Gerhardus Christian Coetzee was a South African professional boxer who competed from 1974 to 1986 and in 1993 and 1997. He was the first African ever to fight for, and win, a world heavyweight championship, having held the WBA title from 1983 to 1984.
Did Gerrie Coetzee fight Muhammad Ali?
“The world is full of superheroes. We’ve got Captain America and Iron Man in real people. We’ve got Mandela, Muhammad Ali, Gerrie Coetzee, Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela – we have great superheroes and they come in all colors. That’s why I’m here, to recognize and see those people. We have heroes from all different cultures and lands. South Africa is big on heroes. We want to get that to our children.”
In the meantime, discussions are being held for a possible boxing match between the grandsons of the two boxing heroes, Ali and Coetzee. Ali retired before the possibility of a match-up with Coetzee. According to Camacho-Ali, they are looking at the possibility of hosting a boxing match in three years’ time between Nico Ali Walsh and Dylan Coetzee, both 21 years old.