South African Heavyweight Johnny Du Plooy Dies at Age 48
By Robert Brizel, Real Combat Media Correspondent
Gauteng, South Africa (April 12, 2013)– In the second such South African heavyweight tragedy since former WBO World Heavyweight champion Corrie Sanders was killed in a robbery attempt in September 2012, South African heavyweight contender Johnny Du Plooy has died of heart failure at age 48. A native of Gauteng, South Africa, Du Plooy had recently had a heart attack, and had suffered from coronary problems in recent years.
Known as ‘The Golden Boy’ long before Oscar De La Hoya trademarked the expression, Du Plooy turned professional on April 27, 1985, with a first round knockout of Sophonia Naile in Johannesburg. Du Plooy won his first 17 professional bouts, then got stopped by former WBA heavyweight champion Mike Weaver due to an injured wrist. Du Plooy knock outed Jame s(Quick) Tillis, David Bey, James Broad and James Pritchard, Everett Martin, and Weaver in a rematch.
Du Plooy Kayos Weaver on YouTube www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhhqbDjQhXE
Unfortunately, Du Plooy was stopped by Francesco Damiani, Pierre Coetzer, and Corrie Sanders (a first round knockout loss), Du Plooy’s last two appearances were a sixth round stoppage of Samson Mahlangu in Sun City in 1993, and a second round stoppage of Benjamin Manyuke in Durban in 1997. Du Plooy’s career record was 27-5-1 with 22 knockouts.
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