New HW Boxers Rated

[IceTea]

18-8 11 KOs

Wins: Derrick Banks SD10, Frankie Swindell W10, Mark Willis W10, Melvin Foster TKO 7, Marion Wilson MD10.

Losses: Maskaev TKO3, Banks UD10, Tua MD10, Rahman KO9 (rocked Rahman several times), Grant SD10, Byrd UD10.

Wooden, based on his close fights with Tua, Rahman, and Grant is better than his 18-8 record would indicate. His overall rating is a 4.

Mark J.

[mking55]

Funny you should ask about Mildenberger-Ali. A book I am currently reading, "Facing Ali" by Steven Brunt contains a chapter on Karl Mildenberger. (When I finish the book shortly, I will post a rave review on this fascinating book).

Anyhow, a brief section from the Mildenberger chapter:
'No one argued with the stoppage. Mildenberger was finished. Still, the German fans that had treated him (Mildenberger) so cruelly in defeat earlier in his career immediately understood, this time, the nobility of his effort. For the first time since Schmeling, one of their own had nearly reached the top. He hadn't been flattened in a round or two. He hadnn't surrendered. He had given Ali trouble. He'd hit him with that one great shot to the belly--not victory, but moral victory. And a new national hero was anointed. "I wasn't disappointed," Mildenberger says. "People gave me three or four rounds and I went twelve with the loudmouth. If I had not had any cuts, I could have gone fifteen rounds. I proved to myself and I proved to him that I could stand up to the loudmouth. Ali came into my corner and gave me a tap on the shoulder, in recognition.
"It was absolutely great when the fans hoisted me in the air. I lifted my arms, in a token of victory. In this case, it wasn't a victory over Ali, but a victory over myself. I was always faithful to my town and my country. I was born here, and I was a hero here. The older generation, they still recognize me. Nobody talks about my being European champion. They talk about this fight".'

[Rocco Del Sesto]

Great info on Mildenberger! I'd seen a short writeup on that same book on CyberBoxingZone. It sounds intersting and looks to be a book worth checking out.

thanks
Rocco

[Rocco Del Sesto]

SEPTEMBER 10, 1966
FRANKFURT'S WALD FESTHALL STADIUM
FRANKFURT, GERMANY

The Challenger:
GERHARD ZECH, current European and German Heavyweight Champion with a record of 37wins/1loss/1draw/26KO

The Champion:
MUHAMMAD ALI, with a record of 25wins/0loss/0draw/20KO

A crowd of around 30,000 is settling into their seats and awaiting the bell for the beginning of this fight!.....

[Rocco Del Sesto]

ROUND 1.....

0:00 Jay Referson gives the fighters their final instructions. They touch gloves and return to their respective corners to await the bell for the start of Round 1.
0:06 Both fighters come into this fight predicting a win... Not that you'd expect anything else.
0:12 The action slows for the moment.
0:17 Ali pins Zech in the corner!
0:22 Ali tries to work his way inside, but can't do it.
0:26 Zech is receiving a lot of encouragement from his corner. If this helps win fights, he has a real good shot tonight.
0:35 Ali feels his back touch the ropes and immediately moves away. He doesn't want to get trapped there.
0:40 Ali can't score with short uppercut inside. Zech got his gloves in front of the punch.
0:42 Gerhard Zech hurts Ali with a quick, powerful uppercut on the inside.
0:52 Ali moves into a neutral corner.
0:52 The fighters are tangled up inside. Gerhard Zech has a hand free and lands a little uppercut.
01:01 Both fighters are keeping their distance for the moment.
01:04 Ali retreats into his own corner...
01:09 Gerhard Zech looks somewhat plodding as he tries to chase down Ali.
01:13 Ali appears to be trying to load up on his punches.
01:17 Ali's corner is shouting at him to be more aggressive. He seems to hear but it remains to be seen if he'll follow the advice.
01:20 Ali retreats into the left corner.
01:20 Gerhard Zech is trying to move in behind the jab, which lands.
01:29 Ali is trying to avoid shots to the body. He'd better look out for shots to the head!
01:37 Both fighters are flailing away but Gerhard Zech is definitely landing the better punches.
01:46 Zech lands a glancing, overhand right. He just missed landing that one square.
01:57 Zech steals a quick glance at his corner.
02:00 The fighters are exchanging blows! No one scored more on that exchange.
02:09 Both fighters ought to be using their jabs more to set up their other punches this round.
02:19 Ali fires the jab. It finds its target.
02:29 Zech hitches up his trunks. He'd better be careful. He may get nailed while his hands are down.
02:44 Ali works free! The fighters move to ring center.
02:48 Zech tries to push Ali back in an attempt to gain room to punch.
02:55 Ali forces his way inside and he lands a nice uppercut to the chin of Zech.
03:00 There's a nice round of applause from the crowd as the round comes to an end.

