| Intro | Boxer |
| Was |
Athlete Boxer |
| From | South Africa |
| Type | Sports |
| Gender | male |
| Birth |
9 February 1932, Dordrecht, Eastern Cape, Emalahleni Local Municipality, Chris Hani District Municipality, Eastern Cape |
| Death |
22 October 2009, Pretoria, City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, Gauteng, South Africa |
| Star sign | Aquarius |
Daniel “Daan” Wepener Bekker (9 February 1932 – 22 October 2009) was a South African boxer, who won the bronze medal in the Heavyweight division (+ 91 kg) at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. Four years later in Rome he captured the silver medal in the same category.
Amateur career
Bekker was the South African Heavyweight Champion from 1955–1959 and 1961.
Olympic Results
-
1956 won the Heavyweight bronze medal at the Melbourne Olympics.
- Defeated José Giorgetti (Argentina) KO-1
- Lost to Pete Rademacher (USA) KO-3
-
1958 won the Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, Wales.
- Defeated S. Renaud (Canada) TKO-1
- Defeated Gbadegesin Salawu (Nigeria) TKO-2
- Defeated David Thomas (England) PTS
-
1960 won the Heavyweight silver medal at the Rome Olympics.
- Defeated Władysław Jędrzejewski (Poland) TKO-1
- Defeated Obrad Sretenovic (Yugoslavia) KO-1
- Defeated Günther Siegmund (East Germany) PTS (4-1)
- Lost to Franco De Piccoli (Italy) KO-2
Death
Bekker died on 18 October 2009 after a long struggle with Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases.