Rise To Championship Contention
Coetzee started boxing professionally on the night of 14 September 1974, when he beat 19 fight veteran and fellow South African Christian Roos by a decision in four. He followed that win with 21 consecutive wins to reach a record of 22-0 before fighting for the WBA heavyweight title for the first time. Among those wins was one over Roos in a rematch, which Coetzee won by a knockout in three rounds; wins over former world title challengers Ron Stander, Randy Stephens and Pierre Fourie; a South African Heavyweight championship victory against amateur rival Kallie Knoetze (unanimous decision in 10) as well as a first round knockout of former world heavyweight champion Leon Spinks. With exception of the Spinks bout, held at Monte Carlo, the rest of Coetzee's fights during his early run were held in his native South Africa.
Spinks as was his style, attacked Coetzee and pressured him, throwing punches from many angles and generally trying to steam-roll the South African. Coetzee composed himself and a short right hand delivered to Spinks' temple knocked down the former world champion. Coetzee proceeded to drop Spinks two more times to record a TKO in an upset that catapulted Coetzee into the boxing consciousness. Coetzee had displayed impressive right-hand power, speed and composure in the Spinks win, enhancing his reputation as a real title threat in the post-Ali landscape of the heavyweight division.
Read more about this topic: Gerrie Coetzee
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