Deon Potgieter Boxing
As the millennium is counted out amid an ignored controversy – most pundits agree that the next millennium starts on January 1 2001 – so too any selection of a top 10 has its controversies.
Historically significant bouts of the millennium speak for themselves.
James Couper vs Woolf Bendoff: July 26 1889
South Africa’s boxing history officially started with this national heavyweight title fight. Boxing was illegal in the Transvaal Republic and special permission to stage the bout had to be obtained from President Paul Kruger. Couper (35), by today’s standards a welterweight, knocked out Bendoff (27), a heavyweight, in the 27th round. Couper’s fame spread beyond the borders of the Transvaal and more than 20 years before its Union, South Africa had its first national sports hero.
Andrew Jephta vs Curly Watson: March 25 1907
Cape Town born and raised Jephta was the first man of colour to win a British championship. Although half blind when entering the ring, he still scored a sensational fourth round knock-out over Watson to win the British welterweight title. After the loss of his crown, five months later, it would be 41 years before the British establishment would once again allow a man of mixed ancestry to fight for one of its titles.
Willie Smith vs Teddy Baldock: October 26 1927
Smith floored Baldock twice and comprehensively out-pointed him in one of the most scientific boxing exhibitions ever seen in the British ring. Although Baldock was regarded as the welterweight world champion in the British Empire, Smith’s “world title” victory was not acknowledged outside Britain until 60 years later. Herb Goldman, editor of the authoritative Ring record book, then decided that Smith’s win over Baldock had indeed earned him the bantamweight world championship . Retrospectively this makes Smith South Africa’s first world champion.
Laurie Stevens vs Jackie “Kid” Berg: January 11 1936
Stevens, who dominated boxing in the Thirties, became the first South African to win a British Empire title when he out-pointed Berg, the British boxing legend, in a gruelling bout in Johannesburg.
Vic Toweel vs Manuel Ortiz: May 31 1950
Only 17 months after turning professional and in his 14th professional fight, Vic Toweel became the first South African to officially win a world title. He convincingly out-pointed an all-time legend and veteran of 111 fights for the undisputed world bantamweight title. His victory inspired fighters throughout the country and helped bring the crowds back to boxing.
Jake Tuli vs Teddy Gardner: September 8 1952
Tuli demolished the highly rated Gardner in Britain, in what was seen as a tremendous upset. He became the first black South African to win a British Empire title.
Pierre Fourie vs Bob Foster II: December 1 1973
Although Fourie lost this world title challenge in Johannesburg, it was the first time since professional boxing was placed under legal control in South Africa in 1923, that a white and a black man met in the ring in front of a racially mixed audience. It contributed immensely to the transition of boxing, which became one of the first multi-racial sports in the country.
Peter Mathebula vs Tae Shik Kim: December 13 1980
Mathebula put up a tremendous performance in thoroughly beating Kim in Los Angeles for the World Boxing Association’s (WBA) world flyweight title. He was the first black South African to win a world title .
Gerrie Coetzee vs Michael Dokes: September 23 1983
The heavyweight world title has always been the biggest prize in boxing and an American stronghold. Coetzee’s victory over Dokes was a phenomenal achievement in that light and once again inspired a horde of boxers. When Coetzee won the WBA title it was the most sought-after in the world, as it was the title Muhammed Ali had held.
Brian Baronet vs Kenny Vice: June 14 1988
The tragic death of Brian Baronet following this fight led to the introduction of the punishment index in South Africa. Safety precautions and better protection for fighters were introduced. The loss of one of South Africa’s most popular fighters was not in vain. His death improved the lot and conditions of all fighters who now grace the ring.