Gerrie Coetzee | |
|---|---|
| Born | Gerhardus Christian Coetzee 8 April 1955 |
| Died | 12 January 2023 (aged 67) |
| Other names |
|
| Statistics | |
| Weight(s) | Heavyweight |
| Height | 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) |
| Reach | 206 cm (81 in) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 40 |
| Wins | 33 |
| Wins by KO | 21 |
| Losses | 6 |
| Draws | 1 |
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2023) |
Gerhardus Christian Coetzee OIB (8 April 1955 – 12 January 2023) was a South African professional boxer who competed from 1974 to 1986, and in 1993 and 1997.[1] He was the first African in history to ever fight for, and win, a world heavyweight championship, having held the WBA title from 1983 to 1984. He held notable knockout wins against WBA world heavyweight champion Michael Dokes and undisputed world heavyweight champion Leon Spinks, as well as a draw with future WBC world heavyweight champion Pinklon Thomas and wins over top contenders Ron Stander, Scott LeDoux and James Tillis.
One of Coetzee's nicknames, "The Bionic Hand", came about because of persistent troubles with his right hand, which required the insertion of several corrective items during three surgeries. His Afrikaans nickname was "Seer Handjies", or "Sore Little Hands", named so by fellow South African boxing great Kallie Knoetze.
Coetzee died of lung cancer on 12 January 2023, at the age of 67.[2][3][4]
- ^ Dreyer, Nadine (2006). A century of Sundays: 100 years of breaking news in the Sunday times, 1906-2006. Zebra. pp. 314–. ISBN 9781770071063. Retrieved 26 March 2012.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Former world heavyweight champion Gerrie Coetzee dies". Times Live. 12 January 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
- ^ Taylor, Lloyd Burnard and Craig. "Former South African world heavyweight boxing champ Gerrie Coetzee dies". Sport. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
- ^ "Gerrie Coetzee obituary". The Times. 16 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.