Pepe, just think, losing 12 out of 15 rounds wouldn't have mattered if Duane Ford and C.J. Ross were 2 of the judges. We would have had Bushy Bester crowned as the new champ. Scartissue
South African Light-Middleweight Gert Steyn Another one of those 'South African' 154 lb. #1 WBA-ranked Challengers. Turned professional, December 1970. Gets to 18-2-2 (9 KO's) by May 1976, included bouts; * Draw 8........ Shoji Tsujimoto * W Dec 12.... Gert Craemer * W Dec 12.... Gert Craemer The back-to-back wins over Gert Craemer, were for the South African Welterweight Championship, then the South African Light-Middleweight Championship. September 1976, at age 25 1/2, earns a #10 WBA Light-Middleweight ranking. Moves up to #6 WBA, by scoring '1st Round Knockouts' over Tony 'KO' Gardner and Victor Taco Perez, and improves to 20-2-2 (11 KO's). Is being pushed by Promoter Doug Dolan, for a shot at the WBA Championship, versus 'new' Champion Miguel Castellini of Argentina, for possibly in early-1977. In December 1976, gets 'upset' (L KO 5) by 'American Journeyman' Mike Nixon 25-7-1 in a 'tune-up bout' - but only falls to the #9 WBA Light-Middleweight. In 1977 and 1978, goes on an 'unbeaten streak' and wins '8' straight (3 KO's), and ups his record to 28-3-2 (14 KO's). Included were 'impressive' wins over WBA Top-20 Ranked Light-Middleweights; * Monty Betham (New Zealand) * Ralph Palladin (USA) * Loyiso Mtya (South Africa) Somehow, in January 1979 - Gert Steyn leaps over 'undefeated' Ayub Kalule, and gets positioned as the #1 WBA Light-Middleweight, and is offered a 'Championship-bout' versus Japan's Masashi Kudo. 'All Hell Breaks Loose', as the Danish Boxing Commission cries foul, when Gert Steyn is somehow manuevered to the Top Ranking over the deserving Ayub Kalule. In February 1979 - Gert proves to the WBA that he is worthy of a #1 Ranking, and wins a 'close decision' (W Dec 10) over the veteran, #9 WBA Middleweight, Elijah 'Tap Tap' Makathani 45-7-1, while WBA-observers screen the bout. Despite the win, the WBA adjusts the Top 10 rankings, and properly inserts Ayub Kalue as the #1 Light-Middleweight, and puts Gert Steyn at #2 WBA. In September 1979, for a WBA Light-Middleweight Elimination bout, Steyn travels to Denmark, and is 'upset' by veteran 'Dane' - European Welterweight Champion, #5 WBA - Jorgen Hansen. The 'loss' drops Gert Steyn to the #9 WBA Light-Middleweight. Follow-up losses in 1980 to; Argentinian - Ruben Hector Prado, (2x) to 'countryman' Bushy Bester, and American - Ralph Moncrief push Gert Steyn to 'opponent status', at 30-8-2 (15 KO's). But, in 1981, back-to-back 'Upset Decision' wins over Bushy Bester and Morris Molkai for the South African Light-Middleweight Championship, let Steyn finish his career on a 'high-note. Gert Steyn retires in 1981 at age 30, with a record of 32-8-2 (15 KO's). Gert Steyn could be considered a Top 15 Light-Middleweight from 1976 thru 1979. Not a Top-rated contender, but one who could perform well, with good boxing skills and B+ ability.
'The Silver Assassin', Charlie Weir vs. Solomon 'Bushy' Bester Monday Night - March 29, 1977 (Wembley Ice Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa) 'Two' young South African Light-Middleweights square off in a 6-Round 'Main Event' bout. 20 year-old, Charlie Weir 2-0-0 (2 KO's) scores a 'stunning' 1st Round Knockout over 21 year-old Solomon 'Bushy' Bester 4-0-0 (3 KO's). Referee, Stanley Christodoulou stands in the back-ground. A highly anticipated bout, between 'two' young prospects. Bushy Bester (left) scored first with several hard left jabs, and then shook Charlie Weir with an overhand right, that drove the 'Silver Assassin' back on his heels. Moments later, Weir exploded a right-hand bomb to Bester's jaw, that floored the young pro. Up at the '6' count, Bester was then met by a barrage of Weir's punches, capped off by a vicious right-hand to the body that dropped Bester for the '10' count, at 2:03 of the '1st Round. Suprisingly, these 'two' never met in 1979/1980/1981/1982, when they were in the Top 10 of Light-Middleweights. This content is protected
'The Silver Assassin' - Charlie Weir Without a doubt, South Africa's best hope to win a Wolrd Championship at 154 lbs. Turned professional, in August 1977, at age 20. Won his first '7' bouts, all by knockout, including a (KO 1) over Bushy Bester. Was 'upset' (L KO 5) by veteran Joseph Hali in his '8th' bout. Returned the favor, by blasting out (KO 2) Joseph Hali in the the rematch, 5-months later. By Febraury 1979 (age 22) improved to 16-1-0 (13 KO's), while now competing at 160 lbs. (Middleweight). April 1979, was stopped {L KO 8} by veteran #12 WBA-ranked, Elijah 'Tap Tap' Makathani, in a Middleweight bout. Dropping back down to 154 lbs. (Light-Middleweight), Charlie reels of '13' straight victories, over the next 2-years, and all by knockout, improving to 29-2-0 (26 KO's), moving him to the #4 WBA ranking. Included were knockouts over Top 10 WBA rated fighters; * Sugar Ray Hammond * Tyronne Rackley * Jerry Cheatham * Nicanor Camacho * Clement Tshinza Was set to fight WBA Light-Middleweight Champion, Tadashi Mihara, but political issues with 'apartheid' in South Africa