Gerrie Coetzee versus Tommy Morrison

[goose 5]

12 rounds.

[DrDuke]

Two good boxers with huge power, but questionable chins and stamina. It could be a great slugfest and it's easy to see the fight going in both sides, most likely with a spectacular KO. Both could be down on a one's route to a victory. Yet I lean more towards Morrison, because Tommy seemed to be faster, tougher and more explosive. Morrison had more variable combinations and a bigger amount of comebacks in important fights.

Morrison by KO in the 6th or so.

[HomicideHenry]

I'm a fan of both men, but Gerrie Coetzee was certainly a class above Tommy Morrison. His first round annihilation of Leon Spinks is pretty remarkable to watch. Beyond the bionic right hand, he was a pretty good boxer.

Tommy Morrison didn't really seem to improve until after losing to Ray Mercer, but his vanity and ego got the better of him in fights he should have been able to win (ie, Bennt) and it always seemed when he took a step forward tactically (ie, Foreman) he would revert back to being just a brawler.

This definitely would have been an entertaining fight for heavyweight boxing fans, but if Coetzee is bringing his A+ game I'm leaning towards Coetzee by knockout somewhere between the 8th and 10th round.

I largely assume this because Morrison went life and death with an older, slower, inactive Razor Ruddock and Morrison was coming off a seven fight win streak and would go six rounds with Lennox Lewis after this--- so this was the best possible version of Morrison.

Coetzee, despite his record looking less impressive than Morrison, he certainly fought and beat (or was robbed) against better opposition in oftentimes competitive matches.

For example, he was robbed against Renaldo Snipes. He also had a draw against prime Pinklon Thomas, and of course kayoed Michael Dokes for the WBA strap. His loss to Greg Page was a bit controversial considering the eighth round went for 4 minutes instead of three. He also won a unanimous decision over James Tillis.

Sure he lost to Mike Weaver and John Tate, but those were still competitive matches that went into late rounds or the scheduled fifteen round distance, and everybody knows Tommy Morrison did not have a good gas tank.

After all Morrison went life and death with Ross Purrity in a controversial draw, and I can't see Coetzee struggling with Purrity--- So I suspect that for the first four or five rounds it's fireworks but Coetzee weathers the storm and starts working over Morrison.

[margaret thatcher]

i like this one, nice matchmaking bruh

coetzee although getting stopped a number of times, was usually stopped later on and was actually pretty tough. he wasnt the type to get blown away early, until he was much past his prime. morrison i think was offensively more gifted, but more vulnerable. i echo joe and homi and probably lean gerrie to puill it out in a war, perhaps down on the cards at the time

[DrDuke]

Tommy simply did not have the durability to withstand the Boksburg Bomber's powerful right hand. To make matters worse for Morrison, he didn't have the speed, mobility, or technical boxing skills of Coetzee. That means Gerrie could dance circles around Morrison, avoiding all Tommy's punches. But at the same time, Coetzee would be connecting with his own punches, particularly the left-jab and sneaky rights to the jaw.

Coetzee, in his prime, was a quick and accurate distance puncher. I have no doubt he'd be able to land on target against Morrison.

Coetzee could KO Morrison indeed, but he wouldn't withstand Tommy's best punches either. I strongly disagree about mobility, speed and technical boxing skills. Morrison also could move, which he proved against Foreman. While Coetzee, despite the fact of possessing decent mobility, was far from being elusive. He received dangerous damage in many important fights, against Tate, Weaver, Thomas, Page. Obviously, he lost the majority of them. Gerrie did have decent speed, but look at Morrison combinations, they were very technical and fast. He could effectively switch levels in the style of Mike Tyson.

I'm a fan of both men, but Gerrie Coetzee was certainly a class above Tommy Morrison. His first round annihilation of Leon Spinks is pretty remarkable to watch. Beyond the bionic right hand, he was a pretty good boxer.

Spinks doesn't seem to be the best argument to prove this statement. Barely it was a much better win than Morrison's demolition of James Tillis. Both Leon and Tillis were journeymen. Spinks just was over-achieved.

I largely assume this because Morrison went life and death with an older, slower, inactive Razor Ruddock and Morrison was coming off a seven fight win streak and would go six rounds with Lennox Lewis after this--- so this was the best possible version of Morrison.

[...]

