Africa’s first heavyweight world champion has passed away.
South African Gerrie Coatzee, who won the major belt on his third attempt in 1983 and was a critic of the apartheid regime, died of lung cancer on January 12 at his home. near Cape Town, according to the New York Times. He was 67.
Coatzee, undefeated at the time, narrowly lost to John Tate in a 15-round match for the WBA title – which Muhammad Ali had vacated – in 1979 in South Africa. And he was stopped by then-WBA champion Mike Weaver in 13 rounds the following year, again in Coatzee’s hometown.
Ultimately, Coatzee (33-6-1, 21 KOs) claimed the same belt, knocking out the previously undefeated Michael Dokes in 13 rounds at the Richfield Coliseum, near Cleveland. He lost the title to Greg Page by knockout in the third round in his first defense, in 1984, again in South Africa.
The soft-spoken, white Coatzee fought during the apartheid era in his country. He criticized the system that had earned the admiration of leader Nelson Mandela. The Times reported that Mandela, a political prisoner at the time, sent Coatzee a letter of encouragement before the Dokes war. Coatzee later sent a video of the war to Mandela.
The fight against African-Americans Tate took place in front of the first integrated crowd – 81,000 – at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in the capital, Pretoria, the Times reported.
“What really makes me happy is that Blacks, browns and whites accept me as their boxer,” he said before the match. He added, “People should be treated based on merit and not on race or color.”
A schoolboy interviewed by the Times was asked about the two fighters.
“Coetzee is a better boxer and a more disciplined man,” he said. “Tate is only here to get a wallet. … Coetzee will use this title to speak out against racism.”
Coatzee continued to promote matches for a while, including time in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles.
