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

[Bill Paxtom]

December 30, 1967

Sportspalast ~ Berlin, Germany

European Heavyweight Championship

* Karl Mildenberger ~ 52-4-3 {19 KO's} ~ 6' 1 1/2" ~ 205 lbs. ~ {Age; 30 years, 1 month}
vs.
* Gerhard Zech ~ 33-6-3 {20 KO's} ~ 6' 6" ~ 224 lbs. ~ {Age; 29 years, 6 months}
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~ The Skinny ~

Karl Mildenberger wants to get back into the Top Tier of the Heavyweights, with plans for a
World Title challenge in mid-1968.

In his previous bout, Karl lost a 12-Round Decision {and suffered '4' knockdowns} to
Oscar Bonavena in the Quarter-Finals of the WBA Heavyweight Eliminator on September 16, 1967.

For Karl, this will be his 6th Title Defense of his European Crown.

This will be 2nd-time that Karl will face his German countryman - Gerhard Zech. Both of these
southpaws fought 2-Years earlier {November 26, 1965}, where Karl won a 'dull' and lackluster
15-Round Decision.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

'Mildenberger Wins'

'Mildenberger Retains European Heavyweight Title'

Karl Mildenberger using a sharp right-jab and quick left-hand leads won a 'solid' 15-Round Decision
over German countryman - Gerhard Zech.

The 30 year-old Mildenberger {205 lbs.} was by far the more accurate puncher, and he opened a
deep cut over the right-eye of Gerhard Zech {224 lbs.} in Round 3.

Mildenberger kept the pressure on Zech during the middle-Rounds, especially in Rounds 6, 7 and 8
where he visibly hurt the 6' 6" tall Zech with hard straight left-hands to the chin.

Badly behind on Points, Zech did have a good session in Round 9, where he bloodied Mildenberger's
nose with a hard right-hook.

Zech also fought well during Round 10. But, Mildenberger went back to good boxing during
Rounds 11, 13 to secure a solid points lead.

Zech did put forth a good effort in Rounds 14 and 15.

The 'sole scoring' Referee carded the bout {71-67} or {8-4-3 in Rounds} for Karl Mildenberger.

[Bill Paxtom]

~ December 1967 ~

~ WBA Ratings ~

*** 'vacant'
#1 . Jerry Quarry
#2 . Jimmy Ellis
#3 . Eduardo Corletti
#4 . Oscar Bonavena
#5 . Floyd Patterson
#6 . Thad Spencer
#7 . Joe Frazier
#8 . Karl Mildenberger
#9 . Manuel Ramos
#10. Dave Zygliewicz

[Bill Paxtom]

April 1, 1968

~ Heavyweight Happenings ~


Karl Mildenberger >

Karl was set to fight American Leotis Martin on April 5th.

If Karl wins, he's in line for a chance to fight the winner of the April 30th bout between
Jimmy Ellis vs. Jerry Quarry bout for the 'vacant' WBA Heavyweight Championship.

Wolfgang Mueller {Manager}

After we get by Leotis Martin, we're putting in a request with the WBA to fight the winner
of the Jimmy Ellis vs. Jerry Quarry 'WBA Championship' bout.

We think we can hold the bout here in Germany, for August 1968.

Joe Frazier >

World Champion - Joe Frazier and Manager- Yancey Durham visited London, England in
early-April 1968, and where 'weighing' the offers, which included a bout with Karl Mildenberger.

Yancey Durham stated they were indeed interested in a bout with German - Karl Mildenberger,
but just not in Germany.

Yancey Durham {Manager} >

We're looking at bouts with ;
* Floyd Patterson
* Boone Kirkman
* Eduardo Corletti
* Manuel Ramos

We may defend against Karl Mildenberger in July 1968, if Mildenberger gets by Philadelphia's
Leotis Martin when they fight on April 5, 1968.

[Bill Paxtom]

~ Heavyweight Elimination Bout ~

April 5, 1968

Festhalle ~ Frankfurt, Germany

{#8} Karl Mildenberger ~ 53-4-3 {19 KO's} ~ 6' 1 1/2" ~ 205 lbs. ~ Reach; 74" ~ {Age; 30 years, 1 month}
vs.
{#12} Leotis Martin ~ 24-3-0 {14 KO's} ~ 6' 1" ~ 193 lbs. ~ Reach; 76" ~ {Age; 29 years, 1 month}

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~ The Skinny ~

This bout is billed as a World Heavyweight Elimination bout. The word is, 'if' German Heavyweight - Karl Mildenberger
wins, he will be offered a bout with Heavyweight Champion - Joe Frazier.

Joe Frazier is in attendance to 'scout' both fighters.

Mildenberger, who is the #8 WBA-ranked Heavyweight, last fought 3-Months ago {December 30, 1967} where he
won a 15-Round Decision over Gerhard Zech, in defense of his European Heavyweight Crown.

