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Rocco Del Sesto · 02-12-2004, 07:27 PM

Gerhard Zech's 37th fight.... 1965-11-26 Frankfurt, Germany

Gerhard Zech (34-1-1) vs Karl Mildenberger(46-2-3)
A scheduled 15 rounds for the European Heavyweight Title!

Two southpaws meet up in this big European Title fight!

Mildenberger would have to be considered one of the top European Heavyweights up through the mid 1960's if maybe not the top European HW's of all time? From 1958 thru June 1966 he compiled a 49-2-3 record. Lack of a big knockout punch though for Karl as he had only 17 KO/TKO's in those 49 wins maybe keeps him from attaining more greatness outside of Europe. In that time period he fought and defeated the likes of Mariano Echevarria, Alain Cherville(Twice), Wim Snoek(twice), LHW-Alex Buxton who was at the tail end of his career, Franco Cavicchi(also on the backside career wise), Frankie Daniels(37-35-6,22KO), Jose Gonzalez Sales, YOung Jack Johnson, Federico Friso, Joe Bygraves, Ulli Ritter, Von Clay, Wayne Bathea, Joe Erskine, Archie McBRide, Sante Amonti(whom he defeated in Oct. 1964 for the then vacant European HW Title), Jefferson Davis,Piero Tomasoni(Defending his European Title), Dave Bailey, Gerhard Zech (whom Karl won a 15 round decision in Nov. 1965 in thier European Title fight), Eddie Machen and Yvan Prebeg(Another 15 round defence of the European Title.

Karl also drew with Archie McBride, Zora Folley and Amos Johnson. He lost to LWH- Helmut Ball(his first career loss in November 1959) and to Dick Richardson(Richardson KO'd Karl in the 1st round for the European HW Title).

All that fighting moves us up to Karl's big chance in September 1966 for the World Heavyweight Title against Ali. MIldenberger was the first southpaw to fight for the World HW Title. Karl took Ali into the 12th round before the fight was stopped, ALI TKO winner. After that Karl defeated Tomasoni and Billy Walker each in 1967 for the European HW Title. He then beat Amos Lincoln before loosing to Oscar Bonavena in September 1967 in the first round of the WBA Heavyweight Elimination Tournament being staged by the WBA to replacement for Ali's crown.

After his defeat to Bonavena, Mildenberger defeated Gerhard Zech a 2nd time in 15 rounds for the European Title. Two defeats though after that finished up Karl's career, a 7th round KO to Leotis Martin and then an 8th round disqualification to Henry Cooper handing the European Title to Cooper.

As mentioned above, Mildenberger and Zech battled for 15 rounds in 1965 with Karl taking the decision. I'd like to really know more about what that fight was really like.

In my replay, these two took a rather defensive approach for the first 4 rounds with Karl taking the advantage in 3 of the rounds. In the 5th round they finally started trading punches with more action following in the 6th. The 7th was a close defensive round again. Then in the 8th, Zech lands an uppercut that drops Karl for a 4 count giving Zech a decisive 8th round. From the 9th through the 14th rounds, they fought back and forth. One fighter would get a bit of advantage in one round then the other would come back in the next or they'd fight it even. Over it all though through that 14 rounds Zech gradually built himself an advantage to bring on the 15th where Karl pretty much needed a KO to win it.

Instead, Zech manages a tremendous body punch that drops Karl for the 2nd time in the fight. Karl gets up in 5, but the damage is done with Gerhard Zech winning the European Heavyweight Championship!! It was a UD with the scores 146-138, 146-138 and 144-141.

I was hoping to see this kind of fight between these two. I think we saw them go at it pretty much like a bet they did in 1965.

Next time out we'll see GErhard defend his German HW Title in April 1966 against WEstphal. So for the next time, see you in.....

