Mike Schutte (boxer)

Mike Schutte
Born	Michael Richard Schutte (1950-12-09)9 December 1950 Boksburg, Transvaal, Union of South Africa
Died	14 July 2008(2008-07-14) (aged 57) Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng, South Africa
Nationality	South African
Other names	The Tank
Statistics
Weight(s)	Heavyweight
Height	1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Boxing record
Total fights	49
Wins	38
Wins by KO	28
Losses	9
Draws	2

Michael Richard Schutte (9 December 1950 – 14 July 2008) was a South African professional boxer, actor, comedian and singer.

Professional career

In May 1973 he contested the vacant Transvaal heavyweight title against Johnny Britz but was disqualified in the second round. Two months later he fought a rematch against Johnny Britz winning the Transvaal heavyweight title on points. During April 1974, he fought Jimmy Richards for the South African heavyweight title losing in a technical knockout. He would fight Jimmy Richards for the title two more times obtaining the South African heavyweight title in September 1975 on points. He would retain the title for less than a year when Gerrie Coetzee fought him in August 1976 and lost when he was disqualified in the sixth round. Shutte attempted to regain the title from Gerrie Coetzee in April 1977 but lost on points. He fought his last fight against Neil Malpass in June 1979 and announced his retirement. He was trained by Alan Toweel.

Filmography

Schutte starred in a number of South African films, playing himself in some of them:

• Io sto con gli ippopotami (1979)
• Funny People II (1983)
• Target Scorpion (1983)
• Wolhaarstories (1983)
• You Must Be Joking! (1986)
• Hiding Out (1987)
• You Must Be Joking Too! (1987)
• Oh Schuks ... I'm Gatvol! (2004)

Death

Mike Schutte died on 14 July 2008 at the Emfuleni Medi-Clinic in Vanderbijlpark of liver failure, thrombosis and an enlarged heart after being admitted two days earlier.