Snapshots of SA heavyweight champions from 1947 to 2019

JOHNNY RALPH - Ralph possessed the indefinable quality which sportswriters called “colour” and between 1946 and 1949 became the hottest attraction on the local boxing scene. Beat an assortment of opponents such as George Cerosky, Buddy Scott, Ken Shaw, Alf Gallagher, Buddy Komar and Stephen Olek. Knocked out Nick Wolmarans in six rounds in 1947 to win the national heavyweight title. On 6 November 1948 the bubble was burst when world light heavyweight champion Freddie Mills stopped him in eight rounds. A motor accident shortly after his defeat by Bruce Woodcock effectively ended his career. Champion 1947-1949: Total bouts 19, won 16 (9 by stoppages), lost 2, drew 1.

PIET STRYDOM - A hard hitter, he won the vacant national crown in November 1950 when he outboxed George Hunter. Made a successful defence against George Bissett the following year before relinquishing the title. Best remembered for his thrilling 10-round war with Johnny Arthur, a bout he lost after having his opponent nearly down and out. Champion: 1950-1951. Total bouts 29, won 18, (8 by stoppages), lost 9, drew 2.

LOUW STRYDOM - Made his pro debut in December 1950 winning his first nine fights inside the distance before Giorgio Milan, an Italian well-versed in the art of self-preservation, became the first opponent to go the scheduled distance. However, his management made a mistake when they matched him with the Austrian, Jo Weiden, who punished him badly before scoring a seventh-round knockout. Although he went on to win the national title with a third-round knockout of George Bissett in 1952 his self-confidence was gone. He was knocked out three times by Johnny Arthur and eventually was nothing more than a human punching bag. Champion: 1952-1953. Total bouts 34, won 18 (14 by stoppages), lost 16.

JOHNNY ARTHUR - As a 19-year-old he won a bronze medal at the 1948 Olympic Games in London. He was never beaten by a fellow South African. Won the South African title in 1953 and made five successful defences. Fought some of the best heavyweights around at the time, including Jo Weiden, George Chuvalo, Willie Pastrano and James J Parker. Twice challenged for the Empire heavyweight title, losing to Johnny Williams and Don Cockell. Champion: 1953-1957. Total bouts 41, won 33 (27 by stoppages), lost 8.

EZEKIAL DLAMINI - When he turned professional in May 1947 was considered star material and fought under the name of King Kong. Became South Africa’s first black heavyweight champion when he knocked out Foxy Mntambo in the fifth round in Cape Town on April 28, 1953. Never defended the title and unfortunately he had problems outside the ring. Arrested for murder and sentenced to serve a 12-year prison term. Drowned on April 3, 1957 in a dam at Leeuwkop Prison. Champion: 1953. Total bouts 5, won 4 (2 by stoppages), lost 1.

WILLIAM KHONGWANE - Won the vacant heavyweight title in January 1955 with a third-round stoppage of Meshack Sithole. Defended the title three times and then retired at the end of 1957. Champion: 1955-1957. Total bouts 9, won 9 (5 by stoppages).

GAWIE DE KLERK - Won the vacant title in September 1957 when he stopped Eddie Theron. Made eight successful defences before retiring as undefeated champion in 1962. An underrated fighter who gave internationally renowned Henry Cooper some anxious moments before being caught with “Enry’s Ammer” in their Empire title fight in Porthcawl on August 26, 1957. Champion 1957-1962. Total bouts: 30, won 24 (15 by stoppages), lost 6.

DAAN BEKKER - A brilliant amateur who won the SA heavyweight title six times. He won a bronze medal at the Olympic Games in 1956 and two years later won gold at the Empire Games in Cardiff. In 1960 he won a silver medal at the Rome Olympics. He was also awarded the Jove Trophy for the athlete who brings the highest Olympic honours to South Africa for winning the silver medal at the Olympics. Turned professional too late in life but won the vacant SA title in his third bout when he knocked out Jan Scheepers in March 1962. Retained the title in his first defence against Stoffel Willemse in a dramatic fight but lost it in their return fight. Champion 1962 to 1963. Bouts 9, won 6 (4 stoppages), lost 2, drew 1.

STOFFEL WILLEMSE - Tall and gangling with a crude style but a paralysing right. He won the national championship from Daan Bekker and stopped Doug Nicholas in one round in his first defence. Performances were generally erratic and he lost the title to Billy Lotter in March 1964. Champion 1963 to 1964. Bouts 22, won 15 (11 stoppages), lost 7.

BILLY LOTTER - Began as a welterweight and was in his 10th year as a professional when he outpointed Stoffel Willemse on March 1, 1964 to win the national heavyweight title. Made one defence and then lost the title to Gerrie de Bruyn in May 1966. Champion 1964 to 1966. Bouts 39, won 32 (10 stoppages), lost 7.

