Gerrie Coetzee vs. Muhammad Ali

[HomicideHenry]

After Ali defeated 'Neon' Leon Spinks in late 1978 to win his 3rd HW title in his illustrious career beating the Liston's, Foreman's, Frazier's, Norton's and Shavers of the boxing world---one man stood up to call out Muhammad Ali and demanded a shot at the HW title.

Gerrie Coetzee 'The Bionic Hand' was a little known HW fighter from South Africa at the time, but was 20-0 (11) at the time and had defeated Johnny Boudreaux, Mike Schutte and Pierre Fourie and also held the South African HW title and was ranked inside the top 10 in the world.

Ali would not officially retire until the 6th month of 1979, while the last Spinks fight was in September of 1978. During that time Ali had a few exhibition bouts; most notably with John L. Gardner and NFL football player Lyle Alzado.

Coetzee figured if he could keep on winning he would get the shot eventually at Ali and racked up two more wins, one against Leon Spinks whom Ali lost his title to and won back from via 15 round decisions---by first round knockout!

To no avail though...Ali retired and Coetzee never did get his fight with 'The Greatest', though he would go on to have the WBA title and lose it, but remained a perennial contender for several years and as WBA champion even challenged Larry Holmes for unification of the IBF/WBA titles but Holmes refused Coetzee.

I think had Coetzee fought Ali he would have won and would have made the Ali-Holmes bout look like a walk in the park by comparison---Coetzee was much harder puncher than Holmes and was pretty tricky as well---or at least would have made Spinks-Ali look like walks in the park.

What is your opinions?

[Bill Celender]

he probally could beat a old,past his prime, begining to suffer from parkinsons muhammad ali...but would get destroyed by Ali in his prime.

[HomicideHenry]

I agree. even the best Coetzee would have lost to the Ali of the mid 70's and prior. Just too fast and too good for the South African. But I think Coetzee would have stood a chance the against the Ali of the late 70's and would have beaten Ali had he did get the shot in 1979, possibly by late round tko.

[Collins2000]

After Ali defeated 'Neon' Leon Spinks in late 1978 to win his 3rd HW title in his illustrious career beating the Liston's, Foreman's, Frazier's, Norton's and Shavers of the boxing world---one man stood up to call out Muhammad Ali and demanded a shot at the HW title.

Gerrie Coetzee 'The Bionic Hand' was a little known HW fighter from South Africa at the time, but was 20-0 (11) at the time and had defeated Johnny Boudreaux, Mike Schutte and Pierre Fourie and also held the South African HW title and was ranked inside the top 10 in the world.

Ali would not officially retire until the 6th month of 1979, while the last Spinks fight was in September of 1978. During that time Ali had a few exhibition bouts; most notably with John L. Gardner and NFL football player Lyle Alzado.

Coetzee figured if he could keep on winning he would get the shot eventually at Ali and racked up two more wins, one against Leon Spinks whom Ali lost his title to and won back from via 15 round decisions---by first round knockout!

To no avail though...Ali retired and Coetzee never did get his fight with 'The Greatest', though he would go on to have the WBA title and lose it, but remained a perennial contender for several years and as WBA champion even challenged Larry Holmes for unification of the IBF/WBA titles but Holmes refused Coetzee.

I think had Coetzee fought Ali he would have won and would have made the Ali-Holmes bout look like a walk in the park by comparison---Coetzee was much harder puncher than Holmes and was pretty tricky as well---or at least would have made Spinks-Ali look like walks in the park.

What is your opinions?

My opinion is that there is something not quite right about your fetish with WHITE heavyweights.

[Collins2000]

After Ali defeated 'Neon' Leon Spinks in late 1978 to win his 3rd HW title in his illustrious career beating the Liston's, Foreman's, Frazier's, Norton's and Shavers of the boxing world---one man stood up to call out Muhammad Ali and demanded a shot at the HW title.

