Former South African heavyweight boxer Gerrie Coetzee has died at the age of 67. Condolences to all family and friends. Photo: Bob Thomas Sports Photography via Getty Images.
Liam Hemsworth to play boxer Gerrie Coetzee in Hollywood movie
Liam Hemsworth is reportedly set to play Gerrie Coetzee in a new film about the South African boxer.
Former South African heavyweight boxer Gerrie Coetzee has died at the age of 67. Condolences to all family and friends. Photo: Bob Thomas Sports Photography via Getty Images.
It was recently announced that Australian actor, Liam Hemsworth will star as legendary boxer Gerrie Coetzee in an upcoming Hollywood film.
Coetzee is mostly known as the ‘Boksburg Bomber’, who made history when he became the first African ever to fight for, and win, a world heavyweight championship – the WBA (World Boxing Association) title in 1983.
Gerrie – the movie
Last year, it was confirmed that it is ‘all systems go’ for the production of Gerrie, a film dedicated to the famous fistic achievements of Africa’s first world heavyweight boxing champion Gerrie Coetzee. At the time of writing in 2019, the executive producer of the movie, Kenddrie Utuk of American film company Fontabila Productions, was in Cape Town to finalise logistics and secure venues for the production. It is said that Utuk has previously spearheaded boxing films with great success in America.
Now, according to Jacaranda FM, the film is reportedly set for release sometime in 2020.
About Gerrie Coetzee and his new film
Just over three years ago Coetzee was featured in a BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) documentary. The film took an intimate look at the life of Coetzee and his climb to being crowned the ‘heavyweight champion of the world’.
At the time the documentary was well-received in America, the Mecca of world heavyweight boxing. It also caught the attention of Hollywood & African Prestigious Awards, the US organisation that honoured outstanding American and African individuals whose lives have been marked by extraordinary personal and professional accomplishments.
As a result, Coetzee was honoured at the Hollywood and African Prestigious Awards (HAPAwards) in Los Angeles in November 2017.
Coetzee attended the glitzy function with his wife Rina and Thinus Strydom, the well-known SA business entrepreneur who was his manager at the time of his famous conquest in Ohio in 1983.
Strydom had secured Coetzee a shot at Michael Dokes’ WBA heavyweight title after tough negotiations with Don King, arguably the world’s leading boxing promoter at the time.
On the night of September 23, 1983, at the Richfield Coliseum in Ohio, Dokes’ WBA heavyweight crown disappeared into the Ohio night air after Coetzee floored him in the 10th of their scheduled 15-rounder.
Confirming the news
The Jacaranda FM Scenic Drive honoured Coetzee for his lifetime achievements – and to talk about his new film during a recent interview. Coetzee also confirmed to the Scenic Drive that actor Liam Hemsworth will play him.
“Yes, Liam Hemsworth will play me in the movie. I am not sure who will play my wife. I know that they asked Charlize Theron – but she asked $15 million for the role. I would like this movie to end when I won my title and came back to South Africa. Katinka Heyns read the script and cried – she said it’s the best script ever,” Coetzee explained.
