Did Ali actually struggle with Mildenberger?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Melankomas, Jul 22, 2025.

  1. themaster458

    themaster458 Well-Known Member Full Member

    Joined:
    May 17, 2022
    Messages:
    2,481
    Likes Received:
    3,108
    Yeah it was a weak era
     
  2. MarkusFlorez99

    MarkusFlorez99 Boxing Junkie Full Member

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2021
    Messages:
    14,170
    Likes Received:
    16,228
    Mildenberger drew with Folley and beat Zech, and he looked world class, he looks more skilled than someone like Kevin Lerena and Wallin
     
    META5, Pugguy and RockyValdez like this.
  3. MarkusFlorez99

    MarkusFlorez99 Boxing Junkie Full Member

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2021
    Messages:
    14,170
    Likes Received:
    16,228
    This content is protected
     
  4. Pugguy

    Pugguy Ingo, The Thinking Man’s GOAT Full Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2021
    Messages:
    16,798
    Likes Received:
    27,580
    It wasn’t a struggle - in relative terms, it simply wasn’t quite as easy as many of the other fights prime Ali had.

    New territory and Ali sorted it out in good time and would’ve been that much more effective next time around - as someone has already correctly pointed out.

    We get it though, it’s a thin platform for some eager beavers to extrapolate Usyk having advantage over Ali.

    Yes, exaggerate Ali’s difficulties while ignoring the learning process, reactionary adjustments and ultimately successful outcome while woefully underrating the opponent in question - that’s the perfect formula. :lol:
     
  5. ThatOne

    ThatOne Boxing Addict Full Member

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2022
    Messages:
    6,127
    Likes Received:
    8,434
    It helps to have a great right to whup a southpaw. That Clay fella seems to have had one
     
  6. Pugguy

    Pugguy Ingo, The Thinking Man’s GOAT Full Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2021
    Messages:
    16,798
    Likes Received:
    27,580
    Yeah, it wasn’t too shabby, was it? I must watch more of his fights. :D
     
    ThatOne and Greg Price99 like this.
  7. dmt

    dmt Hardest hitting hw ever Full Member

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2006
    Messages:
    11,171
    Likes Received:
    16,700
    And yet way better than the era Usyk has dominated.
     
  8. Mandela2039

    Mandela2039 Philippians 2:10-11 Full Member

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2025
    Messages:
    693
    Likes Received:
    861
    Imagine dominating your opponents so much and so badly that when one presents you a somewhat lil more tougher challenge people start saying you "struggled"
     
    ThatOne, Bokaj, Showstopper97 and 3 others like this.
  9. themaster458

    themaster458 Well-Known Member Full Member

    Joined:
    May 17, 2022
    Messages:
    2,481
    Likes Received:
    3,108
    LOL no get real none of those guys from the 60s would even be in the top ten today.
     
    Pat M and MaccaveliMacc like this.
  10. dmt

    dmt Hardest hitting hw ever Full Member

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2006
    Messages:
    11,171
    Likes Received:
    16,700
    lol. Liston alone would demolish most of the top 10 today.
     
    Pugguy and JohnThomas1 like this.
  11. themaster458

    themaster458 Well-Known Member Full Member

    Joined:
    May 17, 2022
    Messages:
    2,481
    Likes Received:
    3,108
    Maybe in your fantasy were size doesn't matter and feints aren't real
     
    Pat M and MaccaveliMacc like this.
  12. AntonioMartin1

    AntonioMartin1 Jeanette Full Member

    Joined:
    Jan 23, 2022
    Messages:
    4,602
    Likes Received:
    3,712
    He struggled in the way Mike Tyson struggled with James Smith....Mildenberger made him sweat...
     
    ThatOne, Bokaj, META5 and 3 others like this.
  13. ETM

    ETM I thought I did enough to win. Full Member

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2012
    Messages:
    13,239
    Likes Received:
    11,557
    Southpaws will throw off a conventional fighters timing. Not many SP heavyweights. Ali was really good at adjusting on the fly.
     
    META5 and Pugguy like this.
  14. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

    Joined:
    Jun 2, 2006
    Messages:
    97,654
    Likes Received:
    28,934
    I was at the Cooper fight Mildenberger was intentionally butting.Cooper was winning easily Mildenberger was not in the best of shape.
     
  15. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

    Joined:
    Jun 2, 2006
    Messages:
    97,654
    Likes Received:
    28,934
    The Folley draw was controversial,as many decisions in Germany were.

    Mildenberger,like Cooper, was just short of true world class imo.
    He generally was beaten when he stepped up the quality of his opponents,and he struggled mightily with David Bailey a journeyman.