[Rocco Del Sesto]

ROUND 2.....

by the way I set this up as a championship fight with Ali of course the edge as champion. I just set both fighters with generic trainers, cutman, referee, judges, etc. as I've done for all of Zech's fights. I'm sorry, I have no clue on who these trainers, judges, etc. are in this game. Again I'm really quite the boxing rookie here.....

0:00 Ali looks to be in good shape as Round 2 gets underway.
0:08 Eddie Inabagsky was in Muhammad Ali's face between rounds and Ali just glared at him. We have no idea what the problem might have been.
0:09 Zech throws an uppercut from way outside. It lands but he's lucky! That's a dangerous punch to throw unless you're in close.
0:18 Zech pins Ali in the corner!
0:23 Zech misses with the jab. He lets go with a left and that fails to find its mark, either.
0:31 The two fighters clinch, throwing feeble punches as they grab a quick breather. Now they back away from each other.
0:34 Muhammad Ali has Zech cornered!
0:38 Ali lands a solid uppercut!
0:38 Zech was stopped cold by that blow!
0:49 Zech is covering up to prevent body shots, but he's leaving his chin dangerously unprotected!
0:53 Ali doubles up on the jab and he managed to score with the second one.
01:03 The two men are circling one another, looking for an opening.
01:14 Ali lands a hard jab!
01:14 Zech looks like he was hurt by that punch!
01:23 Both fighters need to close the distance between them.
01:30 Zech drops the right hand flush on Ali's chin!
01:30 Ali appears to have been staggered by that punch…
01:39 Ali quickly hitches up his trunks.
01:44 Neither fighter is straying far from the middle of the ring.
01:49 Ali has his arms wrapped around Zech... Now they separate. Ali finally lets go of Zech.
01:58 Both fighters are trying but neither fighter is having much success cutting off the ring this round.
02:02 Ali must have a lot of friends here tonight because a section of the crowd is going crazy even when he feints!
02:07 Ali can't win this fight if he just throws one punch at a time. Now he just unloaded a flurry of punches and several scored cleanly.
02:16 Ali is showing Zech a lot of respect. Probably more than he deserves at this point in the fight.
02:20 Gerhard Zech retreats into a neutral corner.
02:24 Ali is boxing beautifully, smoothly moving side to side and in and out.
02:30 Gerhard Zech's corner is shouting at him to stay off the ropes.
02:37 Ali lands a strong cross!
02:37 Gerhard Zech suddenly has a vacant look in his eyes. That's a bad sign.
02:47 They're coming back to the center of the ring now...
02:51 Zech wraps up Muhammad Ali. They separate themselves.
03:00 The bell ending Round 2 sounds and the fighters return to their corners.

[Rocco Del Sesto]

ROUND 3......

0:00 The bell sounds to start Round 3.
0:07 It's a knowledgeable crowd tonight. They are letting the fighters know they want to see some action and when it slows down they are quick with their show of displeasure.
0:10 Muhammad Ali has Zech trapped in the right neutral corner...
0:10 Each fighter is measuring the other. Now Ali lets his hands go and scores several quick punches to the head of Zech.
0:19 The two fighters lean on one another. Their arms are free and they should be throwing punches. Now they separate and the action resumes.
0:24 Ali backs into his own corner...
0:24 Zech lands the right hand. He's pretty effective with that punch when he sets it up right.
0:24 Jay Referson is telling Zech to watch holding and hitting.
0:33 Zech doesn't have to look for Ali this round. He is right there in front of him.
0:36 Zech scores with a jolting uppercut inside.
0:45 There seems to be more moving and clinching than we anticipated from these two. We didn't expect this bout to turn into a chess match.
0:53 Ali works himself free. Now the fighters move back to ring center.
0:58 Zech pushes Ali away to give himself a little more space to work with.
01:10 Ali seems really focused on what he's doing this round.
01:13 Zech traps Ali in the corner!
01:17 Zech fires and misses.
01:20 Ali throws another good combination that temporarily slows Zech.
01:28 Both fighters could do with varying their punches a little more.
01:35 Ali has Zech trapped!
01:35 Ali scores with the jab.
01:50 Oh! That was a straight right by Ali!
01:50 Zech is hurt!
02:00 Ali fires a short, ripping uppercut inside.
02:14 There's a straight right by Ali!
02:14 Zech is staggered…
02:29 Zech fails to connect with that punch. He pushed it out there instead of cutting loose with it.
02:35 He lands a smashing cross!
02:35 Gerhard Zech was stunned by that blow!
02:44 As high as Zech is holding his gloves he is leaving his body wide open to a damaging body punch if Muhammad Ali takes advantage of it.
02:56 Ali wings a big left hand at Zech but the latter sidesteps the punch.
03:00 Ali just comes up short with that shot.
03:00 The seconds jump into action in Zech's corner as the bell sounds ending Round 3.

