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

[Bill Paxtom]

December 3, 1963

~ A 'New' Max Schmeling ~

Part 5

Bruno Mueller - Manager >

We almost had a disaster in our next bout. Well 'technically' we did.

I put Karl in with Sweden's Thoerner Ahsman. He was a powerful 29 year-old Light-Heavyweight,
who had a style like Ingemar Johansson, and with a right-hand just as powerful.

On March 17, 1961 > at the Sportpalast in Berlin, Karl with a record of 22-1-0 {10 KO's} took on
Thoerner Ahsman 10-1-2 {4 KO"s}.

Karl {193 lbs.} had +8 lbs. on Ahsman {185 lbs.}, who stood only 5' 11 1/2".

For the first 2-Rounds, Karl forgot everything that I had told him about boxing-and-moving this
guy, and he stood directly in front of the 'tough' Swede. Karl was getting out-jabbed by the Thoerner,
and was getting popped by the Swede's right-hand.

Basically, Karl was getting beaten up.

Going out for Round 3, I told Karl to double-jab with his right-hand, and then slide to the right and
away from Thoerner's powerful right-hand.

Well foolishly, Karl moved straight in and started to trade with this guy. Next thing I know, Karl is
sprawled 'on-the-canvas' after getting clocked by a right-hand to the chin. Karl was up at the
'5-Count' and went right back at him.

Thoerner was 'pot-shotting' Karl, and dumped him on the canvas again with right-hand to the head.
Karl got right back up quickly, dusted his gloves off, and foolishly went back to attacking.

About 30-Seconds later, 'Boom' > Thoerner caught Karl again with a right-hand, and Karl skidded
to the canvas a 3rd-Time.

Since the 3-Knockdown Rule was waived, the bout continued. As Thoerner moved in, Karl hooked
Thoerner's his left-arm and 'slipped' to the canvas. While falling, he snapped the Swede's left
elbow.

Thoerner squelched in pain, and there was a 'Time Break' called by the Referee. After about
30-Seconds, the bout resumed but there was only about 25-Seconds left in the Round.

After the Round, the Ringside Physician checked out Thoerner Ahsman and determined that he
had 'dislocated' his left elbow.

Since Thoerner could not answer the Bell, Karl was awarded a 'controversial' TKO 4 victory.