Gerrie Coetzee - Third Time's A Charm

Third Time's A Charm

Despite the outcome of the Thomas fight, (or perhaps because of it) Coetzee received his third world title try against WBA champion Michael Dokes. By now known as someone who could not win "The Big One", Coetzee's predicted fate in this bout was to show-case Dokes' abilities and status as a rising star. Dokes was promoted by Don King and was another in a line of WBA 'champions' being foisted upon the public as a rvial claimant to the recognized best fighter in the division, Larry Holmes.

This third time trying for a title turned out to be the charm for Coetzee. On 23 September 1983 in front of a crowd in the Richfield Coliseum in Richfield, Ohio and a HBO Boxing audience, Coetzee dominated Dokes after a few rounds of even fighting. The South African led with aggression but also used counter punching as well. Coetzee's poise was apparent, and he boxed more deftly than usual employing more left hooks while still eschewing much in the way of defense, sponging anything Dokes could land and scoring a knockdown. The years of frustration for the Bionic Hand were wiped away when Coetzee knocked out Dokes in the tenth round to become South Africa's first world Heavyweight title holder. He also became the first Caucasian world heavyweight champion in 23 years. The fight was KO Magazine's "Upset of The Year" for 1983. Dokes for his part lost his title; his status as a 'rising star' and became perhaps the first fighter in heavyweight history to be knocked out and have his promoter walk literally over him to congratulate his conqueror, as Don King stepped/rushed over Dokes' prone body to giddily congratulate Coetzee.

It turned out that the punch that knocked out Dokes hurt Coetzee even more: his right hand was broken and required another surgery five days after the fight, in New York.