Former heavyweight player Gerrie Coetzee, who fought apartheid in his native South Africa, dies aged 67

By: Sean Crose

For a short time, it was rumored that the man could be involved in a major heavyweight title fight with undefeated defending champion Larry Holmes. That bout never materialized, but Gerrie Coetzee, who died aged 67 was reported on Thursday, could nonetheless leave her mark on the boxing sport. The former WBA heavyweight was not only the world’s first South African heavyweight champion, but he was also against the Apartheid regime at a time when white South Africans were not allowed to do such things.

“I feel like I’m fighting for everyone, black and white,” he said around the time he won the WBA heavyweight belt from Michael Dokes in 1984. I’m happy that black, brown and white people accept me as theirs. gladiator.” The The New York Times quoted Coetzee as saying that “when I return home, I will continue to work to bring people together.”

Coetzee recalled a time a police officer showed up at his home about the matter. “You’d think the cop was using a hammer when he knocked… when I opened the door, he pushed me away and walked around the house. He wanted to know where the boy slept and where he bathed.” To his credit, Coetzee stood his ground. He added: “A few days later, I received a summons from the court, but I did not respond and to no avail.”

As a boxer, Coetzee found he had to come out on top with difficulty. He lost title matches to John Tate and Mike Weaver before finally defeating Dokes in a battle that ended in 1983. He then lost the title to Greg Page the following December. One of Coetzee’s best memories is “being called into Nelson Mandela’s office in the early 1990s. It was overwhelming,” Coetzee said, “because the country was preparing for democracy and Mr. Mandela was leading the way,” Coetzee said. first… it was a surreal moment and he gave me the medal. I was surprised to learn that he had heard radio commentary about some of my fights while he was in prison.

Mandela requested Coetzee’s company on two other occasions. A film about Coetzee’s life titled fun is believed to be nearing completion.

*quotes in this article are provided by inner eye: https://www.iol.co.za/sport/boxing/boksburg-bombers-fight-against-aparteid-46583061