John Tate vs. Gerrie Coetzee

Gerrie Coetzee rankings

Org.	Pos.	As of	Published
1+ Mth. Old
WBA	5	30.04.1979	by 10.05.1979
WBC	NR	~20.05.1979	20-30.05.1979
Ring	N/A	N/A	N/A
2+ Mth. Old
WBA	5	~24.03.1979	24.03-01.04.1979
WBC	NR	31.03.1979	09.04.1979
Ring	N/A	N/A	N/A
3+ Mth. Old
WBA	5	~24.03.1979	24.03-01.04.1979
WBC	NR	28.02.1979	01.03.1979
Ring	N/A	N/A	N/A

Gerrie Coetzee 222 lbs lost to John Tate 240 lbs by UD in round 15 of 15

• Date: 1979-10-20
• Location: Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
• Referee: Carlos Berrocal 144-147
• Judge: Ken Morita 142-147
• Judge: Carlos Martinez Casas 145-148

• World Boxing Association Heavyweight Title (Vacant title)
  
• Program Cover

Notes

• Tate and Coetzee fought for the vacant WBA heavyweight title, which had previously been held by Muhammad Ali. Promoter Bob Arum said he paid Ali $300,000 to announce his retirement because Ali's reluctance had delayed the scheduling of the fight between Tate and Coetzee for the vacant title. "We knew Muhammad Ali was going to retire," Arum said, "but as long as he delayed, I couldn't make definite plans."
• Coetzee secured rise through the rankings after the first-round KO of Leon Spinks, ranked fourth by the WBA and sixth by the WBC, on June 24.
• Bout announced on July 4.[1]
• Arum co-promoted the fight with Southern Sun Hotels.
• NBC paid $400,000 to televise the fight in the United States. Another $250,000 came from foreign TV rights.
• A crowd of 81,000 produced a gate of $3.36 million.
• Tate earned $400,000 and Coetzee $300,000.
• Tate was a 10-7 betting favorite.
• The Associated Press scored the fight 146-139 for Tate.

Articles

• "Reluctant Ali paid $300,000 to announce his retirement" Associated Press, July 16, 1979
• "Tate, Coetzee Battle For Title" by Ed Schuyler, Associated Press, October 20, 1979
• "Score one for the Creator" by Pat Putnam, Sports Illustrated, October 29, 1979