Karl Mildenberger Questions

he was ranked and ali was on a world tour.

more to do with his nationality than anything else.

 

I live in a neighbour country of Germany, and I watch German TV and watch German Boxing since many years. And I can ensure you nobody younger than 25 knows the name "Karl Mildenberger" (or Jürgen Blin=the other german who fought Ali).
And I don't mean that as disrespect to Mildenberger, I am just telling you how it is. Max Schmeling is the guy everybody knows cause he knocked out Joe Louis; I watched hundreds (or maybe thousands) of German Boxing Shows on German TV, and I can tell you Mildenberger was never mentioned even once.

 

Greetings! Baclava, from a "Yank" in Indianapolis, IN. 60's boxing was special to me growing up and Mildenberger, in retrospect, was a respectable contender and a ''southpaw'' to boot. He had some good wins and not any particularly bad losses as far as I can see. Ali was on his "world tour" as a poster said but, at that time (unlike his second reign), he wasn't taking on "bums" and Karl was no bum.

 

Germany vs USA, that sold and will always sell
"world tour"
He was good enough
Fight wasn't a stinker so it's ok he didn't fight a world beater.

What was "less ok" is that team Ali planned on fighting Dick Tiger, but that didn't go on because Ali had to retire for a few years.


As far as I know Ali got the best southpaw resume except for Holyfield and George Foreman of all top 10 HWs if you don't count Wlad as one.

Southpaws had an especially hard time getting fights in the past, and they're still not well liked for their awkwardness.

 

I've read about that one. Seems like an Ali (at the time) wanting to bolster up an African fighter (and a GREAT one at that)
He would have carried Dick until he wanted to stop him plain and simple.

 

Ali was trying to get in as many fights he could before he headed off to the Military.

Mildenberger's ability to trouble Ali is indicative that the 60's Ali wasn't as good as people today think he was.

 

Guys like Mildenberger are the reason guys like Mickey Goldmill believed southpaws should be drowned at birth. They can make a good fighter look bad.

 

I think we all know that the "real" Ali didn't always turn up for fights, he didn't always show his best.

60's Ali was good enough to beat anybody around at the time, and would later prove his worth in the 70's!

 

I think ali struggled a bit with southpaws as it took him a few rounds to work them out. mildenberger had a good quick right jab and he was light on his feet.

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Bump

 

I know he was knocked cold in the first round by fringe contender Dick Richardson.

 

After his defeat by Dick Richardson, he was nicknamed "Charles the Flat" (Karl der Flache) in the press, with regard to emperor "Charles the Great" (in German: "Karl der Große").

Anyway, “**** happens” and that happened to plenty other good boxers as well.

Before Mildenberger fought Ali in 1966, he had a couple of good wins against Piero Tomasoni, Gerhard Zech and Eddie Machen. I once read that he was No.4 in the world at that time (but I don't know which ranking).

After his remarkable loss to the phenomenal Muhammad Ali, he defeated three decent journeymen (Piero Tomasoni, Billy Walker and Amos Lincoln) and was arguably No.1 contender before losing to Oscar Bonavena (September 1967) in the WBA Elimination Tournament.

Some of Mildenberger's NBA Ratings for 1967:
- April 1, #1 (Champion Muhammad Ali)
- May to September, #1 (Title Vacant)
- October, #8 (Title Vacant)

 

Pretty sure he was the reigning European champion at the time of the Ali world tour / fight. He was also the first southpaw to ever fight for the Heavyweight title. A great little claim to fame. The fight was also in 6oz gloves.