1983 — Africa's First Heavyweight Champion

On September 23, 1983, South African boxer Gerrie Coetzee knocked out Michael Dokes in the tenth round in Ohio to win the WBA world heavyweight title. Nicknamed the "Boksburg Bomber," Coetzee became the first African ever to win a world heavyweight championship, and the first white heavyweight champion in 23 years.

It was his third attempt at a world title, after defeats to John Tate and Mike Weaver; the boxing world had written him off as the man who "couldn't win the big one." The fight was named KO Magazine's "Upset of the Year" for 1983. Coetzee broke his right hand delivering the knockout punch, needed surgery five days later, and lost the title to Greg Page in 1984.