[Rocco Del Sesto]

ROUND 4.......

0:00 Zech is getting his full rest as he remains on his stool as the Round 4 bell sounds. Now he's up and his corner scrambles to exit the ring.
0:08 The crowd is reacting to every punch thrown by these guys, whether it lands or not.
0:16 Ali doesn't connect with the cross.
0:18 Both of these guys look just like they came out of their dressing rooms - not a mark on them.
0:22 Both fighters sneak a breather as they clinch. Now they move apart.
0:30 Zech picks off the jab thrown by Ali.
0:37 The fighters are jockeying for position as both men try to gain the advantage here in the 4th.
0:41 Muhammad Ali slides into his own corner...
0:41 The cross scores for Zech. He needs to throw that punch more often.
0:50 Both fighters are staying cautious, and keeping out of range.
0:54 Muhammad Ali backs into a neutral corner.
0:54 Gerhard Zech shoots the cross in there, flush on the chin of Ali. He rocks him with that one.
01:03 Both fighters ought to be using their jabs more to set up their other punches this round.
01:12 No one is going to confuse Zech with a ballerina, but at least he isn't just standing still.
01:27 The two men continue to measure one another.
01:34 Gerhard Zech is forced into his own corner...
01:34 Muhammad Ali takes a half step back and unleashes a crunching uppercut that lands square.
01:43 A right cross from Zech gets through Ali's guard.
01:57 Ali smothers Zech's attack as Zech tries to get off some shots inside.
01:59 Upstairs and downstairs! Ali lands two quick blows and then moves away from Zech's counters.
02:09 Ali backs into the near corner.
02:13 Zech just misses with a huge shot as Ali chooses the perfect time to suddenly backpedal.
02:20 Both fighters take a half-step back.
02:27 Zech catches Ali coming in with a sweet uppercut!
02:27 He caught Ali's attention with that uppercut.
02:42 Zech swings...and misses.
02:54 Ali rains a combination of blows to the head and body of Zech and Zech tastes the canvas here in Round 4!
02:56 Jay Referson stands over Zech and begins counting...
02:56 1...
02:57 2...
02:58 3...
02:59 4...
03:00 Zech finds his legs and stands up but who knows how long he will be able to remain vertical!
03:00 Jay Referson is allowing the fight to continue. Zech looks real shaken to us, however.
03:00 The round's over but the effects of the knockdown on the crowd linger as many of them remain on their feet, shouting their approval of this fight.

[Rocco Del Sesto]

ROUND 5......

0:00 Here come the fighters to ring center...
0:12 The two fighters lean on one another, neither willing to do any work for the moment. The referee pushes them apart and tells them to get on with the action.
0:23 Ali misses badly. It looked like he changed his mind half way through the punch.
0:25 Both fighters show virtually nothing in the way of damage.
0:30 Ali takes a half step back as he tries to create some punching room.
0:34 Both fighters need to close the distance between them.
0:41 Muhammad Ali slides into the corner...
0:41 Zech throws a flurry of punches; at least two solid shots made it through. Now he moves away.
0:58 Muhammad Ali works free! He backs to ring center, with Gerhard Zech following.
01:02 Neither fighter is using their jab enough this round.
01:14 Muhammad Ali is clinching... Gerhard Zech is trying to free his gloves... They are under Ali's arms... Zech pushes Ali away.
01:29 Jay Referson is really doing a good job of controlling this fight. He's making sure that these fighters keep it clean.
01:38 Zech approaches flat-footed, but continues to move forward, not giving Ali any room to breathe.
01:47 Ali fires a left hand that Zech takes high on the shoulder.
01:49 Gerhard Zech seems to have shaken off the effects of last round's knockdown.
02:02 There's a pause in the action as both fighters regroup.
02:10 Gerhard Zech is just missing by a hair with his punches.
02:17 Zech's corner is shouting to their man, encouraging him to pick up the action.
02:20 Ali has Zech blocked in!
02:20 Ali lets his hands go again and gets in several scoring blows.
02:32 He scores to both the head and body and then moves away.
02:46 Zech is still trying to find the range with his punches. He's just missing with some of his shots.
02:53 Both fighters are working the angles, looking to get the upper hand in this contest.
02:56 Quick hands and feet can take you far in this game. Of course, having a good chin helps!
03:00 Not much happened in that round. It's going to be a tough round for the judges to score.

