Gerrie Coetzee
| Gerrie Coetzee | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Gerhardus Christian Coetzee |
| Nickname(s) |
|
| Rated at | Heavyweight |
| Height | 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) |
| Reach | 206 cm (81 in) |
| Nationality | South African |
| Born |
8 April 1955 Boksburg, East Rand, Gauteng, South Africa |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 40 |
| Wins | 33 |
| Wins by KO | 21 |
| Losses | 6 |
| Draws | 1 |
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 boxer from the African continent ever to fight for, and win, a world heavyweight championship, having held the WBA title from 1983 to 1984. 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 "Little Sore 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. He followed that win with 21 consecutive wins to reach a record of 22-0 before fighting for the WBA heavyweight title 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 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 rest of Coetzee's fights during his early run were held in his native South Africa.
Spinks attacked Coetzee and pressured him, throwing punches from many angles and trying to steam-roll the South African. Coetzee composed himself and 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 technical knockout. The win enhanced Coetzee's reputation as a real title threat in the post-Ali landscape of the heavyweight division.
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