Hamburg, Germany for
Gehard ZEch (35-1-1) vs Albert Westphal(38-13-6)

02-12-2004, 07:27 PM	#246
Rocco Del Sesto Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Watkinsville, Georgia Posts: 2,194	Gerhard Zech's 37th fight.... 1965-11-26 Frankfurt, Germany Gerhard Zech (34-1-1) vs Karl Mildenberger(46-2-3) A scheduled 15 rounds for the European Heavyweight Title! Two southpaws meet up in this big European Title fight! Mildenberger would have to be considered one of the top European Heavyweights up through the mid 1960's if maybe not the top European HW's of all time? From 1958 thru June 1966 he compiled a 49-2-3 record. Lack of a big knockout punch though for Karl as he had only 17 KO/TKO's in those 49 wins maybe keeps him from attaining more greatness outside of Europe. In that time period he fought and defeated the likes of Mariano Echevarria, Alain Cherville(Twice), Wim Snoek(twice), LHW-Alex Buxton who was at the tail end of his career, Franco Cavicchi(also on the backside career wise), Frankie Daniels(37-35-6,22KO), Jose Gonzalez Sales, YOung Jack Johnson, Federico Friso, Joe Bygraves, Ulli Ritter, Von Clay, Wayne Bathea, Joe Erskine, Archie McBRide, Sante Amonti(whom he defeated in Oct. 1964 for the then vacant European HW Title), Jefferson Davis,Piero Tomasoni(Defending his European Title), Dave Bailey, Gerhard Zech (whom Karl won a 15 round decision in Nov. 1965 in thier European Title fight), Eddie Machen and Yvan Prebeg(Another 15 round defence of the European Title. Karl also drew with Archie McBride, Zora Folley and Amos Johnson. He lost to LWH- Helmut Ball(his first career loss in November 1959) and to Dick Richardson(Richardson KO'd Karl in the 1st round for the European HW Title). All that fighting moves us up to Karl's big chance in September 1966 for the World Heavyweight Title against Ali. MIldenberger was the first southpaw to fight for the World HW Title. Karl took Ali into the 12th round before the fight was stopped, ALI TKO winner. After that Karl defeated Tomasoni and Billy Walker each in 1967 for the European HW Title. He then beat Amos Lincoln before loosing to Oscar Bonavena in September 1967 in the first round of the WBA Heavyweight Elimination Tournament being staged by the WBA to replacement for Ali's crown. After his defeat to Bonavena, Mildenberger defeated Gerhard Zech a 2nd time in 15 rounds for the European Title. Two defeats though after that finished up Karl's career, a 7th round KO to Leotis Martin and then an 8th round disqualification to Henry Cooper handing the European Title to Cooper. As mentioned above, Mildenberger and Zech battled for 15 rounds in 1965 with Karl taking the decision. I'd like to really know more about what that fight was really like. In my replay, these two took a rather defensive approach for the first 4 rounds with Karl taking the advantage in 3 of the rounds. In the 5th round they finally started trading punches with more action following in the 6th. The 7th was a close defensive round again. Then in the 8th, Zech lands an uppercut that drops Karl for a 4 count giving Zech a decisive 8th round. From the 9th through the 14th rounds, they fought back and forth. One fighter would get a bit of advantage in one round then the other would come back in the next or they'd fight it even. Over it all though through that 14 rounds Zech gradually built himself an advantage to bring on the 15th where Karl pretty much needed a KO to win it. Instead, Zech manages a tremendous body punch that drops Karl for the 2nd time in the fight. Karl gets up in 5, but the damage is done with Gerhard Zech winning the European Heavyweight Championship!! It was a UD with the scores 146-138, 146-138 and 144-141. I was hoping to see this kind of fight between these two. I think we saw them go at it pretty much like a bet they did in 1965. Next time out we'll see GErhard defend his German HW Title in April 1966 against WEstphal. So for the next time, see you in..... Hamburg, Germany for Gehard ZEch (35-1-1) vs Albert Westphal(38-13-6)