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.

[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.

[Bill Paxtom]

'Upset Special #33'

Saturday~ April 15, 1972

The Jersey Armory ~ Jersey City, New Jersey

"New Jersey State Heavyweight Championship'
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Randy Neumann ~ 19-1-0 {4 KO's} ~ Age; 25 years, 9 months ~ 6' 1 1/2" ~ 203 lbs.
vs.
Chuck Wepner ~ 22-9-2 {8 KO's} ~ Age; 33 years, 1 month ~ 6' 5" ~ 220 lbs.

"The Skinny"

Randy Neumann had 'handily' defeated Chuck only 5-Months earlier {December 9, 1971}
to capture the State Championship.

In the meantime, Randy also scored a 10-Round Decision over 'Little' Jimmy Young
only 6-Weeks earlier, on March 10, 1972 at Madison Square Garden.

On the other hand, Chuck Wepner was considered 'worn-out' and a pretty much
washed-up fighter, as he had gone {4-6-0} in his last 10-Bouts.

Though Randy Neumann was regarded as an 'all-box/no-punch' fighter, he was
a smart boxer/counter-puncher.

Randy was listed as a {3-1} Betting-Favorite, and was in line for a big fight at
Madison Square Garden for mid-1972.
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Randy Neumann >
"I want to end Chuck's career once and for all. He's been waiting for someone to end
it for him, and I am happy to oblige. Once I get him out of there, I'll save Boxing from
having to see him flounder in the Ring again."

Chuck Wepner >
"Randy beat me the 1st-time, I'll give him that. But the old saying is, never give an
'Old Dog' a 2nd-chance to bite. I will be biting Saturday Night, and will take my
New Jersey Championship back."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"The Bout"

Randy had his way with Chuck over the first 4-Rounds. But though Wepner was getting
out-boxed, he was putting pressure on Randy with his typical brawling-and-aggressive style.

In Rounds 5, 6 and 7 > Chuck was able to smother Randy with mauling, clutching and
hitting. Randy was frustrated during these Rounds, as he could not take advantage of his
better boxing skills.

But Randy was able to muster up some solid punches in Round 8, as he shook Chuck up
with several 'left-right' 2-Punch combinations to the face.

Randy continued with good 'left-right' {one-two} punches to the face, as Chuck was taken
out of his brawling-style and forced outside in Rounds 9 and 10.

After 10-Rounds, Randy seemed to have the bout well in hand.

Over the last 2-Rounds, Chuck moved inside and mauled with clubbing punches. On the
other hand, Randy was content to jab and cover-up to prevent from getting caught or cut,
while protecting his {as what he thought} was a supposed points lead.

'The Scoring'

Referee - Mickey Greb was the sole scoring' Official.

He awarded the bout to Chuck Wepner by a {9-3-0} Scoring in Rounds.

'All Hell Broke Loose' in Randy Neumann's corner as they cried 'foul' and 'fix', claiming
that this was a 'Mob-controlled' official, and that they would file an appeal.

Randy Neumann did have a legitimate claim, as 11 of 12 Sportswriters had Randy
winning the 12-Round bout.

[Bill Paxtom]

Thursday ~ November 18, 1971

Olympic Auditorium ~ Los Angeles, California

Attendance ..... { 4100 }

Television ....... Channel 13 {KCOP}

Joe Orbillo ~ 17-3-1 {9 KO's} ~ 6' 0" ~ 74" reach ~ 192 lbs. ~ Age; 24 years, 10 months
vs.
Robie Harris ~ 14-5-1 {12 KO's} ~ 6' 6" ~ 82" Reach ~ 240 lbs. ~ Age; 27 years, 2 months

~ Joey Orbillo Seeking Sixth Win In A Row ~

Winner gets to face #9 World-Ranked - Jose Luis Garcia of Venezuela next.

The popular Wilmington, California Heavyweight - Joey Orbillo seeks his '6th' straight win.
Joey is now ranked as the #25 Heavyweight, and is within a 'thin-whisker' of taking on a
World-Rated opponent and moving up the Heavyweight ladder.

His opponent, is San Franciso's - Robie 'Big Robey' Harris. Harris is a big burly fighter who
by trade is a Tree Specialist {Lumberjack tree cutter}. Harris is also a sparring-partner for
World-Rated contender George Foreman.

Harris is coming off an 'upset' 10-Round Decision win over 'highly-regarded' Puerto Rican
Jose 'King' Roman here only 20-Days ago {October 29th}. After a rocky start to his career,
Harris has won 13-of-15 bouts since June 1970.

Joey Orbillo is the favorite here, but he will be giving up {48 lbs.} in weight, and 8" in reach.
But the Wilmington favorite is the much better boxer, and has a greater skill-rate than
the strong but slow-moving Harris.



'Upset Special #68'

~ 'Big Robey' Cuts Down Orbillo At The Olympic ~

Robie Harris, a tree-specialist by trade, cut down Joey Orbillo at the Olympic Auditorium
by scoring a Knockout in Round 5.

Harris opened up the bout by using his massive size and strength to 'man-handle' the smaller
Orbillo, and hammer him around the Ring.

During the first 3-Rounds, Harris with a 48 lb. weight advantage pushed Orbillo all over the
Ring, while adding in jolting left-hooks and hard right-hand uppercuts inside. Joey just could
not cope with Harris' punishing attack.

In Round 4, Orbillo made a concerted effort to get back into the fight, and scored with
rapid 'left-right' combinations over the first-half of the session.

But 'Big Robey' came on in the latter-half of the Round, and scored with several hard
punches that had Orbillo 'groggy'. Late in the Round, Harris landed a hard right-hand
cross over Orbillo's left-hand that had Joey 'badly stunned'.

Joey appeared to 'clear-his-head' between Rounds, and came out for Round 5 by scoring
'nicely' with double left-hands and quick-rights, and looked good in backing up Harris.

But Robie caught Joey coming in with a big right-hand to the head at the {1:05 Mark}.
Harris then rained a barrage of 'right-and-left' hands on Joey who slumped to the canvas.

Referee - Larry Rozadilla didn't bother to count and waved the bout over at 1:20 of Round 5.