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

[Bill Paxtom]

August 1966 'World Ratings'


...................Ring Magazine ...........WBA.......

Champion .... Cassius Clay ........... Ernie Terrell
#1 ............... Ernie Terrell ........... Zora Folley
#2 ............... Doug Jones ............ Doug Jones
#3 ............... Thad Spencer ......... Amos Lincoln
#4 ............... Karl Mildenberger .... Karl Mildenberger
#5 ............... Henry Cooper ......... Thad Spencer
#6 ............... Zora Folley ............. Floyd Patterson
#7 ............... Amos Lincoln .......... Eduardo Corletti
#8 ............... George Chuvalo ...... Elmer Rush
#9 ............... Floyd Patterson ....... Amos Johnson
#10 ............. Cleveland Williams ... George Chuvalo

[Bill Paxtom]

~ Final Tune-Ups ~

Wednesday ~ September 7, 1966

Sandy Petrescu's Downtown Gym ~ Frankfurt, Germany

Cassius Clay opened up the 'Final Day' of his Training Camp by hitting the Heavy-Bag
for 2-Rounds.

The Champion then went '2' Slam-Bang Rounds with British Heavyweight - Jack Bodell,
and then '2' brisk Rounds with American Heavyweight - James J. Woody.

Both sparring-partners are southpaws, but the fast-handed Champion was sharp, as he
landed jarring left-hooks and solid straight right-hands on both sparring-mates.

An altercation developed at the Gym, as ABC-TV wanted to broadcast the final-day
sparring-session, but Gym owner {Sandy Petrescu} wanted a fee of {$16,000} for
a paid priveledge to broadcast the sparring-sessions.

Manager - Angelo Dundee said that if ABC-TV was not allowed in to broadcast the session,
he and the World Champion would walk out.

ABC-TV and gym owner Sandy Petrescu worked out a more amicable payment.

After the 2-Hour work-out session, the Champion went outside the Gym and along the street,
and signed autographs for nearly 4500 fans. The Champion charged $1.00 for his signature.

Angelo Dundee {Trainer} >
"We're ready. The next punch that Cassius throws will be in the Ring."

Cassius Clay >
"I have to be careful with southpaws. But it won't take me that long to get adjusted. Maybe
3 or 4 Rounds, then I'll figure out his timing. All I have to do is circle to my right instead of my
left. It won't be a problem."
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Challenger - Karl Mildenberger spent his 'Final Tune-Up' by boxing '4' Rounds with American
Heavyweight - Billy Daniels.

Karl looked very sharp in one if his most impressive sparring-sessions with Billy Daniels. The
German exhibited fast right-hand jabs and excellent movement.

Bruno Mueller {Manager} >
"I am most satisfied with Karl. He has worked hard, and has steadily improved. He's ready.
All we have to do is keep Clay busy, but not by chasing him. By waiting to counter him."

Karl Mildenberger >
"I'm still not where I want to be. But the fight is in 3-Days, and I can't get anymore hard
sparring in. I'll probably shadow-box 4-Rounds tomorrow, and then do some stretching
exercises for the next 3-Days."