Whoever lands first. Both can crack, neither take it that well. Considering their best punches are opposite, we may even get a "Rocky 2" double knockout.
Gerrie had better feet, could really move around, but needed to sit on that right hand. Whoever's timing was on would get it. I could see this one going either way. Neither were that good or that durable. Both could whack a bit.
Obviously not going the distance. They did have at least one common opponent, Quick Tillis. Gerrie won a ten round UD over him in September 1985 during a 16 bout streak with no stoppage defeats, including one against Tyson which I had Tillis winning 6-4. However, he was no longer even a journeyman when Tommy halted him in one during January 1991. If it goes any length of time, Coetzee has the advantage, and winning the WBA Title over undefeated Michael Dokes via tenth round knockout in hostile territory is a monstrous win and upset. No one would beat Dokes again until his blistering war with Holyfield six years later. The only other two defeats Dokes sustained during the relevant portion of his career were to Ruddock and Bowe, Razor at his best and Riddick for the title right after Bowe dethroned Holyfield. Weaver wore him down with body shots then knocked him out in 13. Greg Page dethroned him via knockout in a four minute round eight. Bruno got to him first in Wembley less than two minutes in, concluding the meaningful part of the South African's career. So over his first 36 fights, Gerrie was only decked four times, twice when he was caught first by Bruno without having a chance to unload his right in a situation where if he had nailed his "bionic right" first, it could've easily been Frank on the deck, by Hercules when attrition played a role, and by Page in a four minute round. No question Coetzee had a much, much better chin. Knoetze (W 10), John Tate L UD 15), Snipes (L SD 10 despite dropping the extremely durable Mr. Snipes twice, the first knockdowns of Renaldo's career and the reason he was taken so lightly in his next bout, his challenge of Holmes), Pinklon Thomas (MD Draw where Gerrie's oft fractured right hand was not at full strength going in) and Dokes all failed to put him on the floor. While @Smokin Bert said neither could take it that well, four knockdowns in three bouts over 36 fights in a dozen years clearly surpasses nine knockdowns over 50 fights in eight years. Tommy, like Bruno, has to get Coetzee first, but nobody wiped out Gerrie like this until Frank ended the first portion of his career when he was 31. Gerrie did get up from Bruno's first knockdown which was a bomb of a right. Coetzee was something like Ingo at times, retreating behind that jab until unloading his right. He was able to jab a bit with Pinklon Thomas, and his jab threw off Dokes. I think he does what Bentt did to Morrison and catches Tommy coming in. Otherwise, Gerrie was the more accomplished boxer, with six decision wins over double digit rounds to Morrison's two. (Coetzee also had that rare non controversial draw with an undefeated Pinklon Thomas and was robbed against Snipes in a match where I thought Gerrie had clearly taken eight rounds.) Except for Tommy's left hook, Gerrie was superior in every way, and he effectively dealt with the hooks of Pinklon and Dokes.
