Big John Tate

[Hawkins]

I'm not sure how many of you are familiar with former WBA Heavyweight Champion, Big John Tate. He, along with Frankie Randall, made up the most successful fighters to be competing out of my neck of the woods, at least in my lifetime.

Most people remember Tate for dominating Mike Weaver in his first title defense before getting crushed by a brutal left hook right to the jaw, in the last minute of the 15th round no less, thus ending his brief title reign. However, most people seem to forget his absolutely awesome and historical title win. He, as an African-American fighter, went into apartheid era-South Africa and defeated Gerrie Coetzee for the title. This was such a huge occasion for the country of South Africa that they allowed blacks and whites to sit together. Anyways, I ran across this article about their fight. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Link To Article About Tate vs.
Weaver


Tate Defeats Coetzee For WBA Title

For a full minute, neither boxer threw a punch. Instead, Gerrie Coetzee tried to rattle John Tate with a barrage of taunts.

“You better hit him now, Gerrie!” Tate’s trainer, Ace Miller, yelled from the corner.

It was Oct. 20, 1979, and the World Boxing Association’s heavyweight title fight was taking place in South Africa. At the height of apartheid, an African-American, Tate, and a white Afrikaner, Coetzee, were competing for the title vacated by Muhammad Ali when he retired.

This was the first time black South Africans were allowed into Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria’s temple of white sport, for anything other than cleaning the stands or tending the grass. They were among 81,000 mostly white spectators, the biggest crowd for a boxing event in more than 50 years.

[TBear]

Watched him coming up since the amateurs. Very good boxer. Later in his career he was often given a rap for a suspect chin but I disagreed thinking that endurance was his problem. He was dominating Weaver until the 14th round. That come from behind win was a miracle for Weaver but in my opinion, was devastating for Big John Tate.

[Hawkins]

Watched him coming up since the amateurs. Very good boxer. Later in his career he was often given a rap for a suspect chin but I disagreed thinking that endurance was his problem. He was dominating Weaver until the 14th round. That come from behind win was a miracle for Weaver but in my opinion, was devastating for Big John Tate.

Yeah, John Tate was a talented guy. I was always of the opinion that if he continued to box Weaver in the 15th round and kept him at a distance he would have won that fight. He pretty much won almost every round and when he started the running and trying to stay away was when Weaver caught up to him, trapped him and lowered the boom.

I used to train at Ace Miller's place when I was in high school. Big John would still come in when I was there. Of course he been out of the game by a couple of years at the point but he would always take the time to impart some wisdom and give pointers. He was a really nice guy. He had some problems through the years but was always a happy guy with a huge smile and a kind word for everyone. Too bad it all ended like it did for him.

[Dynamite76]

Very talented fighter, who could've given Larry Holmes hell in an unification fight. Shame John lost the title to Mike the way he did. Had him up 12-2 at stoppage time. Could see him beating other talented heavies out there, with the exception of Greg Page and Michael Dokes.

[just the facts]

Very talented fighter, who could've given Larry Holmes hell in an unification fight. Shame John lost the title to Mike the way he did. Had him up 12-2 at stoppage time. Could see him beating other talented heavies out there, with the exception of Greg Page and Michael Dokes.

So you can't see Tate beating Page or Dokes but think he would have given Lary Holmes hell? Really?

[Dynamite76]

So you can't see Tate beating Page or Dokes but think he would have given Lary Holmes hell? Really?

Yeah, I think John had more than enough to take Larry down to the wire. But can't see Tate dealing with Dokes and Page's talent. Consider also the fact of the revenge factor, with Tate beating Dokes in the Olympic trials, and beating a 16 year old Page in the National Golden Gloves semifinals, that more than enough to handle John.

[Hawkins]

Big John had excellent boxing skills. I have always maintained that his 'running' from Mike Weaver is what got him KO'd. If he had used his jab and his boxing ability I truly believe he would have kept him out of range and won the fight. Faulty strategy in my opinion. He still could have been a top caliber heavyweight but the next bout he was KO'd by Berbick and, in my opinion, his confidence was gone.

[just the facts]

Yeah, I think John had more than enough to take Larry down to the wire. But can't see Tate dealing with Dokes and Page's talent. Consider also the fact of the revenge factor, with Tate beating Dokes in the Olympic trials, and beating a 16 year old Page in the National Golden Gloves semifinals, that more than enough to handle John.

So what you're saying is that in your opinion Dokes and Page are more talented than Larry Holmes? No ****ing way!

[LITTLE JOE]

My first exposure to John Tate was as an amatuer.Of course unfortunately, he will forever be remembered for that late 15th round KO loss to Mike Weaver. I watched that live and what an ending !That night was one of my all time favorite nights for boxing. On 3-31-1980, ABC televised fights from different locations that night. Tate vs Weaver. Leonard vs Davey Boy Green. Holmes vs Leroy Jones.Eddie Mustafa Muhammad vs Marvin Jones. What a night !

[Dynamite76]

So what you're saying is that in your opinion Dokes and Page are more talented than Larry Holmes? No ****ing way!

From a pure boxing standpoint, yeah, I'm saying that.