BoxRec

12 rounds.

Honestly this fight is a toss up to me. A knockout either way or a decision either way isn't impossible to imagine. My gut says Ruddock as he made a habit of beating lots of the titlists of this era, but this would've been a tough fight for both for sure.

I could see Ruddock scoring a KO around the 10th after getting off the canvas in the 1st or 2nd and weathering the storm and catching Coetzee as he fades.

Prime Coetzee belongs in the 15 rounder not 12, but it's anyone's fight as either Ruddock would land the smashing left hook or uppercut to stop Coetzee in 6 rounds or Coetzee would wear him out by landing jabs and big right hands in the later rounds to either take a decision or stopping Ruddock late.