Gerrie Coetzee's Final Career Win, Early 1997 against 12-12 Dan Kosmicki (Remember him?)

I post this for anyone interested in what kind of shape Coetzee was in at 41 years old during his ill fated comeback. But what really got me thinking here was actually Kosmicki.

https://archive.org/details/Coetzee

He looked like the kind of fighter fighter who was guilty of not always staying in fight shape and rolling off the couch for last minute paychecks whether he was ready or not... If you think about it, men like him make up a large percentage of boxers. If it wasn't for him there wouldn't be shiny 25 or 30-0 records.

He's didn't possess enough ability physically or skill wise to be a certified journeyman, but I wouldn't call him a complete tomato can who fell over at the first stiff breeze either. He had a few bizarre NC/ND fights that went the distance against fairly well known club fighters who had much more experience then him early in his career... a 4 rounder against Dicky Ryan and a 6 rounder against Tim Tomashek. After that it was all downhill though as he would be matched tougher. He would end his career with a 17-31 record.

Boxing is interesting in how the strong and ready eat the weak and unprepared, and Kosmicki's career was like watching that predatory ecosystem in real time.

 

Meant to post this to Classic.

 

Thanks to whoever moved this.