10/20/1997 - WBA

John Tate (January 29, 1955 – April 9, 1998) competed from 1977 to 1988, and held the WBA Heavyweight title from 1979 to 1980.  Tate bagged a series of high-profile wins, knocking out highly ranked contenders Duane Bobick, Bernardo Mercado, and Kallie Knoetze. He captured the vacant WBA title on October 20, 1979 by defeating Gerrie Coetzee by decision, succeeding Muhammad Ali, who had relinquished the title that summer. Tate’s fights with Knoetze and Coetzee were held in Apartheid South Africa, the latter before 80,000 fans.