1970's ~ Top Heavyweight Upsets

[Bill Paxtom]

Triple 'B',

Just when everybody wrote off Jerry Quarry, he would come back with a good win.

1973 'Comeback Fighter of the Year'

[Bill Paxtom]

'Upset Special #56'

Saturday ~ January 22, 1972

The Coliseum ~ Denver, Colorado
Attendance ...... { 7826 }

Fight Card
* Ron Stander .................. vs. ..... Rico Brooks
* Ron Lyle ........................ vs. ..... Chuck Leslie
* Rahman 'Rudy Clay' Ali ... vs. ..... Jasper Evans

Ron 'The Council Bluffs Butcher' Stander was ranked as the #8 Heavyweight,
and was using this bout as his 'next-to-last' tune-up, before challenging
World Champion - Joe Frazier.

Rico Brooks from Chicago, was now a Phoenix-based 'club-fighter' who had
won '11-Straight' in 1971. Rico had started his Professional career way back in
October 1955 as a 20 year-old.

Rico had retired in March 1963, but after 7 1/2 years, he decided to return in
January 1971 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Rico was competing in the 'monthly' fight cards at the Riverside Ballroom in
Phoenix, Arizona - and had won all '11' of his bouts there in 1971.

Ron Stander ~ {Omaha, Nebraska}
Age.......... 27 years, 3 months
Height...... 5' 11'
Reach...... 70"
Weight..... 235 lbs.
Record..... 21-0-1 {15 KO's}
Rank....... #8

Rico Brooks ~ {Chicago, Illinois}
Age.......... 36 years, 3 months
Height...... 6' 1"
Reach...... 74"
Weight..... 210 lbs.
Record..... 16-11-5 {5 KO's}
Rank........ {NR}
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"The Skinny"

Ron Stander was 'expected' to have an easy time with Rico Brooks. Most of the
Boxing Pundits predicted, that as soon as Ron hit Rico, the veteran would cave in.

Dick Noland {Manager for Ron Stander} figured that Ron would need only 3-Rounds,
before taking out the 36 year-old Rico Brooks.

So much so, that they had scheduled bout in Omaha, Nebraska set for February 2nd,
only 10-Days away.

"The Bout"

The bout was 'not' a crowd-pleaser. There was little action in Rounds 1 and 2,
as Rico Brooks would not allow Ron Stander to get close and inside to deliver
his hard hooks to the body.

In Round 3, Stander moved in close and started to wing in his heavy left-hook into
Brooks' body. But, Brooks countered and unleashed several wild right-hands into Ron's
head, and opened up a cut over Stander's right-eye at the {2:00 Mark}.

From that point on, Stander was reluctant to get in close, and Brooks was able to
utilize his longer reach and better movement to build up a 'solid' points lead in
this 'little action' bout. Stander did little, other than swing wildly from the outside
and hitting little other than air.

Thru 8-Rounds, it was Rico Brooks' bout to win as he had a 'wide' points lead.

Realizing that he was losing the bout, Stander made a charge in Round 9, as he
landed his best punches of the bout {left hooks to the body}, that had Brooks
in some trouble throughout the latter half of the Round.

Coming out for Round 10, Ron Stander knew he needed a Knockout to win.

In Round 10,

Stander went after Brooks with a 'bull-rush' and unloaded his heavy left-hooks
to the body. But surprisingly, Brooks instead of running, went 'toe-to-toe' trading
good punches with Stander in the best action Round of the bout.

Stander was desperately trying for a Knockout over the tiring Brooks, but the
'veteran' took everything that Stander could offer throughout the Round.

Scorecards
* 47-44 > {6-3-1 in Rounds} > {Rico Brooks}
* 47-46 > {4-3-3 in Rounds} > {Ron Stander}
* 48-44 > {6-2-2 in Rounds} > {Rico Brooks}

[Bill Paxtom]

Triple 'B'

It isn't only the 'Odds', but also historical impact.

#1 ...... Muhammad Ali .. {10-1} ..... Leon Spinks
#2 ...... Joe Frazier ......... {3-1} ...... George Foreman
#3 ...... Muhammad Ali ... {5-1} ...... Ken Norton
#4 ..... George Foreman . {3-1} ...... Muhammad Ali
#5 ..... George Foreman . {5-1} ...... Jimmy Young

[Bill Paxtom]

'Upset Special #30'

Wednesday ~ December 19, 1979

Good Hope Centre ~ Cape Town, South Africa

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}
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 'two' 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.

[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}
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

[Beanflicker]

Ron Stander got knocked out by Roy Shaw in an unlicensed boxing match.

[Bill Paxtom]

Ron Stander got knocked out by Roy Shaw in an unlicensed boxing match.

Ron Stander > 'The Council Bluffs Butcher'

Ron was from Council Bluff's, Iowa.

But he was the 'Omaha Farm Boy' when he fought at the Civic Auditorium
in Omaha, Nebraska.

Ron was {Managed by; Dick Noland} and highly promoted by the Cornhusker
Boxing Club, where he routinely drew 7000 in attendance for his bouts, which
drew Gate Receipts of $25,000 and more.

By December 1971, Ron was ranked at #8 by both the WBC and WBA.

The Ron Stander Fan Club {Council Bluff's, Iowa} had over 2000 members in
1971 and 1972.

He was extremely popular in Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas.