John Tate vs. Gerrie Coetzee

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 Cassas 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."
• Bout official on July 11.
• 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