After all Morrison went life and death with Ross Purrity in a controversial draw, and I can't see Coetzee struggling with Purrity--- So I suspect that for the first four or five rounds it's fireworks but Coetzee weathers the storm and starts working over Morrison.

Morrison went on a decline after he won Foreman. The Purrity fight was during the crisis of Tommy's career. He was past prime. He came back later, but he never was at his best again. Judging Morrison by a year of 1994 is like judging Coetzee by the 90s. Tommy's comeback in 1995 didn't bring 'the best possible version of Morrison', although it was a better one than in 1994.

Sure he lost to Mike Weaver and John Tate, but those were still competitive matches that went into late rounds or the scheduled fifteen round distance, and everybody knows Tommy Morrison did not have a good gas tank.

Coetzee was far from being a stamina freak himself. He struggled very hard in the late rounds of a ten-rounder against Thomas.

Coetzee, despite his record looking less impressive than Morrison, he certainly fought and beat (or was robbed) against better opposition in oftentimes competitive matches.

For example, he was robbed against Renaldo Snipes. He also had a draw against prime Pinklon Thomas, and of course kayoed Michael Dokes for the WBA strap. His loss to Greg Page was a bit controversial considering the eighth round went for 4 minutes instead of three. He also won a unanimous decision over James Tillis.

Coetzee's best wins and performances of Snipes (robbery loss), Thomas (draw) and Dokes are quite comparable with Morrison's best wins of Carl Williams, Foreman, Ruddock.

[HomicideHenry]

Morrison was only elusive once in his entire career and that was against Foreman. He completely changed his style for one fight only.

Morrison could (keyword) switch up punches pretty good but he typically relied on the left hook to get the job done more times than not.

Prime Gerrie Coetzee had comparable hand speed and explosiveness to Morrison, if not slightly better than Morrison.

When Morrison beat Tillis he (Tillis) was certainly passed his best, whereas Leon Spinks was in his prime. When Coetzee beat Tillis he (Tillis) was also in his prime.

No, Morrison wasn't on the decline after Foreman. Morrison simply was "hot and cold" as a fighter having inconsistent performances. His win over Ruddock is his best win, whether anyone likes it or not, and he was coming off a seven-fight win streak after losing to Bennt, and the Ruddock bout got him the Lewis fight.

Coetzee may of had stamina issues in late rounds, but he certainly had more in the tank than Tommy Morrison did who usually started gassing out after 4 or 5 rounds.

Coetzee's best wins were against men who were in their prime who either never lost before or seldom ever lost prior to facing them--- the same cannot be said of Tommy Morrison. Carl Williams by the time Morrison fought him was being parodied on IN LIVING COLOR as Carl "The Tooth" Williams, Foreman was well into his 40s and already previously lost to Holyfield and was basically gifted a win over Alex Stewart, and Ruddock only had one fight in 3 years prior to facing Tommy Morrison and would retire for another 3 years after the match.

Mind you I'm a fan of Tommy Morrison's. I've done a few interviews over the years not only with Morrison but with his wife Patricia. But the facts cannot be ignored that this was a man who had his limitations, and he did himself no favors with his lifestyle and inconsistency in the ring. When you thought he had things figured out and was going to buckle down it would all come crashing down all over again.

Coetzee's big chance, in many ways, never got to happen. The 1982 showdown between him and Larry Holmes never occurred. Which is why, in large part, why he's largely forgotten except by us hardcore boxing fans--- but in fairness to him most of the alphabet title holders of the 1980s and 1990s have been forgotten except by us hardcore boxing fans.

As early as 1979 he was the #1 contender. It's a story seldom told but he was in line to get a shot at Muhammad Ali in 1979, but Ali retired on June 27th of 1979. He poleaxed Leon Spinks in one round on the 24th of June 1979, and this was immediately after Spinks had gone 30 rounds with Ali. No surprise Ali was in attendance to see that fight and must have made up his mind not to pursue Coetzee.

https://www.nytimes.com/1979/06/25/arch ... first.html

According to this newspaper article Ali officially vacated the title the month after this contest. Furthermore it must be noted, as I didn't know it, Gerrie Coetzee apparently is going to be the subject of a Hollywood movie starring Liam Hemsworth.

[Bodyshot3]

I think we might have done this one at some point down the line?
But no probs whatsoever, because it is a very good vintage and a belting fight

Personally, I lean towards the "Boksburg Bomber" because he just had a few extras bits and pieces.

