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

[Bill Paxtom]

~ Round 1 Analysis ~

It was obvious that Kallie Knoetze was a very strong fighter, and a reckless puncher.

Kallie wanted to turn the 1st-Round into a Barroom Brawl, and he accomplished that.

Duane looked bewildered by Kalliie's strength, and was out-muscled in nearly every exchange.

By the {1:45 Mark} through the session, Duane was tentative with his punches, and worried about getting countered.

Kallie found the mark, with looping overhand rights, and right uppercuts.

[Bill Paxtom]

~ Round 2 ~

0:01 > Both meet at Center-Ring.
0:02 > Duane fires out a long left-jab.
0:03 > Kallie counters with his own left-jab.
0:04 > Duane fires in a right-hand to Kallie's shoulder.

0:05 > The fighters clinch.
0:08 > The fighters 'break'.
0:10 > Kallie is on the left-side of the Ring, and Duane is on the right-side.
0:13 > Duane steps forward, and sends in a long left-jab.

0:14 > The fighters clinch.
0:17 > The fighters move to the back-center Ring area.
0:18 > Duane flicks out a left-jab.
0:19 > Kallie counters with a 'double' left-jab.

0:20 > Kallie moves to the back-left Corner, trying to suck Duane in.
0:21 > Duane falls for the 'bait', and steps forward.
0:21 > Kallie unloads a big looping overhand right to Duane's head.
0:22 > Duane immediately moves in and clinches.

0:25 > The fighters 'break'.
0:27 > Both fighters exchange stiff left-hands.
0:28 > Kallie moves to his left, along the back-center Ropes.
0:29 > Both exchange left-jabs.

0:31 > Kallie lands a stiff left-jab.
0:32 > Duane counters with '2' light left-jabs at Kallie's head.
0:33 > Kallie misses high with a big looping right-hand.
0:34 > Both fighters clinch and move to Center-Ring.

0:35 > Duane digs in a 'left-right' to the body, and then comes back with a hard 'left-right' to the body.
0:37 > Kallie catches Duane with a big right uppercut to the chin.
0:38 > Kallies sends out a short left to the head, and then comes back with a 'jarring' right-hand to the jaw.
0:39 > Duane 'wobbles for a flash', and then moves backwards to the right-side Ropes.

0:40 > Kallie moves in, but has his are hands low.
0:41 > Duane catches Kallie coming in with a 'jolting' right-hand to the jaw, snapping his head.
0:41 > Duane follows up with a hard left-hook to the head.
0:42 > Kallie moves into Duane, and mauls him, pushing him over to the front-right Neutral-Corner.

0:44 > The fighters clinch.
0:48 > The fighters 'break'.
0:49 > Kallie leaps forward, and launches a hard left-hook into Duane's body.
0:50 > Duane circles out to Center-Ring.

0:51 > Both fighters exchange left-jabs.
0:53 > Duane lands a short right-hand to the head, and comes back with a fast left-hook to the body.
0:56 > Both fighters are tight and inside trading.
1:00 > Both are mauling.

1:05 > Kallie lands a good left-hook to the head, and is pushing Duane backwards.
1:06 > Duane is now on the right-side Ring area.
1:07 > Kallie lands a short right-hand to the head.
1:08 > Duane circles 180*, and is now out at Center-Ring.

1:10 > Duane lands a good 'left-right' to the head.
1:11 > The punches send Kallie to the back-right Ring area.
1:12 > Duane moves in.
1:13 > Kallie unloads with a big-looping wild right-hand.

1:14 > Both fighters move in tight, and trade inside.
1:16 > Kallie whips in a hard right-uppercut into Duane's head.
1:17 > Duane is now on the right-side Ring area.
1:18 > Kallie catches Duane with a good right-hook into his left-eye area.

1:20 > Both fighters move in close, and the action is very rough.
1:22 > Duane backs out and covers up.
1:23 > Kallie moves forward and is winding up.
1:23 > Kallie wings, and just misses with a 'Home Run' right-uppercut.

1:24 > Both fighters clinch at Center-Ring.
1:26 > Duane fires out a straight right-hand into Kallie's chest.
1:30 > Duane lands a good right-hand into Kallie's left rib area.
1:31 > Duane moves to the left-side Ring area.

1:33 > Duane scores with a right-hand, and left-hook into Kallie's head.
1:36 > Kallie bulls forward, and drives Duane into the left-side Ropes.
1:39 > Both fighters are now mauling.
1:41 > Duane catches Kallie with a right-hand to the head.

1:41 > Kallie comes back with a hard left-hand into Duane's head.
1:42 > Duane counters with a low left-hand to the chest.
1:43 > Kallie counters with hard right-cross to the chin.
1:45 > Kallie just misses with a big looping right-hand.