Gerrie Coetzee 'The Bionic Hand' was a little known HW fighter from South Africa at the time, but was 20-0 (11) at the time and had defeated Johnny Boudreaux, Mike Schutte and Pierre Fourie and also held the South African HW title and was ranked inside the top 10 in the world.

Ali would not officially retire until the 6th month of 1979, while the last Spinks fight was in September of 1978. During that time Ali had a few exhibition bouts; most notably with John L. Gardner and NFL football player Lyle Alzado.

Coetzee figured if he could keep on winning he would get the shot eventually at Ali and racked up two more wins, one against Leon Spinks whom Ali lost his title to and won back from via 15 round decisions---by first round knockout!

To no avail though...Ali retired and Coetzee never did get his fight with 'The Greatest', though he would go on to have the WBA title and lose it, but remained a perennial contender for several years and as WBA champion even challenged Larry Holmes for unification of the IBF/WBA titles but Holmes refused Coetzee.

I think had Coetzee fought Ali he would have won and would have made the Ali-Holmes bout look like a walk in the park by comparison---Coetzee was much harder puncher than Holmes and was pretty tricky as well---or at least would have made Spinks-Ali look like walks in the park.

What is your opinions?

When / where was the exhibtion bout with John L Gardner?

[HomicideHenry]

Collins I can talk about black heavyweights just as well as I can the whites, so dont see how you come to this conclusion. I could probably say the same for you, as you and many others talk so much on the black boxers or more better put the 'safe' topics (Ali, Tyson mostly) where you can go on that Ali was the greatest of all time---big WHOOP---we all know Ali either was the greatest of all time, the fastest or is right up there near the top on both categories.

What's your take on Peter Jackson? Sam Langford? Walter Edgerton? Henry Armstrong? Bearcat Wright? Elmer Ray? George Godfrey? Tom Mulineaux? Bill Richmond? Sam McVey? Joe Jennette? Rufe Turner?

I mean come on. Least I am bringing up topics that aren't always done half to death here in BoxRec. It's a little known fact that Coetzee challenged Ali but didnt get the chance, was all I was posting and who would you think would win?

[zuru]

After Ali defeated 'Neon' Leon Spinks in late 1978 to win his 3rd HW title in his illustrious career beating the Liston's, Foreman's, Frazier's, Norton's and Shavers of the boxing world---one man stood up to call out Muhammad Ali and demanded a shot at the HW title.

Gerrie Coetzee 'The Bionic Hand' was a little known HW fighter from South Africa at the time, but was 20-0 (11) at the time and had defeated Johnny Boudreaux, Mike Schutte and Pierre Fourie and also held the South African HW title and was ranked inside the top 10 in the world.

Ali would not officially retire until the 6th month of 1979, while the last Spinks fight was in September of 1978. During that time Ali had a few exhibition bouts; most notably with John L. Gardner and NFL football player Lyle Alzado.

Coetzee figured if he could keep on winning he would get the shot eventually at Ali and racked up two more wins, one against Leon Spinks whom Ali lost his title to and won back from via 15 round decisions---by first round knockout!

To no avail though...Ali retired and Coetzee never did get his fight with 'The Greatest', though he would go on to have the WBA title and lose it, but remained a perennial contender for several years and as WBA champion even challenged Larry Holmes for unification of the IBF/WBA titles but Holmes refused Coetzee.

I think had Coetzee fought Ali he would have won and would have made the Ali-Holmes bout look like a walk in the park by comparison---Coetzee was much harder puncher than Holmes and was pretty tricky as well---or at least would have made Spinks-Ali look like walks in the park.

What is your opinions?

My opinion is that there is something not quite right about your fetish with WHITE heavyweights.

I have to agree with Irish,why not talk about white heavyweights?What's the problem with that?There are lots and lots of good(some great)white fighters who have contributed to this sport,and still continue to.Sure there are a lot of good blacks,AND mexicans,puerto ricans,colombians,and on and on.I liked Coetzee,I know being a south african hurt his popularity,but there are PLENTY of openly predjudiced black fighters(whereas,as far as I'm aware,Coetzee NEVER made racist comments or give the impression that he was a racist,other than the fact of where he was from).So I have to think "Collins,what is your fetish about black fighters about"?It's pretty creepy if you ask me,
zuru

[RazorKO]

Coetzee certainly wasnt a racist, the best man at his wedding was black and he endeared himself to the black population.

As for the fight, Coetzee would of beaten Ali in 1980 as bad as Holmes did. 1967 Ali however would of beaten him comfortably and even if Ali of 1977 would of fought Coetzee it still would of been a close fight. A past it Ali who fought Shavers found a way to win and he would most likely do the same against Gerrie.

[Collins2000]

After Ali defeated 'Neon' Leon Spinks in late 1978 to win his 3rd HW title in his illustrious career beating the Liston's, Foreman's, Frazier's, Norton's and Shavers of the boxing world---one man stood up to call out Muhammad Ali and demanded a shot at the HW title.

Gerrie Coetzee 'The Bionic Hand' was a little known HW fighter from South Africa at the time, but was 20-0 (11) at the time and had defeated Johnny Boudreaux, Mike Schutte and Pierre Fourie and also held the South African HW title and was ranked inside the top 10 in the world.

Ali would not officially retire until the 6th month of 1979, while the last Spinks fight was in September of 1978. During that time Ali had a few exhibition bouts; most notably with John L. Gardner and NFL football player Lyle Alzado.

Coetzee figured if he could keep on winning he would get the shot eventually at Ali and racked up two more wins, one against Leon Spinks whom Ali lost his title to and won back from via 15 round decisions---by first round knockout!

To no avail though...Ali retired and Coetzee never did get his fight with 'The Greatest', though he would go on to have the WBA title and lose it, but remained a perennial contender for several years and as WBA champion even challenged Larry Holmes for unification of the IBF/WBA titles but Holmes refused Coetzee.

I think had Coetzee fought Ali he would have won and would have made the Ali-Holmes bout look like a walk in the park by comparison---Coetzee was much harder puncher than Holmes and was pretty tricky as well---or at least would have made Spinks-Ali look like walks in the park.

What is your opinions?

My opinion is that there is something not quite right about your fetish with WHITE heavyweights.

I have to agree with Irish,why not talk about white heavyweights?What's the problem with that?There are lots and lots of good(some great)white fighters who have contributed to this sport,and still continue to.Sure there are a lot of good blacks,AND mexicans,puerto ricans,colombians,and on and on.I liked Coetzee,I know being a south african hurt his popularity,but there are PLENTY of openly predjudiced black fighters(whereas,as far as I'm aware,Coetzee NEVER made racist comments or give the impression that he was a racist,other than the fact of where he was from).So I have to think "Collins,what is your fetish about black fighters about"?It's pretty creepy if you ask me,
zuru

Show me a thread he has started about non-white heavyweights and which doesn't conclude that the fighter he is talking about would have been no match for one of his white heroes.

[zuru]

