I asked this question on the Johnny Du Plooy thread. It's really annoying me that I can't remember the answer. In 1972 there was talk of Muhammad going to South Africa to fight one of their heavies. Who was it ? It never came off,due to the political situation there,and Ali's busy schedule that year.
I think someone mentioned Mike Schutte. You really need to rack your brains over more important things... Like the best South African Heavyweight Mustache.
Schutte had only turned professional during the previous year,so I doubt whether his people would have risked him fighting Ali at that point. It must have been someone else. As for the moustache competition,I have no hesitation in giving the award to Gerrie Coetzee. Tom Selleck,eat your heart out !
I know South African Gerrie Coetzee was the #1 contender for the WBA title after Ali won it from Spinks and he called out Ali, who retired in 1979. As for the man you're asking about, have no clue...I dont think there was anyone in South Africa who would have been worthy of a fight with Ali or any top flight contender at that time.
If you look back at those 70's SA HW's, they all had pretty short careers, just a half dozen years, Robbie Williams, Schutte, Knoetze, Abbott... Schutte had a bunch of fights in 71-72, A quick scan of boxrec on the other major players in SA boxing at that time reveals no one with a seasoned record who could have fought Ali.
