Former world heavyweight champion Gerrie Coetzee has died at the age of 67.
Known as the “Boksburg Bomber”, Coetzee became the WBA World Heavyweight Champion in 1983 when he knocked out Michael Dokes of the United States in the tenth round of their title fight.
Coetzee lost the title to American Greg Page in 1984.
A giant has fallen. The Boksburg bomber has succumbed to the disease. Almost exactly 40 years after his breakthrough, winning the WBA heavyweight championship by a 10th-round knockout of Mike Dokes, Gerrie Coetzee has died at age 67. One of my childhood heroes. RIP. pic.twitter.com/XOeyYAlAeR
— Clinton van der Berg (@ClintonV) January 12, 2023
In a career that spanned from 1974 to 1986 and again from 1993 to 1997, Coetzee fought 40 times, winning 33 (21 by knockout) with six losses and one draw.
The news was confirmed to News24 by Coetzee’s manager, Thinus Strydom.
Coetzee, Strydom confirmed, died of lung cancer at his Cape Town home.
The doctors had given him his prognosis about a week ago, in consultation, and he died surrounded by his family.
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