Lifetime gong awaits iconic Coetzee
Boksburg Bomber to get award in the US
Gerrie Coetzee will receive The Sports Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2017 Hollywood and African Prestigious Awards in California in November.
The “Boksburg Bomber” is the first African boxer to fight for and win a world heavyweight title – the WBA belt.
The event will honour American and African luminaries in various spheres, according to a statement to Sowetan from founder and chief executive of the awards event, Tina Weisinger.
“Presentations will be held on November 18. We will honour American and African community leaders, international political figures, celebrities and stars who are pioneers in motion pictures, arts, music and comedy,” read the statement, confirming the SA boxing icon as a recipient.
“I am very proud to be the first South African to get this award. It is very special to me and dear to heart. I mean, American ace actor Denzel Washington, who will be doing a movie about my life, will also be there,” Coetzee, 62, told Sowetan yesterday.
He won the WBA belt in his third world title attempt, having failed twice against Americans John Tate and Mike Weaver.
Coetzee knocked out champion Michael Dokes, another American, in September 1983 to become South Africa’s first world heavyweight champion.
He also became the first white world heavyweight champion in 23 years.
The fight – staged by American promoter Don King in Ohio – was later voted KO Magazine’s Upset of the Year.
Coetzee lost the title to American Greg Page at Sun City in 1984 and he retired in 1997.
‘‘ I am very proud to be the first South African to get this award