If Philadelphia Heavyweight - Leotis Martin wins, he will be back in line for a bout with the winner of the WBA
Heavyweight Championship bout between Jerry Quarry vs. Jimmy Ellis {set for April 30, 1968}

Leotis Martin was the #8 WBA-ranked Heavyweight in July 1967, but a loss {L TKO 9} to Jimmy Ellis in the
WBA Elimination tournament on Augst 5, 1967 set Leotis back a notch.

Then back on November 27, 1967 > Leotis was 'upset' {L Spilt Dec 10} by #10 WBA-ranked Light-Heavyweight
Roger Russell in a Philadelphia 'grudge match'. The loss dropped Leotis to #12 WBA.

Leotis has been 'idle' for 4-Months.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~ Pre-Fight Chatter ~

Karl Mildenberger >
I expect to win. Leotis Martin is a good puncher, but he is not a good boxer. I will use my better technical skills
to out-box him, and win a Decision.

After my win, I plan {expect} a bout with World Champion - Joe Frazier for August 1968. It can be held here in
Germany or in America {Philadelphia or Madison Square Garden, New York}.

If I can't get a bout with Joe Frazier, I will probably defend my European Championship against Henry Cooper,
and then make a move for the WBA Championship for the end of the year {1968}.

Leotis Martin >
Nobody wants to fight me in the United States. Or they offer me such a little fight purse, that it's not worth the
effort.

That loss to Roger Russell last year {November 30, 1967} was a 'bad decision'. Everybody in Philadelphia
knows that. But that is all forgotten now. I came here to not only win, but to 'Knockout' Mildenberger in front
of his German fans. I'll have him out of there by the 6th Round.

Then it's Joe Frazier. He's been ducking me for 2-Years now. All I want is a chance, no games. He and his
Manager {Yancey Durham} are always making excuses. They won't fight me.

[brocktonblockbust]

Leotis Martin>

"I know Sonny owed a lotta money to some cats in Henderson, Nevada. He fought hard and was beating me, then suddenly from 3 rows behind the timekeeper someone yelled 'Sonny on the Money!", and then Liston left himself wide open for my KO punch. Just didn't seem right."

[Master]

Leotis Martin>

"I know Sonny owed a lotta money to some cats in Henderson, Nevada. He fought hard and was beating me, then suddenly from 3 rows behind the timekeeper someone yelled 'Sonny on the Money!", and then Liston left himself wide open for my KO punch. Just didn't seem right."

is this true or bill paxtom true?

[brocktonblockbust]

Leotis Martin>

"I know Sonny owed a lotta money to some cats in Henderson, Nevada. He fought hard and was beating me, then suddenly from 3 rows behind the timekeeper someone yelled 'Sonny on the Money!", and then Liston left himself wide open for my KO punch. Just didn't seem right."

is this true or bill paxtom true?

Publicist Harold Conrad and others believed that Liston was deeply involved as a bill collector in a loan-sharking ring in Las Vegas. When he tried to muscle in for a bigger share of the action, Conrad surmised that his employers got him very drunk, took him home, and stuck him with a needle. (2) Professional gambler Lem Banker insists that Liston was murdered by drug dealers with whom he'd become involved. Banker said he was told by police that Liston had been seen at a house that would be the target of a drug raid. Banker said, "Sheriff [Ralph] Lamb told me, 'Tell your pal Sonny to stay away from the West Side because we're going to bust the drug dealers.'" Banker later learned that the police told Liston the same thing to his face. He apparently was at the dealers' house shortly before they got busted. Because of that, the dealers may have thought Sonny ratted on them and they shot him with a hot dose as retribution. (3) The mob promised Liston some money to throw the second Ali fight but they never paid him. As the years passed and Liston's financial situation worsened, he got angry and told the mob he'd go public with the story unless they gave him the money. That got him killed. (4) Liston was supposed to take a dive when he fought Chuck Wepner six months earlier, and killing him was payback for his failure to do so.[55]

Some believe the police covered up what happened. On January 1, Liston's wife called Johnny Tocco and said she hadn't heard from her husband in three days and was worried. A few years before he died, Johnny Tocco allegedly told his good friend, Tony Davi, that he went to Liston's house and found the door locked and his car in the driveway. Tocco called the police, and they broke into the house. Tocco said that the living room furniture was in disarray but the house did not yet smell of death. He said they found Sonny lying on his bed with a needle sticking out of his arm. Johnny left the house before the police did. "Johnny wasn't a braggart," Davi told Liston biographer Paul Gallender. "He told me in the strictest confidence, but it was like he wanted to get it off his chest." Gallender claims, "A lot of officers knew Sonny was dead before Geraldine returned home on January 5, but they chose to let him rot."[55]

Sonny Liston is interred in Paradise Memorial Gardens in Las Vegas, Nevada. His headstone bears the simple epitaph: "A Man."