Thread: Karl Mildenberger ~ 'I Had The Formula To Beat Cassius Clay'

Monday ~ August 5, 1966

~ Karl Mildenberger Looking Sharp In Gym ~

Karl Mildenberger has looked extremely sharp in his Gym sessions with American
Heavyweight - 'Hurricane' Tommy Sims.

The German southpaw has been showing good power with his left-hand, and badly
staggered Sims during back-to-back sessions.

'Hurricane' Tommy Smith, a 32 year-old 'journeyman' from Los Angeles, but based out
of Houston, Texas.

The 6' 0" ~ 190 lb. Sims, was a decent 'club-fighter' with a record of 42-19-4 with {16 KO's},
and was also a 'safe' gym sparring-partner.

Originally Posted by Bill Paxtom

Monday ~ August 5, 1966

~ Karl Mildenberger Looking Sharp In Gym ~

Karl Mildenberger has looked extremely sharp in his Gym sessions with American
Heavyweight - Tommie Sims.

The German southpaw has been showing good power with his left-hand, and badly
staggered Sims during several back-to-back sessions.

Point proven again.

Sunday ~ August 28, 1966

Bad Soden, Germany

~ European Champ Making Big Plans For Fight With Clay ~

Sunday ~ August 28, 1966

~ Cassius Clay Is Planning To Box With Southpaws, And Is Taking No Chances ~

World Heavyweight Champion is optimistic for his upcoming bout with fast-handed
German - Karl Mildenberger.

The Champion has hired southpaw sparring-partners in British Heavyweight - Jack Bodell
and American - James J. Woody

Cassius is working on speed, and right-hand leads against his hired-hands, and is very
confident that he will catch the German Challenger before the 15th Round.

Jack Bodell is a 26 year-old Brit, and has size at 6' 1" and 210 lbs. Bodell, with a record of
35-8-0 with {22 KO's} is an awkward fighter, but Bodell has size, good power and fairly
quick hands. The British-Fighter will be brought in to toughen up Cassius for close
in-fighting, and heavy-trading.

James J. Woody is a 'highly-regarded' 26 year-old from the Bronx, New York. Woody is a
6' 0" and 205 lb. 'nifty-boxing' fighter with a record of 10-1-0, with only {1 KO}. But the
New York fighter has very quick-hands and good defense, and will Cassius with timing
and speed.

Monday ~ August 29, 1966

Bad Soden, Germany

~ Mildenberger Plans ~ 'Dance, Bob and Weave' ~

German Challenger - Karl Mildenberger has decided on his fight plan when facing
Champion - Cassius Clay on September 10th.

The 28 year-old Mildenberger plans to 'dance, bob and weave' to a 15-Round Decision
over the fast-talking Champion.

Mildenberger, who has been training for 3-Weeks in a peaceful spa in a village North
of Frankfurt has stayed relaxed during his training. The southpaw Challenger has been
showing steady improvement with his right-jab, and right-hook. But is it all for naught
against the talented Champion.

Karl Mildenberger >
"Look, Clay is not unbeatable. He was floored by Henry Cooper the 1st-Time that they
fought, and I still think he lost to Doug Jones. He is far from unbeatable, though I still
say he is a great talent."

"He was beaten by southpaw's in the Amateurs, twice. So he can be out-boxed. I plan
to dance, bob and weave. I can match him in movement, and my hand-speed is very
close to his. I will be right there at the end."

Herbert Kleinwaechter {Assistant Trainer} >
"Karl has been very intense during training. He follows instructions well, and he has been
steadily getting stronger. We just have to be careful of Clay's quick right-hand chops. So,
Karl has to keep his left-hand up high, and to use a bob-and-weave attack."

"We are confident that Karl can take Clay past 8-Rounds. If he does, this fight will be up
for grabs over the second-half of the bout."

Thursday ~ September 1, 1966

Frankfurt, Germany

~ Cassius Clay, Repeats Same Old Phrase ~ "I May Retire" ~

Cassius Clay >
"You better be ready when I fight Mildenberger. It may be my last fight. It will be a rough
and tough fight, and I may lose."

"This German is a much better fighter than my last opponent {Brian London}. That fight
was more an exhibition than a Championship Bout. This fight is for real."

"If I lose, I will retire and become a full-time Minister for my Black Muslim religion."

Cassius spent the day working out in a Frankfurt gym, as he did a series of exercises
before sparring 3-Rounds each, with Jimmy Ellis and James J. Woody.

British Heavyweight, Jack Bodell {a southpaw} is expected to arrive shortly.

Tuesday ~ September 5, 1966

~ Cassius Clay Chopping Wood, Plans To Take Down Mildenberger, One Chop At A Time ~

Cassius Clay seen here fiercely chopping away at a tree in he woods outside Frankfurt, Germany
said he plans to chop down German Challenger - Karl Mildenberger with one-swing 'chop' at
a time.

The Champion has been working on his straight right-hand, and said he wants to show off
his new power on Saturday Night, September 10th.

Sunday ~ September 4, 1966

~ Fastest Opponent That Cassius Has Ever Faced ~

Challenger - Karl Mildenberger has his hopes on 'speed'. The southpaw German is
going to use a cautious approach, and fast-hands in his effort to 'upset' the Champion
Cassius Clay.

The 28 year-old Mildenberger is a heavy underdog, with some Odds set at {10-1}. But
many feel that the fast-boxing southpaw may have just enough hand-speed to neutralize
the lightning-quick Champion.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Karl Mildengerger >

"I'm the fastest guy he as ever faced. He knows it, and I know it. If he tries to move and
box, he will be met by fast right-hand counters. If he moves in close, he will be on the
receiving end of my fast left-hand leads."

The word here, as many have watched each fighter in 'open' sparring sessions, is that
Mildenberger is fast, but he is nowhere near as fast as the Champion.

On the other hand, Mildenberger has only scored '17' Knockout in his '49 wins. So he
can box, and knows how to win by Decision.

But, his lack of power may not be able to keep the Champion away. As Clay has proven
that he can take a solid punch, and come back fairly quickly.

Kalr Mildenberger is familiar with American boxers, and has never lost to a 'Yank' in
'24-Bouts, as he gone 21-0-3 in those bouts. But the Champion is on another plane {level}.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A Spokesman for the Champion >

"Look, Cassius is so fast, that he will make the quick German look cumbersome. We don't
expect the bout to go longer than the 5th Round."

"If Mildenberger is still there in Round 6, well then we'll have to admit that he is a better
fighter than we expected."

September 1966

~ Max Schmeling ~ 'Give Karl A Chance' ~

Former Heavyweight Champion - Max Schmeling says that the critics should lay
off Karl Mildenberger and give him a chance.

Max Schmeling >

"When I went over to American to face Joe Louis the 1st-Time, nobody gave me
a chance. Well, I say that we should give Karl a chance first, before we start
criticizing him."

"Karl is a good boxer, and though he does not punch hard, he still has good boxing
skills, enough to go unbeaten against '24' other Americans."

"I have seen Clay fight before, and he is very fast. But when you are moving around
the Ring in high-speed, you can lose some of your power. That fast-style may work
against him and become a weak-point, because he can't hit as hard as when you are
flat-footed."

"I've told Karl to be patient, and not to go over-board in trying to impress the home
country supporters. He has to fight his own fight, and forget about trying to be a Hero."

Wednesday ~ September 7, 1966

~ Mildenberger Plans To Give Clay A Fight That He'll Never Forget ~

Karl Mildenberger is out to give the Champion something he's never had before
as Champion, a real fight in the Ring.

The usually quiet and reserved Mildenberger, has been on-edge lately, as very few
in the Boxing Press have given him a chance at defeating Cassius Clay.

