RIP Britz
Former Transvaal boxing heavyweight champion Johnny Britz died on Monday, July 14, in Boksburg at the age of 65.
Britz made his professional boxing debut on 18 August 1969, fighting twice on the night when he was entered for a heavyweight competition at the Wembley Ice Rink in Johannesburg and knocked out Jan le Roux in the first round of his first bout. In the second, he lost on points to Jan Delport.
After the heavyweight tournament he beat Tommy Miller twice and also outpointed Delport before being stopped in the first round by Stoffel Willemse. In a return bout, he beat Willemse on points over six rounds.
He then won on a spectacular knockout against Ashley Fourie who is still active in boxing and trains fighters at his gym in Randburg.
Britz then lost three tough encounters, all on points, to Japie Pretorius, Chris Roos and Jimmy Richards. However, he beat Roos in a return match before winning the Transvaal title by defeating Richards on points over ten rounds.
In April 1972 Richards regained the title by beating Britz on points.
His memorable four-fight series against Mike Schutte began with a draw. Britz won the second bout and lost the last two.
Britz retired after 25 professional fights, of which he won 12, lost 11 and drew two. Five of his victories were inside the distance and he was stopped only twice.
