Gerrie Coetzee - Failed Unification and A Short Championship Reign

Failed Unification and A Short Championship Reign

There was much talk about a unification bout with the recognized best fighter in the division and now International Boxing Federation Champion, Holmes, in 1984, and a contract was duly signed. The bout would be wildly lucrative, and a win for Coetzee would legitimize his standing as perhaps the 'real' heavyweight champion. Holmes himself though possessing only one of now 3 title-belts was recognized by most as the real, bona fide, 'champion'.

There were massive financial issues when the backer of the bout, JPD Sports out of Dallas, Texas, could not raise the original purse necessary. Caesar's Palace spoke of saving the promotion, but it fell through. Don King's involvement as Coetzee's promoter, as well as Larry Holmes' split with King previously also contributed to the bout no tbeing made. Holmes, shopped to save the bout which could have meant 15 Million for him and a significant amount for Coetzee. Coetzee was personally willing and eager for the bout. He even indicated he was willing to go through with the bout though he would likely enter the ring without the WBA title. The WBA had stated that for the bout to take place with its blessing, it required Holmes (absurdly, as is their wont)to essentially be quantified as a contender for Coetzee's belt. Or, the WBA would require Coetzee to drop his belt to qualify as a challenger for Holmes'.

Holmes and most followers of the sport knew there was no reason for him to diminish his status by being the 'challenger' for Coetzee's far-less legitimate stake in the world 'title'. Not to mention Holmes saw no reason for the WBA to preside over a bout between the two men. The WBA insisted Coetzee could not face Holmes, despite the fact Holmes had been recognized as the best heavyweight in the world since 1978. In any event, Coetzee re-injured his hand during training camp, requiring another surgery. The fight was cancelled. The WBA was, of course, willing to allow Coetzee to face the fighters they rated (read: collected fees from when they fought for WBA belts) regardless of their own true abilities, none of which of course was as legitimate claimant to competing for the "World" Title as was Holmes.

On his return to the ring, after an extended absence, Coetzee was paired with Greg Page (the real #1 contender David Bey, refused to go to South Africa as described in "Only in America: The Life and Crimes of Don King" by Jack Newfield, Bey became the #1 by outpointing Greg Page over 12 rounds). Page was even more stigmatized by failing to win big fights than was Coetzee. He was seen as supremely talented and like many fighters in the immediate post-Ali era, his size, speed and coordination supposedly portended great expectations of achievement. While Page could look extremely impressive, as against James Tillis for example, he also was seen as lazy and unmotivated. The loss to the rather limited Bey along with his being handled and defeated by former Holmes challenger Tim Witherspoon for the vacant World Boxing Council (available as it had been stripped from Holmes, incidentally) title in 1984 seemed to underscore Page looked the part of dominant heavyweight more than fought like one.

In this bout Page did less posing than normal, and did more fighting putting on an energetic performance. The bout was exciting, with a lot of give-and-take. Coetzee seemed overconfident, and can be seen delivering a lot of the trash-talking and doing less punching and trying more verbal intimidation such as he used in bouts against Tate and Weaver. What was evident though was his lack of form as well as Page being on top of his game. This Page wasn't the man outworked by David Bey. Page was fighting and displaying those composite skills many had expected him to deliver consistently. Coetzee for his part was dangerous and while sloppy, was getting his own shots home. The challenger's strong chin nullified Coetzee's power to some extent. The two exchanged momentum. Coetzee's lack of defense was more evident than usual, and he was a sitting duck for Page's counter-punching and his once dependable chin seemed to fail him, being stung and hurt often. His right was not effective, but he was scoring withchis left hand. He was dropped after the bell of the 6th round (a foul normally); and in the 7th legitimately. Page was taking advantage of Coetzee's recklessness. In exchange after exchange as the bout wore on, it was Coetzee, the "puncher", losing the skirmishes and being hurt. Inevitably, he was frozen and knocked out by a crushing left hand in Round 8. But, there was controversy.

Coetzee's camp protested that not only had the 8th round run too long, but also that while Coetzee was on the canvas the bell had sounded and the referee's count should have been waved off. Generally, this would have allowed Coetzee to continue for at least one more round. The 8th, the round in question actually did run for almost a minute too long. Despite this, the WBA recognized the result as it happened, and affirmed Page as the winner by a knockout in eight. Coetzee and his camp demanded an immediate rematch. Instead, Page went on to face Tony Tubbs whom he had beaten several times in the amateurs.