1:48 > The fighters get back to mauling.
1:50 > Kallie moves Duane to the back-left Ring area.
1:51 > Kallie lands a 'light' left-right to the head.
1:52 > Kallie slides over to the back-left Ropes.

1:53 > Duane moves in.
1:53 > Kallie catches Duane coming in with a big left-uppercut to the chin.
1:54 > Duane counters with a 'medium-power' right-hand to the head.
1:55 > The fighters go back to mauling.

1:57 > Kallie pushes Duane into the back-left Corner.
1:59 > Kallie lands a big right-uppercut into Duane's chin.
2:00 > Kallie follows up with hard left-hook into Duane's head.
2:01 > Duane is on the back-center Ropes and is in a 'bit-of-trouble'.

2:03 > Kallie moves in, and rests on Duane.
2:05 > Duane scores with a left-hook to the body, and a quick left-hook to the head.
2:07 > Kallie goes back to mauling.
2:11 > Kallie backs up to the left-side Ropes.

2:11 > Duane now moves in.
2:14 > The fighters clinch.
2:18 > The fighters 'break'.
2:20 > Both fighters trade while in close at the back-left Ring area.

2:26 > Both fighters continue to maul-and-brawl.
2:28 > Duane scores with a quick 'right-left' to the head.
2:29 > Kallie counters with a long right-hand to Duane's left shoulder.
2:30 > Duane misses with a counter left-hook, as Kallie ducks low.

2:32 > The fighters go back to in-fighting at the back-center Ring area.
2:36 > Referee - Stanley Christodoulou calls 'break'.
2:38 > Kallie tries a looping overhand right that goes high.
2:39 > Kallie moves inside.

2:42 > Duane scores with a 'left-right-left-right-left' to the body, but they are all light punches.
2:46 > Kallie bulls Duane over to the left-side Ropes.
2:50 > Duane 'digs' a thudding right-hand into Kallie's left-side ribs, forcing Kallie to lift up his left leg.
2:53 > Kallie smothers Duane, and pushes him into the back-left Ring area.

2:55 > Kallie 'whips' in a big right-uppercut that catches Duane by the left-eye.
2:56 > Duane paws at his left eye-brow with his left glove.
2:57 > The fighters move in tight over the last 3-Seconds.
3:00 > 'Bell'

Scorecards
* 7-6 {Kallie Knoetze}
* 7-6 {Kallie Knoetze}
* 7-6 {Kallie Knoetze}

[Bill Paxtom]

~ Round 2 ~

All '3' Judges scored Round 2 {7-6} for Kallie Knoetze, based upon effective
aggression, relentless punching, and landing the heavier blows.

Rounds ....... 1 - 2

Judge ~ Jack Bryant
Knoetze ...... 7 - 7
Bobick......... 5 - 6

Judge ~ Chris Myburgh
Knoetze ...... 7 - 7
Bobick ........ 5 - 6

Judge ~ Peter Lock
Knoetze ..... 7 - 7
Bobick ....... 6 - 6

At the end of Round >

Kallie Knoetze was breathing like a 'Freight Train' in his corner, but was looking confident. Kallie's corner
told their fighter to keep the pressure on Duane, as he was weakening. And to keep firing in right-uppercuts.

Overheard by Kallie Knoetze >
"He takes a good punch. But he doesn't hit hard at all. He's kind of weak. He has little strength."

Billy Letter {Manager/Trainer} >
"He's a sucker for the overhand right. Set him up with right uppercuts. Then feint the left, and unload
the overhand right. He looks shaky."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When Duane Bobick got back to his corner, he was somewhat bewildered by the non-stop and relentless
pressure that Kallie was putting on him.

Duane also had a small nick over his left-eyebrow, and Trainer Eddie Futch was working on it.

Overheard by Duane Bobick >
"He punches hard, real hard. He's rough on the inside too. And he's strong. I've hit him with good punches,
but he keeps coming back."

Eddie Futch {Trainer} >
"You have to wear him down some Duane. You must back him up, and work the body. Keep digging right-hands
into his left-side. Once he wears down, he will fall apart. Don't trade with him just yet. Let him get arm-weary
first. And for God's Sake, keep your left-hand up Duane."

[Bill Paxtom]

~ Round 3 ~

0:00 > Kallie is quickly out to Cenrer-Ring, even before the Bell sounds.
0:02 > Duane is still in his corner, and looks a bit confused, as he spins left-to-right 180* before coming out.
0:04 > Duane comes out his Corner late.
0:06 > Duane fires first, and sends out a stiff left-jab.

0:07 > Kallie counters, and swings {but misses} with a big sweeping left-hook.
0:08 > The fighters clinch at Center-Ring.
0:11 > The fighters 'break'.
0:12 > Duane scores with a left-jab.