He could really hit and finish but some of his fights against the top Americans (even the losing ones) showed that he could be patient, his jab racked-up points and he could control distance quite cutely without being that light on his feet.

Coetzee was probably not as talented as his fellow 'Saffer' Sanders but was far more dedicated/organised/fitter and also took the show on the road and duly learned a lot more.

A fight in South Africa would be Coetzee by KO and a fight in the States would be close as heck.
But even a US fight would be okay for Coetzee; he'd been over there and done that.

Nice fight and especially if Morrison tried something a bit different in terms of working for openings and coming in and out like he did with Foreman. Coetzee was not Foreman-huge but he was a big, powerful guy.

[DrDuke]

No, Morrison wasn't on the decline after Foreman. Morrison simply was "hot and cold" as a fighter having inconsistent performances. His win over Ruddock is his best win, whether anyone likes it or not, and he was coming off a seven-fight win streak after losing to Bennt, and the Ruddock bout got him the Lewis fight.

He was pretty much consistent before the success in the Foreman bout. He had only one loss to Mercer and it was simply because he faced a too tough challenge. After Foreman everything went wrong for Tommy. He started to lack dedication, he had a series of poor performances. He had never been like in the Bentt, Griffin and Puritty bouts before that period of time. And the Puritty bout wasn't even a win, it was a draw (a controversial one). After Puritty he rebounded his career to some extent.

[HomicideHenry]

That was because Morrison lacked discipline. He let fame go to his head. This was a young man who was given so much hype and moved so fast that his head was spinning. Rocky V was in 1990, he lost to Ray Mercer brutally in 1991, then put on an eight fight win streak before facing Foreman in 1993.

One successful title defense against a late replacement (Tim Tomashek) then loses to Bennt by first round knockout. Then he puts together a six fight win streak(and the controversial draw with Purrity) before he beats Ruddock, then loses to Lennox Lewis.

Hot-and-cold. The man simply could not handle fame and fortune. He would go off the rails every time. Then he'd shape up, get better, then get back into bad habits.

Mind you, the man had the potential to have been something good or great. Don't get me wrong. He could dig down deep to win, like he did against Joe Hipp. But his legacy forever will be as a cautionary tale to any would-be prospect the dangers of bad company and taking an easy road to the top.

Coetzee, on the other hand, is rather underrated to a point. The man was denied entry into the Olympics because of South African apartheid, and because he was a white guy from Africa he was something of an oddity--- foreigners, especially in the heavyweight division, were not seen too favorably back then.

He never quite got the credit he may have deserved. He often fought with injuries. He was prone to cut. He got robbed or cheated a couple of times. Unlike Tommy Morrison he did not have an easy road to the top. Because of this, it's the biggest reason I believe he would have beaten Tommy Morrison because the man was put to the fire several times.

Gerrie Coetzee was not a "white hope," and never was given the celebrity treatment. In fact he was sometimes villainized for being a white guy simply because he came from South Africa.

Never mind the fact he spoke out openly many times against apartheid, that mattered little to Don King and others who wanted to create another race-war battle between Gerrie Coetzee and Larry Holmes because the race-war with Gerry Cooney was tremendous business. The man was guilty by association of his home country just like Max Schmeling was guilty by association.

Morrison would have give him problems. I don't doubt that at all. Maybe he would have decked Coetzee. Maybe he would have cut Coetzee. But ultimately I do believe Coetzee comes out on top because one thing about the South African was he had a killer instinct and the moment Morrison would have had his mouth open gasping for breath that is when Coetzee would have striked.

[scorpio83]

It's a toss-up, but Coetzee would out-box the Duke behind his big jabs and nailed him with his Bionic right hand to knock him out in 11 rounds after the Duke gassed out throwing bombs including his left hook.

[AngryGoon38]

It's a toss-up, but Coetzee would out-box the Duke behind his big jabs and nailed him with his Bionic right hand to knock him out in 11 rounds after the Duke gassed out throwing bombs including his left hook.

That Could Definitely wind up happening. Or, Coetzee might've even taken him out sooner then that.
But just as you initially stated, it Really is actually a toss-up. A proverbial 50-50 clash of a slugger vs a boxer-puncher in Coetzee. The best chance for Morrison would be to not go for broke,right off the bat,but rather instead,work his way in methodically,and hit hard in spots, not overzealously, like he did against Mercer, and definitely don't try to swarm in for an early first round KO like he tried to do against Bentt.