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

[Bill Paxtom]

November 26, 1965

Festhalle ~ Frankfurt, Germany

Attendance ...... { 8000 }

{#6} Karl Mildenberger ~ 46-2-3 {17 KO's} ~ 6 1 1/2" ~ 194 lbs. ~ {Age; 28 years, 0 months}
vs.
{NR} Gerhard Zech ~ 31-4-1 {18 KO's} ~ 6' 6" ~ 218 lbs. ~ {Age; 27 years, 6 months}
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~ The Skinny 'Part 1' ~

Karl Mildenberger is making the 2-Title Defense of his European Crown. Karl is hoping for an impressive win,
and hopes to Challenge for the World Championship in early-1966.

Gerhard Zech is a tall-and-awkward Heavyweight, and is also from Germany. Like Mildenberger, Gerhard is a
southpaw with fairly quick-hands.

Gerhard was once the #8 World-Ranked Heavyweight in early-1964 when his record was 27-1-1. But since
March 1964, Gerhard has gone 4-3 in '7-Bouts', and has suffered '2' bad KO losses while falling out of Top 25.

On July 28th, the European Boxing Union designated Gerhard Zech as the next 'mandatory' Challenger for the
Championship.

~ The Skinny 'Part 2' ~

Like Mildenberger, Gerhard is also managed by Bruno Mueller.

Gerhard is also a former sparring-partner of Mildenberger, as both sparred regularly from 1961 thru 1963.

Gerhard is coming off an 'upset loss' {L KO 2} to American 'journeyman' Dave Bailey only 7-Weeks earlier, on
October 8, 1965

The same Dave Bailey who floored Karl Mildenberger '3-Times' in their bout on September 10, 1965 > only
to lose by a 10-Round Decision in their controversial match.

Oddly, Karl Mildenberger was supposed to face Dave Bailey on October 8th in a rematch, but he pulled out
and Gerhard Zech filled in, only to get KO'd in 2.

Fight Purses
* Karl Mildenberger ...... $35,000 {U.S. Dollars}
* Gerhard Zech ............. $8500 {U.S. Dollars}

This bout is billed as > 'The War At Festhalle'
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~ Mildenberger Whips Zech In Dull Bout ~

Karl Mildenberger defeated countryman Gerhard Zech in a 'dull-and-uninspired' 15-Round Decision to retain his
European Championship.

The { 8000 } specatators at the Festhalle Arena boo'd the lack of action between both German combatants,
as neither appeared anxious to deliver hard punches.

Karl Mildenberger {194 lbs.}, used his fast right-jabs to out-hit the bigger, but slower Gerhard Zech {215 lbs.}
throughout most of the Rounds.

But when the fighters were in close and traded, Zech appeared to have the heavier-hands and moved Mildenberger
backwards.

Mildenberger had his best moments in Rounds 11, 12 and 13 > when he had the {6' 6" tall} Zech on weary legs,
but Mildenberger infuriated the crowd when he refused to deliver his hard straight left-hands on his fading
opponent.

A tired Zech was able to hold off Mildenberger during the last 2-Rounds, by mauling the smaller Mildenberger
with his long-arms, and by clutching-and-hitting.

Referee - Jean Welter {the sole-scoring official} scored the bout for Karl Mildenberger { 72-69 } or 6-3-6 in Rounds.