Why Holmes vs Coetzee never happened in 1984?

[bjornborgbook]

Reading my old boxing magazines from the 80s, I had forgotten Larry Holmes vs Gerrie Coetzee unification almost happened. They had the posters and artwork made up by leRoy Neiman, three different dates were scrapped because of promotional and financial snags and it never happened. What is the real deal? Who ducked who?

[tiny_acres]

Money issues. The money promised to both fighters was never put in escrow so they both mutually pulled out

[bjornborgbook]

Money issues. The money promised to both fighters was never put in escrow so they both mutually pulled out

Presume it was because they didn't want to take the financial risk because Coetzee was not a ticket seller. South Africans like Cubans have never been big sellers in boxing.

[Controversial]

I couldn't see Holmes having too many problems beating Coetzee if they fought in 1984 as planned.

[Caractacus]

pretty sure there was a thread on this same subject just a coupe months ago.
will try and bump it back up.

[BroughtonRulesRefuge]

Reading my old boxing magazines from the 80s, I had forgotten Larry Holmes vs Gerrie Coetzee unification almost happened. They had the posters and artwork made up by leRoy Neiman, three different dates were scrapped because of promotional and financial snags and it never happened. What is the real deal? Who ducked who?

- Goes back to 1979 when Gerrie KOs Leon who went 30rds vs Ali like a breeze, but couldn't last 2 min vs undefeated Coetzee.

SAfrica well on the path of international boycotts where their athletes were having problem competing outside SA. They put up a huge purse beyond what novice Administrative WBC Lar was earning. He gets the civil rights vaxx immunization on his way to creampuff defenses until Ali came out of retirement.

So, Big John Tate, one of storied 76 Olympic famed medalists and undefeated pro steps up to the scratch line to outbox Gerrie for the WBA title that Ali held until retirement.

Duck #1, but it weren't just Gerrie being ducked. Somehow Lar who was still skinny then managed to duck every WBA champ until the WBC relieved him up his Administrative belt.

By 1984 Gerrie had been up and down, but had came to the undefeated Michael Dokes Homecoming as the sacrificial lamb to instead to blast Dokes out of the water far and away from his WBA title. So some rag tag American promoter put together some silly putty $$$ offer in a "build it and they will come" proposition always doomed to failure. Larry couldn't draw flies, especially vs some SA punch dummy folks would rather spit on and kick than pay to see, so again SA steps up to lure Greg Page, the former WBA champ.

In a competitive fight Page KOs Gerrie after, gasp, who ever coulda thunk it, a time keeper error with fans and Gerrie's corner screaming at him the round had ended, why Page KOs the distracted Gerrie to dispose of him permanently as a champion or contender. In spite of the dangerous incompetence of the WBA officiating, the illicit win still stands as you may verify on boxrec. Gerrie even took short $$$ that paid a pittance to what Page received.

Later Michael Spinks picks up Rocky's jockstrap that Lar couldn't carry...The End

[bjornborgbook]

Reading my old boxing magazines from the 80s, I had forgotten Larry Holmes vs Gerrie Coetzee unification almost happened. They had the posters and artwork made up by leRoy Neiman, three different dates were scrapped because of promotional and financial snags and it never happened. What is the real deal? Who ducked who?

- Goes back to 1979 when Gerrie KOs Leon who went 30rds vs Ali like a breeze, but couldn't last 2 min vs undefeated Coetzee.

SAfrica well on the path of international boycotts where their athletes were having problem competing outside SA. They put up a huge purse beyond what novice Administrative WBC Lar was earning. He gets the civil rights vaxx immunization on his way to creampuff defenses until Ali came out of retirement.

So, Big John Tate, one of storied 76 Olympic famed medalists and undefeated pro steps up to the scratch line to outbox Gerrie for the WBA title that Ali held until retirement.

Duck #1, but it weren't just Gerrie being ducked. Somehow Lar who was still skinny then managed to duck every WBA champ until the WBC relieved him up his Administrative belt.

By 1984 Gerrie had been up and down, but had came to the undefeated Michael Dokes Homecoming as the sacrificial lamb to instead to blast Dokes out of the water far and away from his WBA title. So some rag tag American promoter put together some silly putty $$$ offer in a "build it and they will come" proposition always doomed to failure. Larry couldn't draw flies, especially vs some SA punch dummy folks would rather spit on and kick than pay to see, so again SA steps up to lure Greg Page, the former WBA champ.

