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Hard-punching former heavyweight champ Gerrie Coetzee dies at 67

Gerrie Coetzee, a hard-punching South African who won a share of the heavyweight championship in 1983 when he knocked out Michael "Dynamite" Dokes, died Thursday following a short battle with cancer. His daughter, Lana, confirmed his death at 67.

Coetzee, who was 33-6-1 with 21 knockouts in a career that ran from 1974 through 1997, had his career highlight in Richfield, Ohio, on Sept. 23, 1983, when he knocked Dokes out late in the 10th round. Coetzee had dropped Dokes in the fifth, and then finished him with two rights in the 10th.

Coetzee said after the fight he had a hand injury and probably would not have been able to use his right over the final five rounds had the fight continued.