JOHNNY du Plooy and Pierre Coetzer got into the ring together one more time on Monday night, 22 years after the heavyweights thrilled local fight fans in a war that was named SA's fight of 1990.
They traded only smiles and handshakes at this box-and-dine event at Emperors Palace, which served as a tribute to Du Plooy, one of the most popular boxers in local ring history.
Their bout lasted just two rounds, and perhaps their appearance in the ring was a portent for Isaac "The Angel" Hlatshwayo; the former IBF welterweight champion entered the ring straight after Du Plooy and Coetzer and got knocked out in the second round by unheralded DRC immigrant Bongo Lipembo.
Hlatshwayo collapsed in a heap next to the ropes after a small barrage of punches that, a few years ago, might not have caused him to blink.
Hlatshwayo beat the count but the referee wisely waved it over. Hlatshwayo's record now drops to 31 wins, four defeats and a draw, while his opponent improved to 13-2.
Du Plooy, who suffered a heart attack scare a month ago, is rated by some as SA's most naturally talented heavyweight, but his lack of discipline cost him the chance of becoming world champion. In his only title attempt, against Italian Francesco Damiani for the vacant WBO belt in 1989, he was knocked out in the third round.
Du Plooy's best fights were behind him by that point, with his highlight probably the two-round knockout of former world champ Mike Weaver in 1988. Other victims included David Bey, James Tillis, Bennie Knoetze and, early in his career, Ron Ellis, brother of Monday night's promoter, Jeff Ellis.
He lost some memorable fights too, like his 1990 classic against Coetzer. Du Plooy dropped Coetzer in the opening round but got decked twice himself in the second before ref Stan Christodoulou waved it over.
Du Plooy and Coetzer in one last showdown
JOHNNY du Plooy and Pierre Coetzer got into the ring together one more time on Monday night, 22 years after the heavyweights thrilled local fight fans in a war that was named SA's fight of 1990.
They traded only smiles and handshakes at this box-and-dine event at Emperors Palace, which served as a tribute to Du Plooy, one of the most popular boxers in local ring history.
Their bout lasted just two rounds, and perhaps their appearance in the ring was a portent for Isaac "The Angel" Hlatshwayo; the former IBF welterweight champion entered the ring straight after Du Plooy and Coetzer and got knocked out in the second round by unheralded DRC immigrant Bongo Lipembo.
Hlatshwayo collapsed in a heap next to the ropes after a small barrage of punches that, a few years ago, might not have caused him to blink.
Hlatshwayo beat the count but the referee wisely waved it over. Hlatshwayo's record now drops to 31 wins, four defeats and a draw, while his opponent improved to 13-2.
Du Plooy, who suffered a heart attack scare a month ago, is rated by some as SA's most naturally talented heavyweight, but his lack of discipline cost him the chance of becoming world champion. In his only title attempt, against Italian Francesco Damiani for the vacant WBO belt in 1989, he was knocked out in the third round.
Du Plooy's best fights were behind him by that point, with his highlight probably the two-round knockout of former world champ Mike Weaver in 1988. Other victims included David Bey, James Tillis, Bennie Knoetze and, early in his career, Ron Ellis, brother of Monday night's promoter, Jeff Ellis.
He lost some memorable fights too, like his 1990 classic against Coetzer. Du Plooy dropped Coetzer in the opening round but got decked twice himself in the second before ref Stan Christodoulou waved it over.
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