Duane Bobick vs. Kallie Knoetze ~ "White Heavyweight Championship of the World"

[Bill Paxtom]

Saturday ~ February 4, 1978

~ Duane Bobick Smashed Out In 3 In South Africa ~

~ Duane Bobick Upset In South Africa By Unknown ~

~ Unknown South African Surprises Bobick With KO ~

American Duane Bobick was laid out @ 1:51 of the 3rd-round by 13-Bout South African -
Kallie Knoetze.

Bobick, the #5 WBA Heavyweight, entered the Ring as the solid favorite over Knoetze,
a Pretoria Policemen.

Bobick {Age 27 1/2} who had height, reach and experience over the 24 1/2 year-old Knoetze,
was expected to have a competitive bout early with the hard-swinging slugger, but was
figured to take the South African out later in the bout.

But from the Opening Bell, Bobick was out-punched and rocked by vicious combinations to
the head, and rattled several times by the Big Cop's heavy-fists.

Bobick was taken out if his game early, as he had no answer in stopping the South African's
relentless attack.

In Round 3, Bobick was stunned several times, and was hurt by a right-uppercut while
along the Ropes. Moments later, Knoetze caught Bobick leaning in with a vicious overhand
right to the left-side the American's face.

Bobick crashed face first into the canvas, where he at first tried to get up, but fell down.
Bobick did stumble up at the '8-Count' but was badly dazed and did not react to the Referee's
command as he was looking out over the Ropes near his corner.

The Referee - Stanly Christodoulou waved the bout over at 1:51, when Bobick did not
respond to his commands.

The 40,000 South African fans in attendance roared when Knoetze dropped Bobick just past
the mid-way point in Round 3, and the noise was deafening.
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Duane Bobick >
"When I got up, I couldn't hear the count because of the noise from the Stadium. I was up before
the count, and standing fine. I felt fantastic. I was not hurt that badly. The Referee shouldn't have
stopped the fight."

Stanley Christodoulou {Referee} >
"Duane was hurt and was not responding to my command. He fought back hard, but he took
a lot of punches in there. He was too badly dazed for me to let him go on."

Kallie Knoetze >
"I am a Champion. Maybe the White Champion, but still a Champion. Now I want Muhammad Ali.
My promoter {Matt Lotter} will make him an offer right away."