Coetzee was a WBA champ who beat Michael Dokes, Leon Spinks, James Tillis and drew with Pinklon Thomas. Gave some good efforts against Tate and Weaver as well and might have been robbed by snipes. Damiani took a silver medal in the 1984 Olympics. Went unbeaten in his first 27 bouts and beat Biggs, Duplooy, Gregg, Broad and later an old Page: Both guys could box and punch. Who takes it ?
Barring Cooney breaking Damiani's nose aka Mercer, i can't see Damiani losing. I think he wins a decision. Better slicker boxer. Edit: my mistake. I thought Cooney. I would actually favour Coetzee to knock him out. I think he lands the monster right and gets him out of there. Coetzee tko 11.
Coetzee batters him around the ring and wins late stoppage or on points, Coetzee had decent hand speed and was actually decent against boxers, he could close the ring off and could close distance relatively well against them, Damiani didn’t have the power to make Coetzee respect him or to hurt him.
Mercer broke Damiani’s nose with a shot that was part left hook and part left upper cut…. Gerry Cooney was much more prolific at throwing that kind of punch than Gerrie Coetzee was.
Coetzee had the punch and timing. Damiani had more or less everything else. If you watch Damiani a bit you realise that this guy, despite his potato appearance, was a high level operator. Wide array of punches, good stamina, good chin, decent power. I don't think anybody would get knocked out but I would favour Damiani on points.