0:12 > Kallie counters with a left-jab.
0:13 > Duane lands a 'stiff' left-jab to the face, and Kallie backs up to the back-left Ropes.
0:14 > Duane moves in, while Kallie moves to his left and along the back-center Ropes.
0:16 > Kallie flicks out '2' left-jabs while moving to his left.

0:17 > Kallie is now on the right-side Ropes.
0:17 > Duane fires in a long right-hand lead to Kallie's head.
0:17 > Kallie counters with a 'stiff' left-hand.
0:19 > Kallie 'digs' in a hard left-hook into Duane's body.

0:19 > Duane covers up.
0:20 > Kallie grabs Duane, and spins him 180*, and pushes Duane into the back-right Corner.
0:21 > Duane counters quickly, and lands a 'left-right' to the body.
0:22 > Kallie pushes hard into Duane, driving him into the Ring Post.

0:24 > Kallie mauls Duane into the back-right Ropes.
0:25 > Duane spins 180*, and off the Ropes.
0:27 > Each fighter holds-and-hits while inside.
0:29 > The fighters clinch.

0:31 > The fighters 'break'.
0:33 > Kallie lands a 'jarring' left-jab into Duane's head.
0:34 > Duane moves to the back Ropes.
0:35 > Kallie lands a 'smashing' long right-hand into Duane's head, jarring him badly.

0:35 > Duane is 'stunned' and wobbles to his left, and into the back-right Corner.
0:36 > Kallie attacks with a big-swinging right-hook, but misses as Duane ducks low.
0:37 > The force of the missed punch sends Kallie stumbling into the back-right Corner.
0:38 > Duane is able to spin 180*, and out of the back-right Corner.

0:39 > Duane is not punching back, and is still 'a-bit-shaken'.
0:40 > Kallie wings in a big right-uppercut from the outside, and lands.
0:41 > Duane immediately 'grabs-and-holds' onto Kallie.
0:45 > The fighters are at Center-Ring, mauling and clinching.

0:46 > Duane pushes Kallie to the right-side Ropes.
0:47 > Kallie unloads with a looping overhand right to the head.
0:48 > Duane 'ducks' and grabs Kallie.
0:49 > Duane holds tight, and slams '2' right-hands into Kallie's ribs.

0:50 > Kallie strong-arms Duane, and spins him 180*, and into the back-right Corner.
0:51 > Kallie lands a 'jarring' right-uppercut into Duane's chin.
0:51 > Kallie sticks a 'stiff' left-hand into Duane's chin.
0:51 > Duane is upright in the back-right Corner, and is covering up.

0:52 > Kallie unloads with another looping right-hand.
0:52 > Duane ducks, and the punch bounces off his left-shoulder.
0:54 > Kallie lands a chopping right-hand into Duane's jaw.
0:55 > Duane spins 180* out of the back-right Corner.

0:56 > Duane digs a medium-power right-hand into Kallie's ribs.
0:57 > Kallie slams a hard right-hand into Duane's body.
0:58 > Kalie launches a big sweeping left-hook into Duane's jaw.
0:59 > Kallie puts his gloves up high, waiting for a counter-punch.

0:59 > Duane has his hands low.
1:00 > Kallie stings Duane with a long left-jab.
1:00 > Duane comes back with a counter right-hand lead into Kallie's face.
1:01 > Kallie moves backwards, and leans on the right-side Ropes.

1:02 > Kallie catches Duane coming in with a left-hand to the face, and a short right-hand to the head.
1:03 > Duane lands a 'light' left-hook, as Kallie is on the right-side Ropes.
1:03 > Kallie comes back with a 'ripping' right-hook to the left-side of Duane's head.
1:04 > Kallie moves inside, and lands a hard left-hook to the ribs.

Note; Kallie is 'relentless' with his attack, as he is slamming Duane with everything he throws.

1:04 > Kallie comes back with a 'big' right-uppercut, and then 'bulls' Duane with his left-shoulder pushing him back outside.
1:05 > Duane now backs up, and moves to the back-right Ropes.
1:06 > Kallie unloads with a thunderous overhand right-hand to Duane's jaw.
1:07 > Duane is now 'stiff-legged'.

1:08 > Kallie 'misses' with a left-hook.
1:09 > Kallie pushes Duane into the right-side Ropes.
1:10 > Kallie unloads with a 'wicked' right-hand flush on Duane's jaw, snapping his head to the right.
1:11 > Duane is driven off-balance while on the Ropes.

1:12 > Duane bounces off the ropes, and delivers a 'hard' right-hook into the point of Kallie's chin.
1:12 > Kallie doesn't flinch.
1:13 > Duane tries a follow up with a big left-hook, but misses badly as Kallie easily ducks under the punch.
1:14 > Kallie comes back with a wild overhand-right, but misses.

