The Joyride Blog
It’s a Knockout with Gerrie Coetzee on the Joyride─── 17:13 Wed, 09 Feb 2022
A man that will forever be in the history pages of the boxing world.
Gerhardus Christian "Gerrie" Coetzee (born 8 April 1955) is a South African former 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. He holds notable knockout wins against WBA world heavyweight champion Michael Dokes and former unified world heavyweight champion Leon Spinks, as well as a draw with future WBC world heavyweight champion Pinklon Thomas.
One of Coetzee's nicknames, "The Bionic Hand", came about because of persistent troubles with his right hand, which required the insertion of several corrective items during three surgeries. His Afrikaans nickname was "Seer Handjies", or "Sore Little Hands", named so by fellow South African boxing great Kallie Knoetze.
We had a chat with Gerrie to find out how he is living life after becoming the World Heavyweight champion.
It’s a Knockout with Gerrie Coetzee on the Joyride:
