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

[Bill Paxtom]

Friday ~ Aoril 5, 1968

Festhalle ~ Frankfurt, Germany

~ Mildenberger Kayo Victim To Martin ~

~ Mildenberger Knocked Out By Martin In 7th ~

~ Martin Wins By Kayo, Mildenberger Down For Count ~

~ Mildenberger KO'd In Frankfurt ~

American - Leotis Martin poured it in Round 7, and dropped German - Karl Mildenberger
'3-Times' to score a Knockout at 3:08 of Round 7.

The 3rd Knockdown came with 2-Seconds left in the 7th Round, but despite the sound of
the Bell ending the Round, the German was counted out, as he did not rise before the
Referee - Ben Bril reached the count of 10.

Leotis Martin {193 lbs.} came out fast from the Opening Bell, and took the initiative as he
scored with measuring left-jabs and right-hand leads throughout the first 3-Rounds.

Martin scored with frequent long right-hands to Mildenberger's chin, and had no problem
with the German's southpaw attack, as he countered Mildenberger's sporadic right-hands
with his own long right-hands.

Karl Mildenberger {205 lbs.} got back into the fight in Round 4, as he scored with pin-point
right-jabs. But his punches showed no effect on the American, who was not bothered at all
by Mildenberger's southpaw stance in an 'Even' Round.

The hometown German had his best moments early in Round 5, as again he was accurate with
his right-jab, and he did score with several good left-hand leads to Martin's head. But the
hard-hitting Martin rallied late, and shook Mildenberger with '2' hard right-hands to the chin
in another 'Even' Round.

But in Round 6, Martin looked to be tiring, and Mildenberger moved in close to out-work the
American with an assortment of light-punches to the head, to edge out the Round.

In Round 7, Leotis came out fast and surprised Mildenberger with a barrage of punches, and
had the German 'reeling' some after tagging him with a hard right-hand. Later in the Round at
the {1:44 Mark} Martin had the German on the floor from a 'left-right' to the chin.

Mildenberger rose at the '4-Count', and was ready to fight on.

The German was able to weather the 'storm' briefly for 50-Seconds, but Martin started to unload
his heavy-punches, and Mildenberger went down again from a 'jolting' left-right to the chin at
the {2:44 Mark}.

This time Mildenberger was down for a '7-Count', and rose looking 'dazed' at the {2:52 Mark}.

Martin then moved in from the 'Neutral-Corner' and forced Mildenberger to back up to the Ropes
at the {2:55 Mark}.

Then immediately, the American ripped away with a furious 'left-right' combination, and then caught
the German with a long right-hook to the chin, sending Mildenberger 'sagging' into the Ropes at
the {2:58 Mark}.

The Referee's count reached '2' at the Bell, but Ben Bril kept counting as Mildenberger was still
on the canvas. He did not rise before the '10-Count' and Leotis Martin was awarded a 'Knockout'
victory at {3:08} of Round 7.

{Below, Karl Mildenberger is 'Down For The Count', as he is counted out by Referee -Ben Bril}

[Bill Paxtom]

Boxing News {September 13, 1968}

Germany's Karl Mildenberger to defend his European Crown against Britain's Henry Cooper on September 18th.

[Bill Paxtom]

Wednesday ~ September 18, 1968

Empire Pool ~ Wembley, London, England

European Heavyweight Championship



~ Tale of the Tape ~

Karl Mildenberger ~ 53-5-3 {19 KO's} ~ 6' 1 1/2" ~ 208 lbs. ~ Reach; 74" ~ {Age; 30 years, 10 months}
vs.
Henry Cooper ~ 36-13-1 {25 KO's} ~ 6' 1" ~ 187 lbs. ~ Reach; 76" ~ {Age; 34 years, 5 months}
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~ The Skinny ~

This will be a battle between '2' Ringworn Veterans, as both have seen better days.

Karl Mildenberger has owned the European Heavyweight Crown for 4-Years, since October 17, 1964
when he defeated {KO 1} Santo Amonti to win the 'vacant' Championship.

This will be the German's '7th' Title-Defense, but his '1st' on foreign soil.

Karl and Henry were supposed to fight for the European Championship 4 years earlier {back on October 10, 1964},
but Henry pulled out, claiming an elbow injury.

Henry Cooper is the former European Heavyweight Champion, which he won on February 24, 1964 by defeating
{W Dec 15} Brian London. But, Henry was 'stripped' of his Crown on October 10, 1964 for failing to defend
against Karl Mildenberger.

Henry 'is' both the British and Commonwealth Heavyweight Champion, and is out to claim his former European
Crown as well.
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~ The Double Skinny ~

* Karl Mildenberger is coming off a brutal loss {L KO 7} to Leotis Martin only 5-Months earlier {April 5, 1968}.
* Karl has dropped out of the Top 10, and is now slotted at #14 WBA.
* Karl has visited the canvas a total of '12-times' in his last 7-Bouts.

* Henry Cooper has won '3' straight since losing by a 'brutal knockout' {L KO 4} to Floyd Patterson on September 24, 1966.
* But, Henry last fought on November 7, 1967 {10 months ago}.
* Henry is now rated at #10 WBA
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~ The Outside Skinny ~

German Style
If Karl Mildenberger wins, German Fight Promoter - Joachim Gottert is prepared to offer WBA Champion - Jimmy Ellis
$175,000 {Tax Free} to come to Germany to defend his Title against Karl Mildenberger in November 1968.

Karl Mildenberger >
This bout will not be that much of a problem for me. Henry is right there to be hit, and he cuts easily. All I have to
do is watch out for his left-hook, and keep my right-hand in his face. I'll be patient for the first 5-Rounds, and then
I'll work on his eyes.

I'll slash his eye-brows, and cut him up. He'll be wearing a bloody mask by mid-way thru the bout. There is no way
he can go 15-Rounds without getting cut up. They will stop it before we here a Judges decision. I predict a win
by the 11th Round.

English Style
If Henry Cooper wins, British Fight Promoter - Harry Levene is prepared to offer WBA Champion - Jimmy Ellis
$150,000 to come to London, England to defend his Title against Henry Cooper in early-1969.

Henry Cooper >
Mildenberger fits my style. He will no problem for me. I won't predict a Round, just that I will win by a convincing
margin. I'm already looking ahead. Next will be Jimmy Ellis for 1969.

[SugarBoxing]

For some reason, I always skimmed the thread title as "Kate Middleton ~"

Anyway, Ali was a WAY above all his contemporaries...
I believe there was a formulate to beat him, but no flesh to execute it

[Dia bando]

As my kid would ask on a trip out for the day,! ARE WE THERE YET.

[Bill Paxtom]

For some reason, I always skimmed the thread title as "Kate Middleton ~"

Anyway, Ali was a WAY above all his contemporaries...
I believe there was a formulate to beat him, but no flesh to execute it

True,

But it was Karl Mildenberger who had the 'formula' in how to beat Cassius Clay.

Cassius was lucky to have an inferior group of Heavyweights in front of him during
the 1964 thru 1967 campaign.

[brocktonblockbust]

plus it's now been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that Sonny Liston took a huge dive in the rematch.on top of that the way to fight was stopped with Jersey Joe Walcott waltzing around the ring like an idiot and then waving the fight off for no reason when liston was not really taking any more punishment and had his hands up in a good defensive position the whole thing was a sham from start to finish. Rocky Marciano and Jack Dempsey as well as great sports writers of the time all looked at the film over and over and over and said it was b******* Jimmy Breslin of the Daily News was right at ringside and liston fell right in front of him less than 10 feet from the tip of his nose and Breslin said very clearly and maintain this position his entire life

" the force of Muhammad Ali's right hand punch which put Sonny Liston down was not strong enough to crush a grape"

. Case f****** closed .. fact

fact

[Bill Paxtom]

~ Boxing News {September 13, 1968} ~

Henry Cooper >

"I'm already looking forward to fighting WBA Champion - Jimmy Ellis next. Mildenberger
fits my style, as he comes in with his hands held below his chin."

"I will win by a convincing margin. I am confident, and do not expect any problems on
Wednesday Night {September 18th} in Wembley."

