R.I.P Gerrie Coetzee

Now that is just scary. A whole generation of fighters dying young.
Was a good fighter.
RIP

 

RIP Gerrie.

 

You forgot Tucker, Spinks and Damiani.

 

You wouldn't quite put Tucker in the bracket Saad? Perhaps because he was IBF? He did come on a little later than the guys you are bracketing too even if he was an 80's champ.

 

RIP to Gerrie Coetzee I really liked this era of Heavyweights. And Coetzee definitely played his part with his performances vs Weaver, Dokes, Thomas, Spinks, Snipes, etc. Had one of the best right hands in Heavyweight history, and always came to fight a sad loss to the sport.

 

They could work with the WBA

Arum promoted in South Africa

Don King let Greg Page fight Coetzee for the WBA title. King cared more about controlling both the WBC and WBA titles then any morality. But is that surprising...

 

Yes. I just forgot about him. I am getting older......

 

Ok was curious.

 

Eggxactly!

 

I would love to have seen Coetzee in against Cooney back in the day.

 

Coetzee's right hand vs Cooney's left hook, two big punchers anything could happen.

 

Holmes fought 4 guys of that list

Coatzee fought 6 guys of that list

 

Tucker and Damiani if he counts.

 

He had a bloody good right hand.

 

Devastated to hear the news. Truly heartbroken. I don't keep up with the news, so I only found out today.

Gerrie was one of two of my early childhood heroes. I idolized the man. I was devastated when he lost to Weaver and later Page. Those losses stung. Especially the Page loss. But that said, I was dead proud when he won the title from Mike Dokes in '83.
That STILL remains one of my fondest memories of all. 'So Gerrie did it...' mused my dad as we warmed our hands by the heater as it was a freezing morning in my country. I didn't say anything but I was so happy.

SA was in sporting isolation and it was rare to see one of our own competing internationally in ANY sport, let alone my favourite sport. To have one of our own win 'the biggest title in sports' (as the heavyweight ttle was back them - yes it was 'only' the WBA title, but I didn't care) is amazing. He was a national hero. He will always be one, and be my hero.

I have a bust of Gerrie's huge fist, and underneath, he personally wrote 'Aan (to) Neal, van (from) Gerrie Coetzee, signed 4/6/2012.
It's gold, and incredibly detailed. You can even see the hair follicles. Amazing.


It's a big 'ol fist. Make my normal-sized hand look like a child's by comparison. That, along with a fight poster of him vs Mike Weaver and signed boxing gloves from Vic Toweel, remain along my very fondest possessions.
I also spoke via email to his wife Rina, who was a lovely lady.

Anyway, it's a been a pleasure and honour to watch this man in his prime, fighting among the very best in the world. Than you Gerrie, for everything.