1:15 > Both fighters slug away while inside and tight.
1:17 > Duane scores with a 'right-left' to the head, but the punches have little power.
1:19 > Kallie pushes Duane off.
1:20 > Duane backs out to Center-Ring.

1:22 > Duane re-groups, and moves back in.
1:22 > Kallie moves off the right-side Ropes, and sends out a left-jab.
1:23 > Duane counters with a left-jab.
1:24 > Kallie 'misses' with a wild looping right-hand as Duane ducks.

1:25 > Duane moves forward, to the right-side Ropes, as both fighters 'maul' inside.
1:28 > Kallie lands a 'jarring' right-uppercut to the chin.
1:29 > Duane counters with a weak right-hand to the body.
1:30 > Duane moves to his left, and over to the front-right Neutral-Corner.

1:31 > Kallie moves in head-first, and butts Duane.
1:33 > Referee - Stanley Christodoulou 'warns' Kallie for the use of his head.
1:34 > Duane looks 'wobbly' as he moves out of the right-side Neutral-Corner and to Center-Ring.
1:35 > Kallie is setting up along the right-side center Ropes.

1:36 > Duane steps forward to move in.
1:36 > Kallie loads up, and whips in a big left-uppercut, but the punch just miss Duane's chin.
1:37 > With his body 'torqued', Kallie unload a vicious overhand-right that catches Duane flush on the left-side of his head.
1:38 > Duane 'crashes' face-first into the canvas at the right-side of Center-Ring.

1:42 > At the '4-Count', Duane gets half-way up using his left-arm, but then collapses back down on the canvas.
1:46 > At the '8-Count', Duane rises and walks to the right-side Ropes.
1:48 > Duane is at the Ropes, but he is looking out at Ringside, with his back to the Referee.
1:49 > Referee - Stanley Christodoulou is directly behind Duane, asking him > "Are you OK."

1:50 > Duane turns to his left, and starts walking back to his corner, where his cornerman Dave Wolf is standing with a Camera taking photo's.
1:51 > Referee - Stanley Christodoulou 'waves' the bout over.

> All bedlam breaks loose, and Kallie Knoetze's handlers rush into the Ring.

> Duane Bobick is standing in his corner, somewhat confused about what is going on, as his cornermen console him.

[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.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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."

[Bill Paxtom]

Friday ~ February 10, 1978

~ Duane Bobick ~ 'Disheartened But Not Discouraged In South Africa' ~

Duane Bobick discussing his shocking upset loss {L TKO 3} to unknown South African
Kallie Knoetze.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I know what the Boxing Press will be saying back in the United States. Duane Bobick has no chin and
got KO'd by some 'no-name' guy in South Africa.

I'm sure they're also writing in the papers, that I can't fight and have no heart. And that I had to go to
the southern tip of Africa to get bouts, so nobody in America would be forced to watch me fight.

But South Africa has a '3' very good Heavyweights > {Kallie Knoetze, Gerrie Coetzee and Mike Schutte}.
These guys know to fight. They're all rough like a 'Wild African Cape Buffalo', and they can all punch
extremely hard.

Look, Muhammad Ali didn't want to come here to fight. And Ken Norton, Ron Lyle, Earnie Shavers and
Stan Ward wouldn't come over here either. They knew it would be a 'high' risk to get into the Ring with
one of these guys.

[Bill Paxtom]

Springbok

Duane Bobick signed a contract with Joe Frazier {Smokin' Joe Enterprises} back in
February 1975.

Joe Frazier was to be the Manager, and Bruce Wright was the Attorney who negotiated
the financing.

The contract stipulated, that Duane was to get a Monthly Salary, as well as 47% of the
Gross Receipts for each bout.

Smokin' Joe Enterprises would provide a Training Facilty, a Trainer {Eddie Futch} and
all expenses while Duane was under contract.

Duane, who was from Bowlus, Minnesota did re-locate to Philadelphia to train before
each bout.

I believe that Joe Frazier and Bruce Wright negotiated a '3-Fight Deal' for Duane to go to
South Africa and take on the '3' top South African Heavyweights.

Joe Frazier and Bruce Wright negotiated the deal in December 1977, and with the original
bout date scheduled for Saturday, January 28, 1978.

Duane, Eddie Futch, Murphy Griffith and 'Publicist' Dave Wolf went to Johannesburg in
mid-January to have 2-weeks to prepare for the bout.

The bout was pushed back 1-week, and re-scheduled for February 4th.

Besides '3' lucrative Fight Purse's, they also locked up a nice Endorsement Deal for Duane.