetzee to continue for at least one
more round. The round in question actually went for almost a minute too long. Despite this, the WBA decided to
leave Page as the winner by a knockout in eight.
Post-championship career
After losing his title, Coetzee made token attempts at a comeback. He beat Mike Tyson's rival James "Quick" Tillis
by a decision in ten, and went to England to fight future world Heavyweight champion Frank Bruno, losing by a
knockout in one. After that fight, he announced his retirement, but came back twice during the 1990s, winning by
knockout in three against both Dave Fiddler and Wes Turner in 1993, and then winning against Dan Komiscki in
three but losing to former world Middleweight and Light Heavyweight champion Iran Barkley by a knockout in ten,
after dropping him in round two, for a minor Heavyweight belt.
Coetzee has remained in retirement ever since.
His overall record stands at 33 wins, 6 losses and 1 draw, with 21 wins by knockout.
African former boxer. He made history twice: he was the first boxer from the African continent ever to fight for the
World Heavyweight Title, and the first to win the World Heavyweight Title. His nickname was The Bionic Man,
because he always had trouble with his right hand, and had a few corrective items put in it during three surgeries.
His Afrikaans nickname was "Seer Handjies" or little sore hands, named so by South African boxing great Callie
Knoetze.
Rise to championship contention
Coetzee started boxing professionally on the night of September 14, 1974, when he beat 19 fight veteran
Christian Roos by a decision in four. He followed that win with 21 consecutive wins to reach a record of 22-0
before fighting for the World Heavyweight Championship (WBA version) for the first time. Among those wins was
one over Roos in a rematch, which Coetzee won by a knockout in three rounds; wins over former world title
challengers Ron Stander, Randy Stephens and Pierre Fourie; a South African Heavyweight championship victory
against Kallie Knoetze (unanimous decision in 10) as well as a first round knockout of former world Heavyweight
champion Leon Spinks. With exception of the Spinks bout, held at Monte Carlo, the rest of Coetzee's fights during
his early run were held in his native South Africa.
Coetzee had displayed impressive right-hand power, speed and composure in the Spinks win, legitimizing his
reputation as a title threat.
First attempt at a world title
He was able to challenge John Tate for the WBA's world Heavyweight title that had been left vacant by
Muhammad Ali. The fight, according to many South African historians, did cause some social impact because it
united 135,000 people to watch an event between a Black (Tate) and a White (Coetzee) in a South Africa that
was split by apartheid. It was one of the first major public events where Blacks and Whites could join together in
public since that ideology had taken over in South Africa. Coetzee became the first African born heavyweight
ever to challenge for a world title, but his dream of becoming the first person from Africa to win the world
Heavyweight champion had to wait, because he was beaten on points over 15 rounds.
Coetzee fought lethargically and his stamina and pace were lacking. Such would be the story of much of his
career. Aggressive and willing, Coetzee nonetheless seemed to have no Plan B if he did not knock out his
opponent. In future matches, his self-awareness of his stamina issues seemed to play on his performances.
Second attempt at a world title
Tate lasted only a short time as world champion, as he was beaten by Mike Weaver in his first title defence.
Coetzee knocked out Mike Koraniki in the first round to keep his title hopes alive. Weaver then travelled to South
Africa to defend his title against Coetzee, fighting in front of a very large crowd. Coetzee's dream was almost
achieved in this fight, as his pressure and aggression saw him leading through 8 rounds, but Coetzee's stamina
failed him and he began to throw fewer punches, lean and maul more and get hit more often coming in with his
unprotected head high. He was knocked out by a counter right-hand in the 13th round.
Road to a third title bout
Undaunted, Coetzee went back to boxing soon and beat fringe contender George Chaplin before facing Renaldo
Snipes, a man who later would be seconds away from becoming world champion when he dropped Larry Holmes
in a title challenge. Coetzee dropped Snipes multiple times and seemed to dominate, but the fight was scored by
rounds and not on points, and he lost a ten round decision that was deemed one of the worst of the decade.
Coetzee racked up four victories between 1981 and 1983, including a defeat of former world title challenger Scott
Le Doux. He faced future world champion Pinklon Thomas, who held him to a draw in a bout where Coetzee again
had an early lead.
Third title bout
Main article: Gerrie Coetzee vs. Michael Dokes
Despite the outcome of the Thomas fight, (or perhaps because of it) Coetzee received his third world title try
against WBA title-holder Michael Dokes. By now known as someone who could not win "The Big One", the third
time turned out to be the charm for Coetzee. In front of a crowd in Akron, Ohio and a HBO Boxing audience,
Coetzee dominated Dokes, counter punching and utilizing his rarely used left hand in knocking out Dokes in the
tenth round to become South Africa's first world Heavyweight champion. He also became the first caucasian world
Heavyweight champion in 23 years. The fight was KO Magazine's Upset of The Year for 1983.
It turned out that the punch that knocked out Dokes hurt Coetzee even more: his right hand was broken and
required his second surgery five days after the fight, in New York.
Short championship reign
There was much talk about a unification bout with the other world Heavyweight champion, Holmes, in 1984, and a
contract was duly signed. There were massive financial issues when the backer of the bout could not raise the
original purse necessary, and Coetzee re-injured his hand during training camp, requiring another surgery. The
fight was cancelled.
On his return to the ring, Coetzee was paired with Greg Page (the real #1 contender David Bey, refused to go to
South Africa as described in "Only in America: The Life and Crimes of Don King" by Jack Newfield, Bey became
the #1 by outpointing Greg Page over 12 rounds). In a give-and-take match highlighted by Coetzee's total lack of
form and apparent overconfidence as well as Page's strong chin, the two exchanged momentum. It was clear
however that Coetzee was a sitting duck for Page's counter-punching and his once dependable chin seemed to
fail him. Coetzee lost his world title when he was knocked out by a left in round eight. This proved to be another
controversial bout. Coetzee's camp protested that while Coetzee was on the canvas, the bell had sounded and
the referee's count should have been waved off, which would have allowed Coetzee to continue for at least one
more round. The round in question actually went for almost a minute too long. Despite this, the WBA decided to
leave Page as the winner by a knockout in eight.
Post-championship career
After losing his title, Coetzee made token attempts at a comeback. He beat Mike Tyson's rival James "Quick" Tillis
by a decision in ten, and went to England to fight future world Heavyweight champion Frank Bruno, losing by a
knockout in one. After that fight, he announced his retirement, but came back twice during the 1990s, winning by
knockout in three against both Dave Fiddler and Wes Turner in 1993, and then winning against Dan Komiscki in
three but losing to former world Middleweight and Light Heavyweight champion Iran Barkley by a knockout in ten,
after dropping him in round two, for a minor Heavyweight belt.
Coetzee has remained in retirement ever since.
His overall record stands at 33 wins, 6 losses and 1 draw, with 21 wins by knockout.
