SOUTH AFRICA: MIKE SCHUTTE EARNS POSSIBLE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE FIGHT WITH MUHAMMAD ALI AFTER OUTPOINTING CHUCK WEPNER.

Record ID: 473080

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: MIKE SCHUTTE EARNS POSSIBLE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE FIGHT WITH MUHAMMAD ALI AFTER OUTPOINTING CHUCK WEPNER.
  • Date: 21st February 1977
  • Summary: 1. GV Round 3 of heavyweight boxing match between Mike Schutte on left with dark shorts and white stripe against Chuck Wepner with boxers involved in close fighting 0.40 2. SV Crowd 0.42 3. SV Round 7 with Schutte punching Wepner while referee is talking to Wepner, fight continues 1.09 4. SV Crowd 1.12 5. GV Close fighting continues in 10th round to end of fight 1.38 6. SV Crowd 1.41 7. GV Official announces Schutte as winner on points 1.58 Initials BB/2255 BOXING Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 8th March 1977 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
  • City:
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics:
  • Reuters ID: LVA9A07INDGYW3Y7D69BNV3II3UU
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Former South African heavyweight boxing champion, Mike Schutte, met Chuck Wepner of the United States in Johannesburg on Saturday night (19 February).

    SYNOPSIS: The fight over 10 rounds was billed as an eliminator bout for the world championship currently held by Muhammad Ali. Wepner was the taller of the two fighters, but weighed in 22 killogrammes (48 pounds) ??? than his South African opponent.

    Schutte used his huge weight advantage to good effect, and continually bored in on Wepner. The American boxer is one of the few heavyweights ever to put Muhammad Ali on his back.

    The South African took the fight to Wepner throughout the ten rounds, and preferred to box at close range where Wepner's reach advantage was nullified.

    The referee occasionally had trouble stopping the two from employing illegal tactics -- Schutte appeared to be oblivious of the referee when he made this attack.

    Schutte was the more aggressive fighter throughout the fight except for a period in the ninth round when Wepner has him in trouble with a short right followed by right upper-cut. However, Schutte survived until the end of the round and was given further recovery time when the ring lights failed in the final round. He finished the fight with a further attack on Wepner.

    The fight was awarded to Schutte on points.

    Schutte's backers now say he will fight Muhammad Ali for the world heavyweight title on 29 April this year.
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