In a competitive fight Page KOs Gerrie after, gasp, who ever coulda thunk it, a time keeper error with fans and Gerrie's corner screaming at him the round had ended, why Page KOs the distracted Gerrie to dispose of him permanently as a champion or contender. In spite of the dangerous incompetence of the WBA officiating, the illicit win still stands as you may verify on boxrec. Gerrie even took short $$$ that paid a pittance to what Page received.

Later Michael Spinks picks up Rocky's jockstrap that Lar couldn't carry...The End

Norman Mailer or Jimmy Cannon you are not, but a fine read nonetheless thankyou.

[Caractacus]

also did you see Greg Page push aside the ref and practically ambush Coetzee in his own corner at the beginning of the second round ?
when Coetzee was standing and focused on a corner man in the ring adjusting his glove for him.

[tiny_acres]

Reading my old boxing magazines from the 80s, I had forgotten Larry Holmes vs Gerrie Coetzee unification almost happened. They had the posters and artwork made up by leRoy Neiman, three different dates were scrapped because of promotional and financial snags and it never happened. What is the real deal? Who ducked who?

- Goes back to 1979 when Gerrie KOs Leon who went 30rds vs Ali like a breeze, but couldn't last 2 min vs undefeated Coetzee.

SAfrica well on the path of international boycotts where their athletes were having problem competing outside SA. They put up a huge purse beyond what novice Administrative WBC Lar was earning. He gets the civil rights vaxx immunization on his way to creampuff defenses until Ali came out of retirement.

So, Big John Tate, one of storied 76 Olympic famed medalists and undefeated pro steps up to the scratch line to outbox Gerrie for the WBA title that Ali held until retirement.

Duck #1, but it weren't just Gerrie being ducked. Somehow Lar who was still skinny then managed to duck every WBA champ until the WBC relieved him up his Administrative belt.

By 1984 Gerrie had been up and down, but had came to the undefeated Michael Dokes Homecoming as the sacrificial lamb to instead to blast Dokes out of the water far and away from his WBA title. So some rag tag American promoter put together some silly putty $$$ offer in a "build it and they will come" proposition always doomed to failure. Larry couldn't draw flies, especially vs some SA punch dummy folks would rather spit on and kick than pay to see, so again SA steps up to lure Greg Page, the former WBA champ.

In a competitive fight Page KOs Gerrie after, gasp, who ever coulda thunk it, a time keeper error with fans and Gerrie's corner screaming at him the round had ended, why Page KOs the distracted Gerrie to dispose of him permanently as a champion or contender. In spite of the dangerous incompetence of the WBA officiating, the illicit win still stands as you may verify on boxrec. Gerrie even took short $$$ that paid a pittance to what Page received.

Later Michael Spinks picks up Rocky's jockstrap that Lar couldn't carry...The End

Yeah Coetzee having Arum as a promotor and Holmes being on team Don King had nothing to do with it
I love the revisionist history. But hey what ever feeds your hatred

[Fray Bentos]

Reading my old boxing magazines from the 80s, I had forgotten Larry Holmes vs Gerrie Coetzee unification almost happened. They had the posters and artwork made up by leRoy Neiman, three different dates were scrapped because of promotional and financial snags and it never happened. What is the real deal? Who ducked who?

Holmes was WBC champion - he wasn't allowed to fight South Africans or he would have been stripped of his WBC belt.

[bjornborgbook]

Reading my old boxing magazines from the 80s, I had forgotten Larry Holmes vs Gerrie Coetzee unification almost happened. They had the posters and artwork made up by leRoy Neiman, three different dates were scrapped because of promotional and financial snags and it never happened. What is the real deal? Who ducked who?

Holmes was WBC champion - he wasn't allowed to fight South Africans or he would have been stripped of his WBC belt.

there was an agreement, dates and fight posters even created with leroy neiman artwork. sulaiman cares about money not politics like boycotting south africa apartheid.

[Fray Bentos]

Reading my old boxing magazines from the 80s, I had forgotten Larry Holmes vs Gerrie Coetzee unification almost happened. They had the posters and artwork made up by leRoy Neiman, three different dates were scrapped because of promotional and financial snags and it never happened. What is the real deal? Who ducked who?

Holmes was WBC champion - he wasn't allowed to fight South Africans or he would have been stripped of his WBC belt.

there was an agreement, dates and fight posters even created with leroy neiman artwork. sulaiman cares about money not politics like boycotting south africa apartheid.