prevented the bout with the Japan fighter from taking place. Instead, in February 1982, American Davey Moore went to Japan, to wrest the WBA Championship from Tadashi Mihara, to 'transport the title' to South Africa. In April 1982, Davey Moore brought his 'belt' to South Africa, to give the 'Silver Assassin' a chance at the WBA Championship. The 25 year-old Charlie Weir, the #4 WBA Challenger at 29-2-0 (26 KO's), was the 'heavy favorite' when entering the bout. His experience, one-punch knockout power, and home-country venue, would give him a decided advantage over the WBA Champion Davey Moore. The 22 year-old Champion, was an 'inexperienced' '9' bout pro. On Saturday, April 24, and in front of 50,000 South African fans at the New Ellis Rugby Stadium in Johannesburg, WBA Champion Davey Moore, shook-off the hard-charging 'Silver Assassin' in the '1st-Round', to floor the South African 'twice' in the 2nd-Round, 'once' in the 3rd-Round, 'twice' again in the 4th-round, and again in the 5th-Round for the count at 0:35 of the round. Charlie Weir did come back in 1982 after that 'crushing defeat', to score '2' more victories, both by 'knockout' over fringe contenders (KO 2) Connie Bekker and (KO 7) Manning Galloway, only to retire soon after. The 26 year-old 'Silver Assassin' retired at the end of 1982, with a record of 31-3-0 (28 KO's). Charlie Weir was clearly a Top 10 Light-Middleweight, from 1980 thru 1982. His 'one-punch knockout power' made him one of the most dangerous 154 lb. fighters in the division. But, his inability to take a hard-shot, was his weakness, and that prevented him from achieving his goal of a World Championship. Had he won the WBA Championship in April 1982, 'Big $$' bouts versus former WBA Champion Ayub Kalule and former WBC Champion Rocky Mattioli were planned.
Petrus Arnoldus Crous Piet Crous Started off in November 1977, as a 22 year-old Light-Heavyweight. Busted out by going 10-0-1 (9 KO's), inlcuding an impressive {TKO 8} over American 'Poison Ivy' Brown in October 1981. Won the South African Light-Heavyweight Title in his next bout, by defeating (W Dec 12) over 'Tough' Doug Lumley {22-3-0} on November 2, 1981. Scored impressive 'Knockout' wins over several Top 15 Light-Heavyweights in 1983 to move up to the #4 WBA Light-Heayweight, including, * February 5, 1983..........Theunis Kok * April 28, 1983..............Charles Henderson * August 6, 1983............Pedro Cesar Duarte * October 29, 1983.........Victor Robledo Improved to 18-0-1 (16 KO's), Then scored back-to-back knockouts in December 1983 (TKO 11) and March 1984 (KO 10) over Western Cape's Solomon Zuma, in defense of his South African Light-Heavyweight Title. While at 20-0-1 (18 KO's), faced and defeated Belgium Light-Heavyweight Jose Seys 18-2-1 (13 KO's) in a WBA-Elimination bout, by another impressive (TKO 4) win over a Top-Rated WBA Light-Heavyweuight. Below, Piet Crous stalks WBA Cruiserweight Champion, Ossie Ocasio. [url] This content is protected [/url] Unable to get a 1984 WBA Light-Heavyweight Title shot at Champion Michael Spinks, despite being the #2 WBA-ranked Challenger, Piet Crous adds a few pounds on to his frame, and moves up to challenge WBA Cruiserweight Champion, Ossie Ocasio on December 1, 1984 (at the Superbowl, Sun City, South Africa) on the undercard of the Gerrie Coetzee vs Greg Page WBA Heavyweight Championship. The 6' 1", 29 year-old Piet Crous (only 180 lbs.) utilizes a fast-pace and an aggresive style, using an assortment of powerful right hands (leads, crosses and uppercuts) to defeat the Champion over 15-Rounds, enroute to a Unanimous Decision (W Dec 15). By most accounts, Piet Crous had won the bout by a Round-Count Card of {8-4-3}. Piet Crous, now the WBA Cruiserweight Champion - upped his record to 22-0-1 (19 KO's).
Piet Crous - WBA Cruiserweight Champion (12/1/84 thru 7/27/85) This content is protected Won WBA Championship...... (12/1/84).... W Dec 15 over..** Ossie Ocasio First Defense.....................(3/30/85)......W KO 3 over....#8 Randy Stephens Lost Title...........................(7/27/85)......L KO 11 to......#1 Dwight Muhammad Qawi On July 27, 1985 - WBA Champion Piet Crous controlled the early rounds versus Dwight Muhammad Qawi with an aggressive attack, consisting of long left jabs, and slashing right hands. After 8-Rounds, Piet Crous had a comfortable lead on the Scorecards. But, in Round 9, Qawi started to break through with hard punches to both the head and body of Crous, who started to wilt. Another good round by Qawi in Round 10, and Crous was in trouble. In Round 11 , a heavy assault by Qawi, resulted in '2' knockdowns and a 'knockout', giving Dwight Muhammad Qawi the WBA Cruiserweight Championship. Piet Crous, bounced back '7' months later after his 'first loss', and scored a win. 'Two' more wins upped his record to 26-1-1 (21 KO's), and moved Piet back up to the #2 WBA Cruiseweight. But, in May 1987, he was 'shockingly upset' (L KO 7) by 'mediocre' South African Light-Heavyweight Freddie Rafferty 14-6-2 (12 KO's). His 'quest' for another chance at the WBA Cruiserweight Title ended then. Piet Crous retired after the bout, with a record of 26-2-1 (21 KO's).