[Bill Paxtom]

Wednesday ~ September 18, 1968

Empire Pool ~ Wembley, London, United Kingdom

Attendance ..... { 10,500 }

European Heavyweight Championship
Promoter ...... Harry Levene

Fight Purses
* Karl Mildenberger ....... $50,000
* Henry Cooper ............. $48,000

Odds ......... 'Even'
__________________________________________________ ______________________

~ Henry Cooper Defeats Karl Mildenbeger, Wins European Crown ~

~ 'Brit' Cooper Over 'German' Mildenberger By DQ In 8th ~

~ Cooper Regains European Heavyweight Title ~

34 year-old Englishman - Henry Cooper administered a beating on 30 year-old German - Karl Mildenberger
to capture the European heavyweight Championship by a Disqualification in Round 8.

Italian Referee - Nello Barrovecchio called a halt to the bout at {2:58} of Round 8, after repeated head-butting
by the 'now' former Champion - Mildenberger.

Henry Cooper {187 lbs.} was giving up 21 lbs. in weight to Karl Mildenberger's {208 lbs.}, as well as 3 1/2 years
in age. While the German came in with more speed, size, youth and a southpaw stance, it was the Challenger
'Old Enry' who took it to the Champion in the Opening Round with left-jabs to the face.

In Round 2, Cooper 'dropped' Mildenberger coming in, by connecting with a short left-hook to the jaw. The German
was up immediately, but had to take the 'Mandatory 8-Count'.

In Rounds 3 and 4, the Englishman was effective with solid left-jabs and left-hooks, as Mildenberger 'paid-the-price'
each time that he moved in close to deliver his right-jab or left-hand leads.



A frustrated Mildenberger used his gloves {thmbs} repeatedly to Cooper eyes, in an attempt to open up a cut. Italian
Referee - Nello Barrovecchio warned the German several times for 'illegal use' of his gloves.

Mildenberger also used his head, to bang the nose of Cooper late in Round 4.

Mildenberger had his best Round in the 5th, as he was able to back up his British Challenger with 'double-and-triple'
right-jabs to the face, followed by a rough inside attack.

In Round 6, Mildenberger was 'warned' by the Referee for use of his head {head-butting}, as he caught Cooper
in the nose which caused damage. Both fighters scored with good jabs during an 'Even' Round.

In Round 7, Mildenberger got off to a good start, and just as he was heating up at Center-Ring, the Brit Challenger
caught him with a 'double' left-hook and right-hand to the chin, dropping him on the seat of his pants.

The German Champion was up at the '2-Count', but again was forced to take the 'Mandatory 8-Count', before
circling around the Ring and staying outside for the remainder of the Round.

Coming out for Round 8, Henry Cooper was up {5-1-1} in Rounds on the Referee's scorecard.

'Twice' in Round 8, Mildenberger came in 'head-first' and butted Henry over his right-eye, opening up a bad-cut
that started 'dripping blood'.

Then, Mildenberger fired away with left-hands and rubbed his glove {thumb} over Henry's right-eye in attempt to
gouge his eye-brow and open the cut further.

Late in Round , Mildenerger came in with another 'head-butt', and Referee - Nello Barrovecchio called the bout over
at {2:58} and 'Disqualified' Karl Mildenberger for 'illegal' use of the head.
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The 'UPI' had the bout scored {5-0-2 in Rounds} for Henry Cooper.
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Referee - Nello Barrovecchio >
"I had no other choice. Mildenberger was using 'unruly headwork', and intentionally head-butted Cooper. And he
was using his gloves to gouge Cooper's eye-brows. The Disqualification was warranted."

"I warned Karl several times for 'illegal tactics'. He knew he was on 'thin-ice' during the 8th Round."
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Wolfgang Mueller {Manager for Karl Mildenberger} >
"The Disqualification was not fair. Karl opened the cut over Cooper's eye with a left-hand, not his head. Yes, they
banged heads, but the cut was opened by a punch, not a head-butt."

"We want a rematch. We can do it as soon as Henry's eye heals. What's that, probably 3-Months. We'll challenge
him anywhere."

[Master]