Fact - fighters that fought in South Africa and fought South Africans outside of South Africa (even in non-title fights) were dropped from the WBC ratings - didn't matter who that boxer was - the WBC were pretty consistent with their stance towards South Africa and fighters who fought there and their boxers.

[Riddick Bowie]

Reading my old boxing magazines from the 80s, I had forgotten Larry Holmes vs Gerrie Coetzee unification almost happened. They had the posters and artwork made up by leRoy Neiman, three different dates were scrapped because of promotional and financial snags and it never happened. What is the real deal? Who ducked who?

Holmes was WBC champion - he wasn't allowed to fight South Africans or he would have been stripped of his WBC belt.

No he wasn't.

Tim Witherspoon was WBC champion. Larry was without a title, because he didn't want to fight Greg Page or rematch Tim Witherspoon.

[Riddick Bowie]

Reading my old boxing magazines from the 80s, I had forgotten Larry Holmes vs Gerrie Coetzee unification almost happened. They had the posters and artwork made up by leRoy Neiman, three different dates were scrapped because of promotional and financial snags and it never happened. What is the real deal? Who ducked who?

Holmes was WBC champion - he wasn't allowed to fight South Africans or he would have been stripped of his WBC belt.

there was an agreement, dates and fight posters even created with leroy neiman artwork. sulaiman cares about money not politics like boycotting south africa apartheid.

The Holmes/Coetzee fight was scheduled for June 8 1984 at Caesar's Palace but five weeks before the fight first-time promoter Kenny Bounds had guaranteed revenues of 9m but 20m expenditures.

Fight fell apart but Holmes and King kept their nonrefundable advances! I think Bounds lost about 5m.

[BroughtonRulesRefuge]

Reading my old boxing magazines from the 80s, I had forgotten Larry Holmes vs Gerrie Coetzee unification almost happened. They had the posters and artwork made up by leRoy Neiman, three different dates were scrapped because of promotional and financial snags and it never happened. What is the real deal? Who ducked who?

- Goes back to 1979 when Gerrie KOs Leon who went 30rds vs Ali like a breeze, but couldn't last 2 min vs undefeated Coetzee.

SAfrica well on the path of international boycotts where their athletes were having problem competing outside SA. They put up a huge purse beyond what novice Administrative WBC Lar was earning. He gets the civil rights vaxx immunization on his way to creampuff defenses until Ali came out of retirement.

So, Big John Tate, one of storied 76 Olympic famed medalists and undefeated pro steps up to the scratch line to outbox Gerrie for the WBA title that Ali held until retirement.

Duck #1, but it weren't just Gerrie being ducked. Somehow Lar who was still skinny then managed to duck every WBA champ until the WBC relieved him up his Administrative belt.

By 1984 Gerrie had been up and down, but had came to the undefeated Michael Dokes Homecoming as the sacrificial lamb to instead to blast Dokes out of the water far and away from his WBA title. So some rag tag American promoter put together some silly putty $$$ offer in a "build it and they will come" proposition always doomed to failure. Larry couldn't draw flies, especially vs some SA punch dummy folks would rather spit on and kick than pay to see, so again SA steps up to lure Greg Page, the former WBA champ.

In a competitive fight Page KOs Gerrie after, gasp, who ever coulda thunk it, a time keeper error with fans and Gerrie's corner screaming at him the round had ended, why Page KOs the distracted Gerrie to dispose of him permanently as a champion or contender. In spite of the dangerous incompetence of the WBA officiating, the illicit win still stands as you may verify on boxrec. Gerrie even took short $$$ that paid a pittance to what Page received.

Later Michael Spinks picks up Rocky's jockstrap that Lar couldn't carry...The End

Yeah Coetzee having Arum as a promotor and Holmes being on team Don King had nothing to do with it
I love the revisionist history. But hey what ever feeds your hatred

- Sound a teensy bit constipated.

'When Gerrie KOed Spinks, he'd never set foot in America. Arum did promote both Ali/Spinks fights, so it's possible he was one of the promoters in Monaco, but Boxrec don't say or say Gerrie had any promoter nor Holmesy for that matter though we all know King promoted Holmesy 1.0.

Arum co-promoted the Tate fight with Southern Sun Hotels, presumably the Gerrie promoter. As to Arum vs King vs WBA vs WBC, they quite the bedtime monkey menage come promotional time, so maybe try Mint-Choco Ex-Lax for better results.

