Bernd 'Bearbeiten' August, The 6' 7" 212 lb. 'Beanpole from Berlin' The German Heavyweight Champion was 'the one' that Muhammad Ali wanted to defend his Heavyweight Championship against in 1975, untill he saw him fight. By March 1975, the 23 year-old 212 lb. Heavyweight was immensley popular in Germany, and many boxing pundits thought that the 6' 7" boxer could do damage to the aged Muhammad Ali. Riding a record of 20-1-1 (11 KO's), Bernd was not a big puncher, but he was a difficult fighter to hit, as 'Bearbeiten' used his 'tentacle' like arms to wrap up his opponent in knots. Like a spider who ties up his victim, Bernd could sling his arms under his opponent, tangle his arms around his opponents arms, and twist their arms out their sockets. After Muhammad Ali got a look see at Bernd 'manhandling' the 'super strong' Guiseppe 'Bepi' Ros in March 1975, Muhammad was no longer interested in tangling with the German Heavyweight. Muhammad Ali, 'He looks like a Squid. Those long tentacles, look like whips. His punches might not hurt, but I heard they sting.' This content is protected
Bernd August, 'It would be fantastic to have the Champion - Muhammad Ali come here to Berlin.' 'I will feel bad about beating him, but I will give him a rematch.' 'I'm not worried about his toughness, as I have already been in the ring with Guiseppe 'Bepi' Ros, and came out the winner.' This content is protected
Still, you have to give Ali credit for facing the awesome might of Richard Dunn and Jean Pierre Coopman, both of whom defeated August. As August himself observed when asked about a meeting with Ali (in 1976, before his loss to Dunn for the European title), "I am simply not in the same class, so it would be pointless to get in the same ring."
SD, The German Fantasy was over, after Bernd August got 'flushed' by (L TKO 3) Argentinian Light-Heavyweight - Avenmar Peralta in September 1975. Then in April 1976, in an Elimination bout to fight Muhammad Ali, Bernd got 'hammered' like an apple strudel (L KO 4) by Ricard Dunn.
April 6, 1976 Few people know that the Richard Dunn vs. Bernd August bout for the 'vacant' European Boxing Union Championship fight was also an Elimination Bout for the right to Challenge - Muhammad Ali. Bernd August was 'shocked and stopped' by (L KO 4). But, he did rebound, with big knockout wins over Harmut Sasse, and Rudiger Schmidtke, following that loss to Richard Dunn. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Below, April 7, 1978 The 26 year-old Bernd, now with a record of 26-4-1 (16 KO's) took on Tony Moore in Berlin, Germany. Former Heavyweight Champion - 'Smokin Joe' Frazier was talking about coming back, and his first opponent was to be the 'Bearbeiten'. The 6' 6" and 217 lb. Bernd, was now the former German Heavyweight Champion, and said that he felt he would give the fomer Champion Joe Frazier a good fight. This content is protected
Mr. McVey, Two 'early' bouts were missing off of Mr. August's win record. In 1973 versus - July {W Dec 8} over Kilani Ramdani,,,,, and August (KO 3) over Kurt Luedecke I contacted Box/Rec to add them.
Mr. McVey, No apology neccessary. You are a well respected contributor... And, we need to give Bernd August as many wins as possible.............
April 6, 1976 'Matter Of Gravity' 'The Right To Fight Muhammad Ali' Royal Albert Hall - London, United Kingdom In a bout for the 'vacant' European Heavyweight Championship, and right to fight Muhammad Ali on May 24, 1976 in the United States. Richard Dunn scored a 'one-sided battering' (KO 3) over 6' 7" 'Beanpole' Bernd August of Germany. The 31 year-old - 6' 4" 206 lb. Richard Dunn wasted little time, as he staggered the 24 year-old 213 lb. Bernd with a left hook in the '1st-Round'. Dunn had the German reeling, and almost dropped him with with 'two' left hooks to the chin near the end of the Round. In Round 2, Dunn again found a home for the left hook, causing a large swelling under Bernd's left eye. Several more left hooks had the German staggering, and Referee - Amelto Belagamba issued a Standing 8-Count on the battered Bernd. In Round 3, Dunn attacked the German who was unable to see out of his left eye and wobbled Bernd several times with hard left hands. As Dunn continued to press the attack, it was obvious that Bernd was in trouble as he was on shaky legs. Then at the 1:31 Mark, Dunn dropped Bernd with a smashing left hook to the jaw. Bernd got up at the 3-Count, but was unable to see out of his left eye, and he 'no bearings' of where he was. The Referee called a halt to the bout at 1:38 of Round 3. Richard Dunn, now with a record of 33-9-0 (16 KO's), won the European Heavyweight Championship, and a World Heavyweight Title opportunity. Bernd August who had predicted a 6th Round Knockout victory, drops to 23-4-1 (13 KO's). 'Richard Dunn Floors Bernd August in Round 3' This content is protected
