1970's ~ Top Heavyweight Upsets

[Bill Paxtom]

'Upset Special #30'

Wednesday ~ December 19, 1979

Good Hope Centre ~ Cape Town, South Africa

Promoter > 'The Cape Ringside Boxing Club'

Kallie Knoetze ~ 19-3-0 {18 KO's} ~ 6' 1" ~ 213 lbs. ~ Reach; 76" ~ {Age; 26 years, 8 months}
vs.
Mike Koranicki ~ 21-5-2 {11 KO's} ~ 6' 4" ~ 207 lbs. ~ Reach 80" ~ {Age; 27 years, 4 months}
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Kallie Knoetze > Had won '2' straight since losing to John Tate by {L TKO 8} on June 2, 1979
in a WBA Heavyweight Elimination bout.

In comeback bouts, Kallie had scored Knockouts over {TKO 6} George Butzbach on September 14th,
and a {KO 3} over Randy Stephens on {October 20th}.

Kallie was back up to the #1 WBA Heavyweight, and was looking forward to a rematch and WBA Title
bout with 'Big' John Tate for early-mid 1980.

Mike Koranicki > Was a lanky boxer/puncher who was from Youngstown, Ohio. Mike had lost
both of his previous bouts in 1979 > a {L TKO 9} to John L. Gardner in London, United Kingdom on
February 20th, and a {L Unan Dec 10} to George Chaplin in Baltimore, Maryland on May 25th.

Mike's career appeared to be over as a Top 20 contender. But, back in August 1979, Mike hooked up
with 'Big' John Tate and became his #1 sparring-partner while helping him prepare for his bout with
Gerrie Coetzee on October 20, 1979 in South Africa for the WBA Heavyweight Championship.

While in South Africa, Mike enjoyed the Country and relocated there, hoping to re-establish his
'faded' boxing career.

> Betting-Odds > Kallie Knoetze was list as a {6-1} Favorite.

__________________________________________________ _______________________________

Wednesday ~ December 19, 1979

Good Hope Centre ~ Cape Town, South Africa

Attendance......... { 7600 }

~ #1 WBA Heavyweight - Kallie Knoetze Loses Fight ~

Little-known American - Mike Koranicki shocked the boxing world by scoring a Knockout
in Round 10 over South Africa's Kallie Knoetze last night.

Kallie Knoetze, the heavy-favorite, came out with his usual free-swinging style on the
6' 4" lanky American.

Throughout the early going, Knoetze 'hammered' Koranicki with jolting left-uppercuts and
power-house right-hands to the head.

Knoetze won the first 5-Rounds of the bout, as he was too much for the American who
was forced to retreat to the Ropes where he covered up.

But, by Round 7, Knoetze had slowed down considerably, and the South African had less
zip in his earlier power-punches.

In Round 8, Knoetze's legs looked 'heavy' as he was unable to move around the Ring, as
Koranicki pecked away from the outside with left-jabs and countering right-hands.

In Round 9, the American continued with his 'spearing-attack' from the outside as Knoetze
was near exhausted. Koranicki had the South African in deep-trouble late in the Round,
after tagging him with a big straight right-hand to the head, and a follow-up 'barrage'.

In Round 10, Koranicki 'unleashed' a flurry of punches into an exhausted Knoetze, and
drove the big South African into the Ropes. Koranicki landed right-hand after right-hand
on Knoetze's head as the fighter sagged with his back across the Ropes 'out-on-his-feet'.

Referee - Alan O'Connor jumped in and halted the bout at 1:01 of Round 10, awarding
Mike Koranicki the {KO 10} victory.