As mentioned, Lar didn't just duck Gerrie, he ducked all the WBA champs who were King promoted black Americans.

But Tate, Weaver, Dokes, and Page didn't duck Gerrie and made good money.

When 2x Administrative champ(WBC/IBF)Lar finally steps up to a real champ having won his title in the ring, his title record slips to 0-6, 0 KO. Ya could look it up as Casey Stengal used to say.

Fact, not hatred nor constipation

[Caractacus]

Maybe it was the Prince of Monaco himself who had promoted
Spinks vrs Coetzee ?
seems like an out- of- the-way place to hold a high profile fight.

[Ezzard]

Reading my old boxing magazines from the 80s, I had forgotten Larry Holmes vs Gerrie Coetzee unification almost happened. They had the posters and artwork made up by leRoy Neiman, three different dates were scrapped because of promotional and financial snags and it never happened. What is the real deal? Who ducked who?

- Goes back to 1979 when Gerrie KOs Leon who went 30rds vs Ali like a breeze, but couldn't last 2 min vs undefeated Coetzee.

SAfrica well on the path of international boycotts where their athletes were having problem competing outside SA. They put up a huge purse beyond what novice Administrative WBC Lar was earning. He gets the civil rights vaxx immunization on his way to creampuff defenses until Ali came out of retirement.

So, Big John Tate, one of storied 76 Olympic famed medalists and undefeated pro steps up to the scratch line to outbox Gerrie for the WBA title that Ali held until retirement.

Duck #1, but it weren't just Gerrie being ducked. Somehow Lar who was still skinny then managed to duck every WBA champ until the WBC relieved him up his Administrative belt.

By 1984 Gerrie had been up and down, but had came to the undefeated Michael Dokes Homecoming as the sacrificial lamb to instead to blast Dokes out of the water far and away from his WBA title. So some rag tag American promoter put together some silly putty $$$ offer in a "build it and they will come" proposition always doomed to failure. Larry couldn't draw flies, especially vs some SA punch dummy folks would rather spit on and kick than pay to see, so again SA steps up to lure Greg Page, the former WBA champ.

In a competitive fight Page KOs Gerrie after, gasp, who ever coulda thunk it, a time keeper error with fans and Gerrie's corner screaming at him the round had ended, why Page KOs the distracted Gerrie to dispose of him permanently as a champion or contender. In spite of the dangerous incompetence of the WBA officiating, the illicit win still stands as you may verify on boxrec. Gerrie even took short $$$ that paid a pittance to what Page received.

Later Michael Spinks picks up Rocky's jockstrap that Lar couldn't carry...The End

Great read, You're making me enjoy your disdain for Holmes.

[Ambling Alp II]

Some of this is kind of funny. However, it is total nonsense that Holmes ducked those WBA champions.

[bwu]

It is extremely funny. It is also, indeed, absolute nonsense. I find it kind of hard to believe that Holmes was ducking Mike Weaver, who was one of his prior knockout victims.

The whole thread started with the question of who ducked whom. Neither of them ducked the other. It was, as noted in this and other threads, a lack of funds.

As I noted in one of those prior threads, there is a fundamental misunderstanding of Holmes. It's clear that the man was driven by money and I don't say that as a negative. He was a professional. He fought Tyson in '88 and Mercer in '92; he wasn't lacking in guts. He wanted top dollar and he was getting more money defending against the likes of Ali, Cooney and even Marvis Frazier than he would've against his WBA counterparts.

[Ambling Alp II]

There actually was probably going to be a Tate-Holmes unification fight had Tate won. That would have been a big payday. There wasn't going to be a big showdown after Weaver upset Tate with the hail mary knockout. As mentioned Weaver has already lost to Holmes and had a ton of losses.
Holmes was considered the real champion by most fans from 1978-1985. There really wasn't that much clamor for unifying it.

[Caractacus]

Holmes vrs Weaver was an extremly difficult fight for Holmes however.
most likely Holmes would not have wanted a re-match so soon.
what were the score-cards prior to the knock-out ?

[Ambling Alp II]

107-101, 106-102, 106-103, all for Holmes before he stopped him.
Not one of Holmes best performances.
Nobody was pushing for rematch.

[Caractacus]

.

[funso banjo baby]

The curse of the WBA champs

Holmes was supreme