Johnny du Plooy (27 September 1964 – 12 April 2013) was a former South African heavyweight boxer best known for his win over former WBA World Heavyweight champion Mike Weaver. He challenged once for the WBO World Heavyweight title in 1989.

Boxing career

Amateur career

du Plooy had a very impressive amateur record of 196-4.

Professional career

The tall 6'3 South African boxer began his career in 1985 with 17 straight wins. He then lost to ex-champ Mike Weaver by 7th round KO. He later avenged this defeat by knocking out Mike Weaver in two rounds and in 1989 challenged

Francesco Damiani Francesco Damiani (born 4 October 1958) is an Italian former professional boxer who competed from 1985 to 1993. He was the first WBO heavyweight champion, having held the title from 1989 to 1991, as well as the European heavyweight title from 19 ...

for the vacant WBO heavyweight title. Du Plooy was knocked out in the third round in the World Boxing Organization's inaugural heavyweight world title bout. After this, he fought 15 more fights, compiling an overall record of 27 wins, 5 losses, and 1 draw. All of du Plooy's losses were stoppages to known opponents such as

Renaldo Snipes Renaldo Snipes (born Reenaold Snipes on August 15, 1956) is an American former boxer, best known for his title championship bout with Larry Holmes. Amateur career Snipes was a two-time Chicago Golden Gloves Champion (1977 and 1978). He lost on a ...

Pierre Coetzer Pierre Coetzer (born 6 December 1961) is a former heavyweight boxer from Pretoria, South Africa. Coetzer's most notable fights include those against Johnny du Plooy, Riddick Bowe, Frank Bruno and George Foreman. Professional career Coetzer ...

, and

Corrie Sanders Cornelius Johannes "Corrie" Sanders (7 January 1966 – 23 September 2012) was a South African professional boxer who competed from 1989 to 2008. He won the WBO heavyweight title in 2003 after knocking out Wladimir Klitschko in two rounds, whi ...

. Du Plooy retired in 1993 after a win, and scored another comeback win in 1997 but promptly retired.

Death

Du Plooy became overweight after his retirement. He suffered from heart problems in the few years leading up to his death. Several months before his death, he had a heart attack.

Professional boxing record

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James Broad James Broad (January 27, 1958 – November 20, 2001) was an American heavyweight boxer who was an amateur star and, prior to the boycott, set to represent America in the 1980 Moscow Olympics. As a pro he won the NABF heavyweight title and was ...

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References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Duplooy, Johnny 1964 births Afrikaner people South African people of Dutch descent South African people of German descent Sportspeople from Gauteng Heavyweight boxers 2013 deaths South African male boxers