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

[Bill Paxtom]

September 10, 1965

Ernst Merk Halle ~ Hamburg, Germany

Attendance ..... { 5600 }

{#6} Karl Mildenberger ~ 45-2-3 {17 KO"s} ~ 6' 1 1/2" ~ 196 lbs. ~ {Age; 27 years, 10 months}
vs.
{NR} Dave Bailey ~ 22-11-3 {14 KO's} ~ 6' 1 1/2" ~ 210 lbs. ~ {Age; 32 years, 8 months}
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Karl Mildenberger is back in the Ring, 4-Months after his very tough 15-Round bout with Italian
Piero Tomasoni.

'Dangerous' Dave Bailey is a true journeyman Heavyweight. Dave, based out of Philadelphia
has been campaigning for 10-Years, and also has been a sparring-partner for Champions
Sonny Liston and Cassius Clay.

At one-time in his career, Dave was considered a dangerous opponent, as he had a good
overhand right-hand. But now, Dave is regarded as a somewhat safe opponent.

Since October 23, 1962 > Dave has gone 0-6-1 in his '7-Bouts', including getting stopped
in '4' of those bouts.

In Dave's most recent bout {June 30, 1965} he was clobbered {L KO 3} by George Chuvalo
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~ The Skinny ~

Bruno Mueller {Manager for Karl Mildenberger} >

We wanted Karl to take on a guy with a good right-hand. Dave Bailey is a big guy with a good
right-hand. He is also a sparring-partner for Champion - Cassius Clay, so we know that he's over
here to test us.

His record is better than what it shows, so Karl will have to be careful with this guy. And I'm
sure that Bailey would like nothing better than to score an upset on us. The Philadelphia fighter
has nothing to lose, so I'm sure he will come out swinging.
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Jimmy DePiano {Manager for Dave Bailey} >

We know what we're supposed to do. We are going right after this guy with right-hands. If Dave can
land just 'one-punch', he will put him down. The German is fast, but his chin is suspect.

People forget that Dave was highly-regarded in September 1962 {Record of 22-5-2} and was in
the Top 25. Then he took on a lot of tough guys who were really bruising big-hitters;
{Cleveland Williams, Sonny Banks, Eddie Machen, Bob Foster, Leotis Martin and George Chuvalo}
and he lost badly.

But, we're still capable of upsetting anyone. One 'right-hand' is all it takes.
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~ Mildenberger Wins, But Not Without Controversy ~

~ German - Mildenberger Floored '3-Times', But Wins Over American - Bailey ~

Karl Mildenbeger, the #6 World-Ranked Heavyweight won a 'controversial' 10-Round Decision
over American - Dave Bailey, despite being floored 3-Times.

The southpaw Mildenbeger {196 lbs.} came out both fast-and-aggressive in the Opening Round,
and threw an assortment of right-hooks and left-hands into the bigger American, while discounting
any defense over the first-half of the session.

Then in 'flash', Bailey {210 lbs.} caught Mildenberg coming in with an overhand right, that landed
flush on the German's jaw. Mildenberg went down hard at the {1:35 Mark}, and looked out of it.

Referee - Felix Ohlert then took his time in directing Bailey to a Neutral-Corner. When the German
Referee came back to start counting, Mildenberger had already been down for 5-Seconds. Instead
of picking the Count up at '5', the Referee started counting from '1'.

Mildenberger struggled to his knee's, and then rose at the '7-Count'. Still groggy, Mildenberger
wobbled around the Ring as the American attacked with looping right-hands. Just as it appreared
that Bailey may drop the 'dazed' German again, the Bell rang early at {2:10 Mark} ending the Round.

When the Bell rang early, Dave Bailey's corner went 'ballistic'.

Coming out for Round 2, the German looked to have cleared the 'cobwebs', but Mildenberger
fought cautiously by staying outside, and cirlcing while moving fast.

Bailey went on the attack, and plodded while 'flinging' in his hard right-hands. Though Baliley
was the aggressor and won Round 2, he was unable to tag the fast-moving Mildenberger with
a flush-punch.

Mildenberger had cleared his head coming out for Round 3, and went back to boxing smoothly
with fast right-jabs and straight-lefts on the 'slow-moving' American.

During Rounds 4, 5 and 6 > Mildenberger used fast right-jabs and right-hooks to set up the
American for his straight left-hands to the head. Mildenberger landed repeated left-hands into
Bailey's head to back him up into the Ropes, but Mildenberger was unable to hurt the Philadelphia
veteran badly.

The 'Controversial Round 7' >

Mildenberger came out like he had in the previous 3-Rounds, with a fast-and-aggressive attack over
the first 50-Seconds. The German was firing in 'stinging' right-left punches to the head, while again
forgetting about his defense, while drivng Bailey into the Ropes again.

Then in a 'flash', Dave Bailey unloaded with a hard 'left-right' to the head that dropped Mildenberger
near the Ropes at the {0:55 Mark}.

Mildenberger was 'badly-stunned', but managed to get up at the '4-Count'.

An excited Dave Bailey attacked, and slammed a 'dazed' Mildenberger with a barrage of right-hands
that had him reeling backwards, and eventually crashing backwards on his back and on the floor at
the {1:23 Mark}.

A 'dazed' Mildenberger pulled himself up at the '7-Count' and looked out-of-it. Then as action resumed,
Mildenberger grabbed-and-held onto the American has he moved in. Dave Bailey tried to free himself, so
he could deliver his hard right-hands over the top, but Mildenberger held tightly.

At the {1:50 Mark}, Bailey was able to get free and added some distance, as he landed with several
glancing right-hands on the 'still shaken' German.

Just as it appeared that Bailey would drop Mildenberger again, the Bell rang early at the {2:00 Mark}.

Again, just like the 1st-Round, Dave Bailey's corner went 'ballistic', screaming at the Ringside Officials.

In Round 8, a still 'groggy' Mlldenberger wobbled around the Ring on 'shaky pins', but stood just
outside the slow-plodding Bailey. Each time that the American tried to unload his hard right-hand,
Mildenberger would grab him and hold, and then back away fast.

In Round 9 Karl Mildenberger made a solid effort to stall the Dave Bailey. Karl scored with sharp
right-jabs into the face of the American, who didn't have the foot-speed to deal with the German.

By the end of Round, it was Dave Bailey who suddenly looked 'weary', as Mildenberger scored with
several solid straight left-hands to the head.

In Round 10, Mildenberger maintained control as he used quick 'one-two' punches to stave off any
charges from Dave Baliey who was now 'visibly' tired. Very late in the Finak Round, Mildenberger
wobbled Bailey with a 'double' left-hook to the head, but the American covered up well over the last
20-Seconds and made it to the Final Bell.

The Referee - Felix Ohlert {sole-scoring official} scored the bout for Karl Mildenberger { 46-44 }.