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CONTINUING WORK ON THE ZECH REPLAY
Carrying forward Karl Mildenberger's career through 1966 in the
alternative path of Zech's after having lost the European Title
to German stable mate Zech in late 1965, Karl first signs on to
fight veteran heavyweight Albert Westphal for the vacant German
Heavyweight Title. For Westphal, it's going to be one last shot
at the spotlight in German heavyweight boxing after loosing the
German crown to Zech back in 1963.
April 15, 1966
In Hamburg, Germany,
Karl Mildenberger(46-3-3) vs Albert Westphal(38-13-6)
For the German Heavyweight Title
The fight turns out to be long 12 rounds of plodding movement
by both of these fighters. Not a lot of action to get excited
about as there's no knockdowns by either. It ends up a UD in 12
rounds for Mildenberger crowning him the German Heavyweight
Champ. The line score was 115-112,115-112,115-112.
Karl then agrees to take on former World Heavyweight Champ
Sonny Liston in Gothenburg, Sweden. For Liston, he's gone
overseas to get him a fight where he can after the debacle of
the two Ali fights in 1964 and 1965. For Karl, this could be a
fight to shed a little light maybe back on him in the
international boxing community if he could take down the former
World champ.
June 14, 1966
In Gothenburg, Sweden
Karl Mildenberger(47-3-3) vs Sonny Liston(35-3-0)
A scheduled 10 round bout.
Liston controls this fight from the start. Through the first 7
rounds, Liston was ahead on on score cards 69-64 with
Mildenberger only able to control things in the 3rd round. Then
in the 8th about a 1/2 minute in, Liston puts Karl down for a 5
count. Mildenberger regains himself for a short bit, but then
Liston floors Karl again for a 2nd time and this time he stays
down for an 8th round KO at the 2:08 mark.
Karls lays off 5 months after the tough defeat to Liston before
he agrees to take on up and coming Jurgen Blin. It will be a
title defence of this German Heavyweight Title.
November 18, 1966
In Cologne, Germany
Karl Mildenberger(47-4-3) vs Jurgen Blin(11-3-2)
A scheduled 12 rounds for the German Heavyweight Title
This is a close fight for the first 6 rounds. Karl was ahead
58-56 on two of the cards while the 3rd judge had Blin ahead
58-56. This thing could have gone either way if it had gone the
full 12. But then it came to a sudden ending just as the 7th
round got started. As the 7th started....
0:00 Here come the fighters to ring center...
0:03 That punch landed high on Mildenberger's forehead. Oh!
Jurgen Blin's face is contorted from the pain. He's holding his
hand. He must have hurt it badly. The referee is coming over...
Jurgen Blin can't continue, and this fight is over!
MIldenberger wins via TKO!
Karl gets handed a win that maybe he wouldn't have had?! Boy
does this set itself up for a rematch?! Interesting thing about
this. The real fight between Zech and Blin ended in a 12 round
draw. The two fought a rematch in Feb. 1967 which ended in
another 12 round draw! The end of this fight between
Mildenberger and Blin sure makes it a situation where Karl just
has to give Blin a rematch and soon!!
So that leads us out of the year 1966. Here again are the 1966
year end top 10 with Zech tranposed into Mildenberger's slot.
Champ - Muhammad Ali
1. Ernie Terrell
2. Zora Folley
3. Thad Spencer
4. Floyd Patterson
5. Gerhard Zech
6. Joe Frazier
7. Oscar Bonavena
8. George Chuvalo
9. Johnny Persol
10. Manuel Ramos
And hanging around just below that #10 rung we got the rest of
these guys....
Mildenberger
Lincoln
Jones
Hilton
London
Ellis
Cooper
Quarry
Tomasoni(Maybe not really a contender but an important fight
coming up in 1967)
Mathis
Corletti
Martin
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