Gerrie Coetzee

Gerrie Coetzee, a South African heavyweight boxer, had an impressive professional career that spanned over 22 years, from 1974 to 1997. During this time, Coetzee fought in a total of 40 fights, of which he won 33, lost 6, and drew once, with no no-contests. He had an impressive knockout record with 21 knockout wins, and only lost four times via knockout. Coetzee won one world title at heavyweight, and in this article, we will take a closer look at his journey to becoming a boxing champion.

Coetzee made his professional boxing career debut at the age of 19 on September 14, 1974, against Chris Roos. He won the bout via four-round PTS, which marked the beginning of an unbeaten streak of 22 fights, which included 12 wins via stoppage. Coetzee was unstoppable, and his performances in the ring were remarkable.

At the age of 24, Coetzee had his first world title fight on October 20, 1979, after a total of 22 professional fights, against John Tate for the WBA (vacant) title. Unfortunately, he lost to Tate via 15 round unanimous decision. This loss marked the end of his unbeaten streak, but it did not deter him from working hard.

However, Coetzee remained determined and fought hard to become a world champion. His chance came on September 23, 1983, when he won the WBA heavyweight title from Michael Dokes, beating him via 10th round KO. This victory marked the highlight of his career, and it remains his biggest achievement to date.

Coetzee had some notable victories in his career, including his first remarkable performance against Leon Spinks on June 24, 1979. He defeated Spinks via first-round TKO, which marked the beginning of his rise to stardom. He also won against Scott LeDoux, Mike Koranicki, Stan Ward, Fossie Schmidt, and Leroy Caldwell. All these victories showcased his exceptional boxing skills.

However, Coetzee experienced six losses in his professional boxing career, three of which were in title bouts, and three were in non-title bouts. He suffered his first loss against John Tate on October 20, 1979, via 15-round unanimous decision, which ended his 22-fight win streak. He was also stopped four times and lost twice via decision, which was a setback for his career.

Coetzee's last professional fight was a non-title bout against American boxer Iran Barkley at the age of 42, on June 8, 1997. He lost the fight via 10th round TKO, which marked the end of his professional career. He retired with a record of 33-6-1, which included the 21 knockout wins he had accumulated over the years.

Gerrie Coetzee made a name for himself in the boxing world, and his performances in the ring will always be remembered. His determination and hard work paid off when he won the WBA heavyweight title in 1983, and it remains his biggest achievement in the sport. Although he experienced some losses in his career, he remained focused and never gave up on his dream of becoming a world champion.

Overall, Gerrie Coetzee's professional career is a testament to the fact that with hard work, determination, and dedication, one can achieve great success in the sport of boxing. Coetzee's remarkable career highlights showcase his exceptional boxing skills, and he remains an inspiration to many aspiring boxers around the world.

Gerrie Coetzee Fight Record