Show me a thread he has started about non-white heavyweights and which doesn't conclude that the fighter he is talking about would have been no match for one of his white heroes.[/quote]
All I'm saying is there is enough racism EVERYWHERE,but it really sucks when it is rampant in boxing,I for one have been especially pissed when fighters bring it in.We as fighters AND fight fans,shouldn't give in to it,and I find it hard to ignore when someone comes blazing with negative things about white,Italian,Irish,Scottish folks,and it is acceptable to the public,but when someone makes a negative comment about black,there are rallies,protests,Jesse Jackson & Al Sharpton raging about PREDJUDICE.That shit gets tired and old.So to avoid it,let's not acknowledge it.We're supposed to be on here as a brotherhood of fighters and fight fans.Here as in anywhere in life,if we don't like somebody,let it be because of their personality,or character,NOT their race,or skin color.If a white guy is an asshole,let the black guy dislike him for being an asshole,he does not have to be "the white asshole",and vice-versa.If you aren't liking someone,keep it restricted to their negative behavior,and not their race.I see lots of guys on here arguing,and a couple get to me,I have no idea if they are black or white,it is just their personality that comes thru,that irritates me.A true case in point,years ago,the gym I was in attended a "Tribute to Joe Louis"parade in Detroit.Many,many gyms were present,and few white fighters.However the gym I belonged to was predominately white.Before the parade started,we were all being positioned in our places for the parade.We look up,and here is Tommy Hearns(who at this point one of my favorite fighters)Tommy was going around meeting ALL the local gyms.Our trainer says "hey guys,how would you like to meet Tommy Hearns"YEAH,we said.Our trainer goes over,speaks to him,Hearns looks over,as the coach points us out,Hearns shakes his head mouthing "NO",and turns back,resuming his handshaking.Our coach comes over and says"Well guys,maybe another time,Tommy is real busy,and doesn't have the time".We stood and watched for another full 1/2 hour before the parade starts,as Hearns takes his skinny ass,straight down the line,meeting and shaking hands with all of the fighters/gyms,who happened to be mostly black.When we pointed this out to our coach,he just gave a sad grin,and shrugged his shoulders.I have never cared for Hearns since that day,and repeated this story often.I still thought Hearns was an awesome fighter,just a shitty human.He failed to realize that yeah,he had a lot of black fans true,but he had just as many white fans.Hearns didn't reach his status just based on black support,white folks were right along with him.I need a minute to myself now......I promised my..self...I would....not...cry,I....will..not..cry...I......

[HomicideHenry]

Show me a thread he has started about non-white heavyweights and which doesn't conclude that the fighter he is talking about would have been no match for one of his white heroes.

Gladly. I did a thread on Walter Edgerton that was unnoticed, and Edgerton was the man who defeated champion George Dixon in an exhibition bout via kayo.

I also did threads in the past on Peter Jackson, Jack Johnson, Tyson, Louis and have engaged on many other threads throwing in my opinion on various black fighters of the past, especially on Harry Wills, George Godfrey and why Dempsey/Tunney ducked/avoided them.

There are many black fighters I can name off the top of my head who could beat many white fighters, just as much as I can name many white fighters who could beat many black fighters.

[Collins2000]

Show me a thread he has started about non-white heavyweights and which doesn't conclude that the fighter he is talking about would have been no match for one of his white heroes.

Gladly. I did a thread on Walter Edgerton that was unnoticed, and Edgerton was the man who defeated champion George Dixon in an exhibition bout via kayo.

I also did threads in the past on Peter Jackson, Jack Johnson, Tyson, Louis and have engaged on many other threads throwing in my opinion on various black fighters of the past, especially on Harry Wills, George Godfrey and why Dempsey/Tunney ducked/avoided them.

There are many black fighters I can name off the top of my head who could beat many white fighters, just as much as I can name many white fighters who could beat many black fighters.

OK, Rupert. I'll take your word for it.

You don't mind if I keep an eye out for your next love puppy thread and bleat if it's yet another white guy?

[zuru]

Show me a thread he has started about non-white heavyweights and which doesn't conclude that the fighter he is talking about would have been no match for one of his white heroes.

Gladly. I did a thread on Walter Edgerton that was unnoticed, and Edgerton was the man who defeated champion George Dixon in an exhibition bout via kayo.

I also did threads in the past on Peter Jackson, Jack Johnson, Tyson, Louis and have engaged on many other threads throwing in my opinion on various black fighters of the past, especially on Harry Wills, George Godfrey and why Dempsey/Tunney ducked/avoided them.

There are many black fighters I can name off the top of my head who could beat many white fighters, just as much as I can name many white fighters who could beat many black fighters.

Good Post.I likey,I likey,
zuru

[HomicideHenry]

Lol, you do that Collins. maybe next time i'll write a big huge thread on how black men are superior to white men.

[Collins2000]

Lol, you do that Collins. maybe next time i'll write a big huge thread on how black men are superior to white men.

Me and my homies will look forward to it.