Gerrie Coetzee-The Bionic Hand

[Benncollinsaad]

This guy was without a doubt one of the best heavyweights of the 80's. But his hand injuries ruined his career. He also lost his title to Greg Page in unfair way. The three minutess had already expired when Page knocked him down, but somehow nobody took notice in time. Talk about unlucky. The way he dismantled Dokes was really impressive. Nobody had done that to him up to that point. And nobody did again, while Dokes was in his prime. Holyfield fought another Dokes.

But suddenly, sometime in the middle of the 80's Coetzee just fell apart as a fighter. The man who got knocked out by Bruno in one round was not the real Gerrie Coetzee. But anyway, he was a worthy champion and a gentleman. What's even more important, he was the first internationally famous white South African to denounce apartheid.

[1SILVA]

This guy was without a doubt one of the best heavyweights of the 80's. But his hand injuries ruined his career. He also lost his title to Greg Page in unfair way. The three minutess had already expired when Page knocked him down, but somehow nobody took notice in time. Talk about unlucky. The way he dismantled Dokes was really impressive. Nobody had done that to him up to that point. And nobody did again, while Dokes was in his prime. Holyfield fought another Dokes.

But suddenly, sometime in the middle of the 80's Coetzee just fell apart as a fighter. The man who got knocked out by Bruno in one round was not the real Gerrie Coetzee. But anyway, he was a worthy champion and a gentleman. What's even more important, he was the first internationally famous white South African to denounce apartheid.

The Coetzee that knocked out Leon Spinks was an excellent fighter. He gave Mike Weaver and John Tate despite losing to them. He was a class act

[Benncollinsaad]

The Coetzee that knocked out Leon Spinks was an excellent fighter. He gave Mike Weaver and John Tate despite losing to them. He was a class act

Absolutely!

[Davros?]

Coetzee was an underrated fighter, although i do think Dokes was having drug problems by that point. The Leon Spinks knockout was excellent.

[Emon723]

I cant understand to this day why Greg Page earned a shot at Gerrie Coetzee's WBA title. Page lost to Witherspoon for the vacant WBC title and David Bey previous to that. Holmes-Coetzee was already scheduled but was postponed twice and never happened. Also, Mike Weaver deserves a shot and a rematch with Coetzee by virtue of his draw (should have been "W") in a Dokes rematch.

[Silencers]

Coetzee was a good fighter, I always considered him to be one level below the top guys of the time though.

[sonnyboyx2]

I cant understand to this day why Greg Page earned a shot at Gerrie Coetzee's WBA title. Page lost to Witherspoon for the vacant WBC title and David Bey previous to that. Holmes-Coetzee was already scheduled but was postponed twice and never happened. Also, Mike Weaver deserves a shot and a rematch with Coetzee by virtue of his draw (should have been "W") in a Dokes rematch.

David Bey was the No1 mandatory for Coetzee`s WBA title but Bey was persuaded by Don King, Arthur Ash, Bill Cosby and many others to not go to South Africa and full-fill his dream of becoming World Heavyweight Champion, When David Bey agreed to abandon his dream King manouvered Greg Page into the No1 position and the rest is history... David Bey was the unluckiest fighter in history never to win the title!

[mickey malone]

David Bey was the No1 mandatory for Coetzee`s WBA title but Bey was persuaded by Don King, Arthur Ash, Bill Cosby and many others to not go to South Africa and full-fill his dream of becoming World Heavyweight Champion, When David Bey agreed to abandon his dream King manouvered Greg Page into the No1 position and the rest is history... David Bey was the unluckiest fighter in history never to win the title!

Bey was unlucky.. He went on to fight Holmes instead, & gave him a good few problems, before getting stopped in the 10th.. He faded quite rapidly after that though..
In contrast, Coetzee was quite lucky, not in earning a shot, but in catching Dokes while on dope.. A fit Dokes would have beaten him though..
I think Bey Coetzee would have been a 50/50 fight at the time, a good fight to!

[Dynamite76]

Coetzee should have gotten a rematch against Page, though Page was a bad matchup for Gerrie.He was fortunate to have gotten Dokes while he was on his drug high.But overall, a damn good heavy for the first part of the 80's.