EZROM NGCOBO - He won the vacant SA light heavyweight title for black boxers when he defeated Elliot Arnold on points in December 1954. Moved up to heavyweight in June 1964 to beat Samson Zwane for the vacant black SA title. Made two defences before losing the title to Remington Dyanti in December 1967, only to regain it from Dyanti in October 1968. He retired the next year without defending his crown. Champion 1964 to 1969. Bouts 25, won 14 (4 stoppages), lost 10, drew 1.

GERRIE DE BRUYN - His aggression made him a formidable opponent but he was too small for the heavyweight division. As an amateur he won a bronze medal in the light heavyweight division at the 1958 Empire Games in Cardiff. Won the SA heavyweight title in May 1966 when he knocked out Billy Lotter in the seventh and made five successful defences before losing the title to Japie Pretorius in June 1969. Champion 1966 to 1969. Bouts 38, won 23, (17 stoppages), lost 12, drew 3.

REMINGTON DYANTI - He won the SA title for black boxers in December 1967 when he outpointed Ezrom Ngcobo over 12 rounds. Had earlier campaigned in Europe but with little success, losing four of his five fights. Lost the title to Ezrom Ngcobo in October 1968 but won the vacant title in December 1969 (Ngcobo had retired) when he beat Smith Tshabalala, only to lose it to Fraser Memela in April 1972. Champion 1967 to 1972. Bouts 22, won 11 (7 stoppages), lost 10, drew 1.

JAPIE PRETORIUS - A good boxer with a fair punch and an outstanding amateur record but as a professional he was erratic. Won the title by beating Gerrie de Bruyn in June 1969 and lost it in his first defence less than a year later to Sarel Aucamp. Bouts 28, won 13 (11 stoppages), lost 15.

SAREL AUCAMP - Turned professional at 30 and is best remembered for his accomplishments as a light heavyweight. Won the light heavyweight title in February 1970 when he knocked out Jan “Happy” Pieterse in the eighth round. In April of the same year he won the heavyweight crown when he outpointed Japie Pretorius over 12 rounds. Lost the title to Chris Roos in October 1972. Champion 1970 to 1972. Bouts 24, won 18 (5 stoppages), lost 6.

FRASER MEMELA - A big, strong heavyweight, he lost inside the distance to Mike Schutte, Jimmy Abbott and Robbie Williams. Won the heavyweight title for black boxers in April 1972 when he stopped Remington Dyanti in five. Made one defence before losing the title to James Mathatho in December 1974. Champion 1972 to 1974. Bouts 27, won 13 (12 stoppages), lost 12, drew 2.

CHRIS ROOS - Followed Sarel Aucamp as heavyweight champion but squandered his talents. Held the title for only a few months before he was beaten by Jimmy Richards in March 1973. Champion 1972 to 1973. Bouts 21, won 11 (3 stoppages), lost 8, drew 2.

JIMMY RICHARDS - Remarkably strong but did not have a big punch. Made up for it with aggression and the ability to soak up punishment. Pushed into major fights against Roger Tighe, Bill Drover and Arno Prick too soon in his career. After winning the title, he made four defences before losing it to Mike Schutte in September 1975. Bouts 41, won 26 (12 stoppages), lost 11, drew 4.

MIKE SCHUTTE - With a barrel-like torso, he was one of the most colourful and exciting SA heavyweights. His five-bout series with Jimmy Richards still ranks among the most brutal in the history of SA boxing. Won the title in 1975 but less than a year later lost it to Gerrie Coetzee on a sixth-round disqualification. Champion 1975 to 1976. Bouts 49, won 38 (28 stoppages), lost 9, drew 2.

JAMES MATHATHO - Was 39 years old when he won the SA light heavyweight title in February 1974 and in September the same year beat Fraser Memela to take the heavyweight crown for black boxers. In 1976 the colour bar was dropped for national championship bouts and on November 27, 1976 he was knocked out by Gerrie Coetzee in the seventh round for the vacant “supreme” heavyweight title. Champion 1974 to 1976. Bouts 29, won 14 (8 stoppages) lost 14, drew 1.

GERRIE COETZEE - Won the WBA heavyweight title in September 1983 when he knocked out Michael Dokes to become the first SA boxer to win a version of the world heavyweight title. This was his third crack at the title, having lost to John Tate and Mike Weaver. Strongly built, Coetzee won his first 22 paid bouts and became SA champion in 1976. Made three defences of the title before relinquishing it in September 1983. Lost the WBA title in his first defence to Greg Page on an eighth-round knockout. Champion 1976 to 1983. Bouts 40, won 33 (21 stoppages), lost 6, drew 1.

KALLIE KNOETZE - A flamboyant character who copied Muhammad Ali’s pre-fight boasting. In probably his best performance he lost to Gerrie Coetzee by the narrowest of margins. He knocked out Mike Schutte in the second round in August 1977 in a bout billed as being for the “white SA heavyweight title". He failed against John Tate in June 1979 in an eliminator for the WBA heavyweight title. After this loss he was never the same and retired after being stopped in two rounds by Robbie Williams in July 1981. Champion 1977. Bouts 27, won 21 (20 stoppages), lost 6.

ROBBIE WILLIAMS - What he lacked in size and strength, he made up with courage. Lost a close decision to Ossie Ocasio in a bout for the vacant WBA junior heavyweight title in February 1982. Came out square in five-bout series with Jimmy Abbott. Also defeated Mike Koranicki and Kallie Knoetze before winning the vacant SA title in December 1983 in a clash with Ron Ellis. Retired in March 1984, leaving the title vacant. Bouts 23, won 15 (11 stoppages), lost 7, drew 1.

PIERRE COETZER - A fierce body puncher with an ability to absorb punishment, he became champion in September 1984 when he knocked out Bennie Knoetze in the third round. Never defended the title and relinquished it in November 1990. Fought some of the best heavyweights in the world, including Frank Bruno, Riddick Bowe and George Foreman. Bouts 44, won 39 (27 stoppages), lost 5.

CORRIE SANDERS - Won the vacant title in July 1991 when he stopped Johnny du Plooy in the first round. Never defended the title and relinquished it in February 1999. A tall and fast-moving fighter with KO power in his southpaw left hand, he won the lightly regarded WBU heavyweight title in November 1997 with a points victory over Ross Purrity. Defended the belt three times before losing it to Hasim Rahman. Shocked the world when he knocked out Wladimir Klitschko in March 2003 to win the WBO heavyweight belt. Failed in a challenge for the WBC heavyweight title against Vitali Klitschko. Bouts 43, won 40 (30 stoppages), lost 3.

JACOB MOFOKENG - A powerful and well-built southpaw, he won the SA and WBU junior heavyweight titles before winning the vacant SA heavyweight crown with an 11th-round stoppage over Isaac Mahlangu. He was stripped of the title for alleged use of a banned substance. However, in September 2000 he regained the championship when he knocked out Anton Nel. Relinquished it in June 2001 due to ill health. Bouts 28, won 21 (18 stoppages), lost 6, drew 1.

ANTON NEL- A gutsy performer in an era of poor heavyweights. After Jacob Mofokeng was stripped of the title, Nel won the vacant title in December 1999 on a first-round stoppage over Sam Ubokane. When Mofokeng was reinstated, Nel lost it to him in his first defence. He regained the vacant title when he stopped Jokkie Grobler in August 2001 and made four defences. At the age of 45 won the South African heavyweight title for the third time when he stopped Hein von Bosch in the eighth round on October 5, 2013 and made a successful defence against Sibsiso Sibiya two months later. Wiseman Dlomo had been stripped of the title for not defending. Total bouts 33, won 18 (14 stoppages), lost 12, drew 3.

OSBORNE MACHIMANA - As an amateur won the heavyweight championship in 1997, 1999 and 2000. However, he disappointed as a professional possibly due to his lack of dedication. Made his pro debut in November 2000 and won the South African heavyweight title when he stopped Anton Nel in five rounds. Made seven successful defences before relinquishing the title in January 2010. Total bouts 26, won 18 (13 stoppages), lost 7, drew 1

WISEMAN DLOMO - Considered a no-hoper, but he never gave up and won the South African heavyweight title when he stopped Anton Nel in the fifth round in a clash for the vacant title on April 29, 2011 after Osborne Machimana relinquished it. He made a successful defence against Hein von Bosch in November 2011 and was stripped of the title in June 2012 for not renewing his licence. Became champion in an era of poor heavyweights in South Africa. Total bouts 21, won 10 (10 stoppages), lost 9, drew 2.

RUAN VISSER - Known as “The Giant King” born on October 25, 1990 and made his pro debut on July 24, 2014 with a first-round technical knockout win over Sugi Foxx in Houston, Texas. Won the African Boxing Union heavyweight title in March 2017 when he stopped Ashraf Suleiman in the first round. On February 23, 2018 became the South African heavyweight champion with a seventh-round stoppage win over former champion Osbourne Machimana. Made a successful defence against Justic Siliga and won the WBA Pan African title in the same fight. His only losses came against George Tshimanga and Elvis Moyo, both on points. Total bouts 15, won 13 (12 stoppages), lost 2. Rather sadly in February 2020 he was accused of an alleged doping violation and banned for four years.