As an amateur Knoetze fought future professional world champion fellow South African Gerrie Coetzee six times, each winning three bouts.[1] Knoetze turned professional in 1976, and started his career with six consecutive KO wins. In his seventh fight he was disqualified against Reinaldo Raul Gorosito, and in his eighth bout he lost a ten rounds points decision to Coetzee. From late 1976 to 1979 he went on a 11-fight winning streak, which included avenging his loss to Gorosito via a ten rounds ...