What a fight this was, I think it was the most brutal off all the 80 heavyweight title fights and maybe could rank up as one of the best ring wars.
Weaver went into south africa when during the athpied which was a very dangerous time to go as a black sportsman. But Weaver still went and fought the fight of his life even though 16,000 people were rooting for Gerrie to win. Gerrie nearly knocked Weaver out in the 8th but Mike battled back on an exhasted Coetzee. At the end of the fight when Mike knocked Gerrie out in the 13th, Gerrie had a broken nose, fractured jaw and a eye which had a very nasty cut while Weaver suffered other fractures to his face.
On that night, i think Weaver could of beaten any of the 80's heavyweights excluding Larry Holmes and maybe Gerry Cooney. But Weaver would of given Larry more hell than he did in their first meeting at the garden.
Whos seen Weaver vs Coetzee?
It was an excellent brawl, Weaver showed a great chin in that fight, taking Coetzee's right hand on many occasions. A great come form behaind victory for "Hercules", who was probably the best heavyweight around after Larry Holmes during the 1979-82 period.
Interestingly, Weaver is the only heavyweight titlist who has managed to retain his title on African soil. Every other heavyweight titlist who has fought there got KO'd.
-KOKid-
Interestingly, Weaver is the only heavyweight titlist who has managed to retain his title on African soil. Every other heavyweight titlist who has fought there got KO'd.
-KOKid-