Mildenberger, who has worked hard in Training, was boxing solidly on Tuesday
Morning, as he went '5-Rounds' with Dutch Light-Heavyweight Champion -
26 year-old - Bas Van Duivenbode, a quick-moving and aggressive 5' 11" 170 lb.
fighter with a record of 16-8-4 {6 KO's}.

The German also took on one-time Ring foe, in veteran 29 year-old American Heavyweight
'trail-horse' the 6' 4" tall Billy Daniels. The fighters were involved in a 'smash-hit' 3-Round
session.

Following that, Mildenberger took a brisk 1-Hour walk up into the Taunus Mountains. And
then returned by running back at a steady-pace.

Karl Mildenberger >

"I have had it up to here with people criticizing me. I have been boxing as a Professional
since October 1958 {8-Years}, and I have only lost '2' of my 54-Bouts. What more do they
want. I have earned a Championship bout, and expect to do well."

"Nobody is giving me a chance. Yes I'm mad."

"I have put together a fight-plan, and as long as I follow it, I will do well. I will not chase
Clay and make foolish swings at him while he is fleeing. I will make him come to me.
If he does, I will have something for him."

Bill, what sort of scanner do you use please?
Im up for a new one, your looks like its well up for the job.

Thursday ~ September 8, 1966

[B][/~ Forrner Wordl Champions Steps Between Cassius Clay and Karl Mildenberger ~B]

Joe Louis >

"I think this German fellow is a nice guy, but he has no idea of how to fight. He is a southpaw,
but he seems like he;s not sure on whether he wants to box right-handed or left-handed."

"When he moves he squares up, and leaves himself wide open. And he pushes his punches, as
there is no snap in them. If he fought me back when I was Champion, he would be lucky to
get past the 3rd-Round."

"I'm sure he will give Clay some trouble. Clay cant punch like me, as he's a 'slappy chap'. I
think it will take Clay about 7 or 8 Rounds to figure this guy out, and then out-box him
for a few Rounds to wear him down."

"I'll take the Champion by a 10th Round Knockout."

Thursday ~ September 8, 1966

~ Former World Champion - Joe Louis Steps In Between Champ Clay and Challenger Mildenberger ~

Joe Louis >

"I think this German fellow is a nice guy, but he has no idea of how to fight. He is a southpaw,
but he seems like he's not sure on whether he wants to box right-handed or left-handed."

"When he moves in he squares up, and leaves himself wide open. And he pushes his punches, as
there is no snap in them. If he fought me back when I was Champion, he would be lucky to
get past the 3rd-Round."

"I'm sure he will give Clay some trouble with his style. You see, Clay cant punch like me, as he's
a 'slappy-chappy'. I think it will take Clay about 7 or 8 Rounds to figure this guy out, and then
he'll out-box him for a few Rounds to wear him down."

"I'll take the Champion by an 11th Round Knockout."

Why an 11th round KO? Would he tire by the 15th?

Friday ~ September 9, 1966

~ Cassius Clay To Defend Against Karl Mildenberger ~

Championship Bout to be held at the Waldstadion outdoor stadium.

An estimated 50,000 fans are expected to attend the Saturday Night World Heavyweight
Championship bout between Champion - Cassius Clay and Challenger - karl Mildenberger.

The Champion is the heavy betting-favorite at {10-1}, but many feel that the southpaw
Challenger may give Clay some trouble in this bout.

Clay, who is undefeated, is making his 6th Title defense, and 3rd here in Europe this year.

Mildenberger has won 49 of 54 bouts, and has not lost in 4 1/2 years.

The Champion will receive a Fight Purse guarantee of 50% against $250,000 of the Gate
Receipts, as well as all ancillary rights for the broadcast to America, as well as 50% of the
European ancillary rights.

Karl Mildenberger will 15% of the Gate Receipts, and 15% of the European ancillary rights.