Tributes continue to be paid to former world heavyweight champion, Gerrie Coetzee, who died at the age of 67 this week.
Coetzee died of lung cancer at his Cape Town home. He had been given his prognosis by doctors around a week ago, upon consultation, and died surrounded by his family.
Known as the “Boksburg Bomber”, Coetzee became the WBA world heavyweight champion in 1983 when he knocked out Michael Dokes of the United States in the 10th round of their title fight in Cleveland Ohio.
In a career that spanned from 1974 to 1986 and again from 1993 to 1997, Coetzee fought 40 times, winning 33 (21 by knock-out) with six losses and one draw.
According to reports, before the title fight, Dokes issued a warning to Coetzee and said that if he knocks Coetzee down in the ring, he should rather stay down. “Because, if he gets up, I’m going to beat him to death.”
But when Coetzee knocked Dokes down in the early hours of the morning, many South Africans probably couldn’t believe their eyes.
Reality set in when the American TV commentator said a while later:
“And for those South Africans who have just tuned in, your beloved son is the new heavyweight boxing champion of the world!”
Watch the fight here:
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