Karl 'Milde' Mildenberger

Karl 'Milde' Mildenberger

The German 'southpaw' Heavyweight

One of the better European boxers in the early and mid 1960's.

'Milde' of the sharp right jab, and the straight left hand.

At 6' 1 1/2" and 195 lbs. Was a solidly built fighter, with good technical skills.

Was a 'pesky' and 'persitent' Challenger for the World Heavyweight Championship in September 1966.

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Karl 'Milde' Mildenberger

By September 1966, was the #1 WBA Challenger.

Despite the 49-2-3 (17 KO's) record, several of the boxing experts
considered 'Milde' nothing more than a 'Class B' challenger.

Riding a 4+ year 'unbeaten streak' since March 1962, Karl had gone 19-0-3 (4 KO's) during that span.

Included was the European Boxing Union Heavyweight Championship.

The 'positive', Karl was an aggressive fighter, and was a busy boxer who
threw alot of punches.

The 'negative', he could be hit with a hard counter-punch, and did
not react well when hit solid.

Karl was an active fighter (always scheduled for bouts), and he relied
on 'timing' to land his 'standard' 1-2 from the southpaw stance.

His record is loaded with 'victories' over the 'lower tier' Top 20 Heavyweights (Ranked from #11 thru #20).

W Dec 10 - Alonzo Johnson
W Dec 10 - Wayne Bethea
W Dec 10 - Joe Erskine
KO 3 ------ Billy Daniels
Draw 10 -- Archie McBride
W Dec 10 - Archie McBride
Draw 10 -- Zora Folley
KO 1------ Santo Amonti
Draw 10 -- Amos Johnson
W Dec 10 - Jefferson Davis
KO 5 ------ Kirk Barrow
W Dec 15 - Piero Tomasoni
W Dec 10 - Dave Bailey
W Dec 15 - Gerhard Zech
W Dec 10 - Eddie Machen
W Dec 15 - Ivan Preberg

* The Draw 10 with Zora Folley was a 'flat out' robbery.

* The W Dec 10 over 'journeyman' Dave Bailey was 'controversial', as
'Milde' was floored 'twice', and was on the verge of being 'knocked out'
when the Referee jumped in and called an end to Round 7, though there
was still '1-minute' to go.

 

Dave Bailey, a Muhammad Ali 'sparring partner' put Karl Mildenberger
down 'twice' in their bout on September 10, 1965.

The Referee saved 'Milde' from a 'knockout', when he called an 'early'
ending to the round.

The Skinny on Mildenberger.

A courageous and agressive fighter. A southpaw, who sometimes squares up.

Sometimes, likes to lead with his left, and deliver his 'best punch', a left to the
liver. Will usually stay busy for the entire round, always trying to move forward.

He could be hit with the straight right hand counter-punch. 'Milde'
had a tendency to walk straight right-in and drop his left hand, when
throwing out a hard right jab.

For what it's worth, Mildenberger fought very well versus Muhammad Ali,
and was in 'every round'. Won several rounds by landing the 'crisper' punches,
and did land a couple of good left's to the body, which hurt the Champion.

'If' Mildenberger had a good chin, he would have been right there with the
Champion at the end of 15-Rounds.

 

Saint Pat,

I have alot on Thad Spencer, I could do a thread.

More on Karl 'Milde' Mildenberger -

After a sparring session in September 1966 at the Hotel Weigand in Bad Soden, Germany -
witnessed by former Heavyweight Champion Joe Louis.

"I've seen enough, this is painful to watch. The guy drops his right hand, and stays 'squared up',
like he's not sure if he wants to fight southpaw or right-handed. He's right in front of you,
asking to be hit with the straight right hand.'

'What he should do, is to keep sticking the right jab out there, while trying to get into position
to throw his good left hand to the body. Karl is not a natural fighter, but he does appear to
be aggressive, and that alone will make for a good fight for 5 or 6 Rounds.'

'If I fought him, he'd be lucky to last 3-Rounds. I will imagine that he will give Clay
some trouble for 5 or 6 Rounds, before the Champion starts dropping in right hands.
I will be suprised if the German makes it through 8 Rounds.'

 

Friday Night - September 16, 1965

Ernst Merk Hall - Hamburg, Germany

Karl Mildenberger 45-2-3 (19 KO's)

The 27 1/2 year old German, is looking for another 'easy fight', while
edging towards a World Championship title shot.

The 6' 1 1/2" - 195 lb. 'southpaw' and European Heavyweight Champion
would like to fight WBA Heavyweight Champion - Ernie Terrell next.

His opponent, American 'journeyman' and Muhammad Ali 'sparring partner',
Dave Bailey.

Dave Bailey, a 32 1/2 year-old, 6' 1 1/2" 212 lb. Heavyweight, is primarily
a 'record-padder' for Top Heavyweights looking to stay busy. With a 'spotty'
record of 14-13-3 (9 KO's), Bailey does not even pose as a 'minimal threat'
to good Heavyweights.

In his last '7-Bouts', Mr. Bailey has gone 0-6-1, and has been 'stopped' '4' times.
His 'last victory', was 3-years ago, in August 1962.

The bout,

Karl Mildenberger builds up a 'solid lead' through 6-Rounds, and appears to be on his way
to an easy 'workmanlike' decision.

When in the 7th Round, a lackadasical 'Milde' gets caught by an 'out-of-nowhere' right
hand, and is floored. Upon rising, Mildenberger is pounded to the canvas again by
another Dave Bailey right hand.

This time, when 'Milde' gets up, he is in real bad shape, and flounders to the ropes, where
the American starts to unload on an 'out-on-his-feet' Mildenberger, when suddenly the
German Referee jumps in and calls an 'end-to-the-round'. But, he calls an end at
only the 2-Minute mark.

Dave Bailey's corner protests wildy, but to no avail. The then 'still dazed' Mildenberger somehow
sleep walks through the last 3-Rounds, and escapes with a Unanimous 10-Round Decision win.
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As a 'side note' Karl Mildenberger was supposed fight WBA Champion - Ernie Terrell
in 1965, if George Chuvalo could not make it.

 

Karl 'Milde' Mildenberger,

Did put together several good wins in 1967 after his 'losing' effort to Muhammad Ali
in September 1966.

He 'defended' his European Boxing Union Championship 'twice'. And stopped (TKO 6)
American - Amos 'Big Train' Lincoln in a 'WBA' Heavyweight Elimination bout.

2/1/67 -- W Dec 15 over - Piero Tomasoni
3/21/67 - W Dec 15 over - Billy 'Golden Boy' Walker
5/6/67 -- TKO 6 over ----- Amos 'Big Train' Lincoln

Mildenberger upped his record to 52-3-3 (18 KO's)

That was good enough to get 'Milde' back to the #1 WBA Heavyweight, and
entered into the WBA Heavyweight Championship Regional Tournament.

Note; Former Heavyweight Champion - Sonny Liston tried to get Mildenberger to
fight him in Sweden in mid-1967, but Mildenberger 'smartly' avoided 'The Big Bear'.