Never one for the spotlight, Gerrie Coetzee has nonetheless agreed to be guest of honour at the IBO cruiserweight title fight between Kevin “Two Guns” Lerena and Max Maslov at Emperors Palace in August.
The former heavyweight, who leads a quiet life in the Western Cape, will present the championship belt and receive due acclaim as South Africa’s first heavyweight world champion.
With the fight designed as a launch pad for Lerena’s international career, promoter Rodney Berman believes that the presence of Coetzee, who campaigned with great success overseas in the 1980s, will underscore the status of the August tournament.
The former “Boksburg Bomber” had a terrific career that culminated with him knocking out Michael Dokes in 1983 to capture the WBA title.
He finally hung up his gloves in 1997, 20 years ago this month.
