Gerrie Coetzee boxer

Gerrie Coetzee boxer
bouts
40
won
33
lost
6
draw
1
Status
inactive
Division
heavyweight
Debut
1974-09-14
Height
6′ 3½″/192cm
Reach
81″/206cm
Age
-
Born
1955-04-08
Death
-
Nationality
South Africa

Gerhardus Christian "Gerrie" Coetzee (born 8 April 1955) is a South African former professional boxer who competed from 1974 to 1986, and in 1993 and 1997. He was the first African ever to fight for, and win, a world heavyweight championship, having held the WBA title from 1983 to 1984. He holds notable knockout wins against WBA world heavyweight champion Michael Dokes and former unified world heavyweight champion Leon Spinks, as well as a draw with future WBC world heavyweight champion Pinklon Thomas.One of Coetzee's nicknames, "The Bionic Hand", came about because of persistent troubles with his right hand, which required the insertion of several corrective items during three surgeries. His Afrikaans nickname was "Seer Handjies", or "Sore Little Hands", named so by fellow South African boxing great Kallie Knoetze.Coetzee started boxing professionally on the night of 14 September 1974, when he beat 19 fight veteran and fellow South African Christian Roos by a decision in four. Coetzee followed his early success with a string of victories in his homeland. Among those wins was one over Roos in a rematch, which Coetzee won by a knockout in three rounds; he also defeated South African Mike Schutte who had been casually considered as a potential gimmick opponent for Muhammad Ali. Other notable wins included defeating former world title challengers Ron Stander, Randy Stephens and Pierre Fourie; a South African Heavyweight championship victory against amateur rival 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 majority of Coetzee's fights during his early run were held in his native South Africa.In the fight with Spinks, the former champion attacked Coetzee and pressured him, throwing punches from many angles and trying to steam-roll the South African. Coetzee composed himself and, with a short right hand delivered to Spinks' temple, knocked down the former world champion. Coetzee proceeded to drop Spinks two more times to record a first roundtechnical knockout. The win enhanced Coetzee's reputation as a real title threat in the post-Ali landscape of the heavyweight division.

Date Opponent Last Opponents' Results Place Result
1997-06-08 Iran Barkley WWWWWW Hollywood Palladium, Hollywood LOST
Technical knockout
1997-01-10 Dan Kosmicki WLLLLL Hollywood Palladium, Hollywood WIN
Technical knockout
1993-10-01 West Turner WLWWLL Arco Arena, Sacramento WIN
Technical knockout
1993-08-27 Dave Fiddler LWLWLD Arco Arena, Sacramento WIN
KO
1986-03-04 Frank Bruno WWWWWW Wembley Arena, Wembley LOST
KO
1985-09-07 James Tillis WWWLWL Ellis Park Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg WIN
Unanimous decision
1984-12-01 Greg Page WWWWLL Superbowl, Sun City LOST
KO
1983-09-23 Michael Dokes WWWWWD Richfield Coliseum, Richfield WIN
KO
1983-01-22 Pinklon Thomas WWWWWW Sands Casino Hotel, Atlantic City DRAW
Points
1982-09-11 Stan Ward WWWLWW Sands Casino Hotel, Atlantic City WIN
Technical knockout
1982-03-27 Scott LeDoux WLWWLW Rand Stadium, Johannesburg WIN
KO
1982-02-13 Fossie Schmidt WWWWWL Rand Stadium, Johannesburg WIN
Corner retirement
1981-10-31 Leroy Caldwell LWWWWW Ellis Park Tennis Stadium, Johannesburg WIN
KO
1981-08-09 Renaldo Snipes WWWWWW New Westcester Town Hall, Tarrytown LOST
Split-decision
1981-03-14 George Chaplin WWWWLD Aloha Stadium, Honolulu WIN
Unanimous decision
1980-10-25 Mike Weaver WWLWWW Superbowl, Sun City LOST
KO
1980-04-19 Mike Koranicki WDWLLW Rand Stadium, Johannesburg WIN
KO
1979-10-20 John Tate WWWWWW Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria LOST
Unanimous decision
1979-06-24 Leon Spinks WWDWWL Chapiteau de l'Espace Fontvieille, Fontvieille WIN
Technical knockout
1978-12-15 Ibar Arrington WWWWLL New Kingsmead Soccer Stadium, Durban WIN
Points
1978-05-26 Randy Stephens WLLWWW Film Trust Arena, Johannesburg WIN
Points
1977-12-03 Johnny Boudreaux WWWLWL Wembley Stadium, Johannesburg WIN
KO
1977-10-29 Tom Prater WWLLWL Ellis Park Tennis Stadium, Johannesburg WIN
Corner retirement
1977-04-16 Mike Schutte WWWLWW Wembley Stadium, Johannesburg WIN
Points
1977-03-19 Pierre Fourie WLLWWW Wembley Stadium, Johannesburg WIN
KO
1976-11-27 James Mathatho WWLWWW Rand Stadium, Johannesburg WIN
KO
1976-10-30 Kallie Knoetze WWWWWL Rand Stadium, Johannesburg WIN
Points
1976-08-16 Mike Schutte WWWWWW West Ridge Tennis Stadium, Durban WIN
1976-07-17 Ron Stander WWLWLW Film Trust Arena, Kensington, Johannesburg WIN
Corner retirement
1976-04-10 Jimmy Richards WWWDLL Portuguese Hall, Johannesburg WIN
Technical knockout
1976-03-22 Hartmut Sasse WWLLLL Ellis Park Tennis Stadium, Johannesburg WIN
Points
1976-02-28 Jimmy Richards WWWWDL Wembley Ice Rink, Johannesburg WIN
Points
1975-10-27 Chris Roos DLLWDL Wembley Ice Rink, Johannesburg WIN
Technical knockout
1975-06-27 Hennie Thoonen WWLLWL Ellis Park Tennis Stadium, Johannesburg WIN
Technical knockout
1975-06-07 Amedeo Laureti WWLLDL Wembley Ice Rink, Johannesburg WIN
Points
1975-05-05 Hennie Thoonen WWWWL Ellis Park Tennis Stadium, Johannesburg WIN
Points
1975-02-22 Steve Foley LLLDWL Ellis Park Tennis Stadium, Johannesburg WIN
KO
1974-11-02 Kosie Oosthuizen WW Badminton Hall, Showgrounds, Pretoria WIN
KO
1974-10-26 Bert van Nikkelen Kuyper LWLLLW Rand Stadium, Johannesburg WIN
KO
1974-09-14 Chris Roos WDLLWD Portuguese Hall, Johannesburg WIN
Points