[Rocco Del Sesto]

0:00 Jay Referson motions the fighters together as the bell sounds to begin Round 6.
0:08 Jay Referson is getting too involved in the fight and is becoming more of a factor than a referee is supposed to be.
0:16 Zech's corner is urging him on. They're really vocal tonight.
0:24 Ali tries to muscle inside but Zech clinches him. Jay Referson moves in to break the clinch.
0:33 Neither fighter shows any wear and tear at this point.
0:42 Jay Referson yells at the fighters to separate but Muhammad Ali and Zech are a tangle of arms. Now they break clean.
0:51 Both fighters sneak a breather as they clinch. Now they move apart.
0:53 Zech is pinned in his own corner...
0:58 Ali is moving like he is walking on air tonight.
01:03 Gerhard Zech drills Ali with a left and right and another left.
01:16 There's a hard shot off the top of Gerhard Zech's head!
01:16 Zech appears shaken by this punch!
01:26 Zech is trying to find his timing. Punches that were finding the mark before are missing now.
01:29 Ali moves into the far corner.
01:33 Zech's punch actually goes behind Muhammad Ali as the latter moved inside just as Zech threw a looping shot.
01:41 Jay Referson is talking to Ali and seems to be telling him to quit playing around and start fighting.
01:43 Zech is blocked in his own corner...
01:43 The uppercut just landed by Muhammad Ali is a nice weapon on the inside.
01:52 Both fighters are staying cautious, and keeping out of range.
01:56 The fighters are at ring center...
01:56 Ali scores with one, two, three hard shots in a row!
02:04 Ali pushes Zech away to give himself a little more space to work with.
02:08 Both fighters take a half-step back.
02:14 There's a pause in the action as both fighters regroup.
02:18 Zech slides into a neutral corner...
02:27 Ali has Gerhard Zech pinned!
02:27 Ali lands with a short, quick uppercut in close.
02:27 A trickle of blood is coming from Zech's lip.
02:37 Zech backs into a neutral corner.
02:41 Ali voluntarily moves onto the ropes.
02:47 The action is at ring center.
02:52 There's a clinch. Neither fighter seems to want to break. Ali and Zech each take a step back.
03:00 Muhammad Ali retreats into a neutral corner.
03:00 Gerhard Zech is holding. Well, he can't get hit if Ali can't throw punches, I guess. Jay Referson separates the two...
03:00 Round 6 finishes with the sound of the bell.

[IceTea]

Following Zech to the championship shot is similar to when I followed Boom Boom Mancini to his shot back in the late 70s.

MJ

[Rocco Del Sesto]

ROUND 7.....

0:00 Ali rushes out at the bell. Whatever his corner said to him seems to have him fired up.
0:12 Ali tries to drop the right hand over the top but Zech ducks under it.
0:19 Zech lands a crushing uppercut!
0:19 Ali is trying to reach for the ropes! His legs have turned to jelly!
0:32 Zech fires a volley of punches but Muhammad Ali was already moving laterally and was out of harm's way by the time Zech started punching.
0:39 Zech shoots the jab into the chest of Ali.
0:39 Zech wants to end this fight right now. Whether or not he can do it is another story.
0:48 Zech has Ali cornered!
0:52 Ali is challenging Zech to fight him and quit clinching.
01:06 Both fighters move to ring center.
01:10 Oh!!! Gerhard Zech unleashed a crippling right hand to the head!
01:10 OH! He landed it square and Ali felt it!
01:19 Ali is trapped in Zech's corner...
01:19 Zech tries to double up on the hook to the body and at least one gets through.
01:19 Zech has hurt Ali very early in the round. Ali is going to have to call on all his tricks to survive with this much time to go.
01:32 Zech telegraphed that shot and Ali ducks under it easily.
01:40 Ali pops a jab home. That punch didn't hurt but it still scored points.
01:49 Ali doubles up on the hook, scoring cleanly to the body and head of Gerhard Zech.
01:59 Both fighters are keeping their distance for the moment.
02:04 There's the uppercut from Ali. That opening has been there all fight for him.
02:13 The two fighters clinch, throwing feeble punches as they grab a quick breather. Now they back away from each other.
02:17 There's a combination of punches from Ali that score big.
02:28 Seems like both fighters are landing a lot of punches, but it is tough to tell just how much effect they are having.
02:31 Ali has to avoid throwing just one shot at a time. There! He gets off a nice combination of punches that shake Zech.
02:40 Both fighters ought to be using their jabs more to set up their other punches this round.
02:51 Muhammad Ali looks for a breather; he grabs Zech and holds on. Zech pushes Ali off and looks for an opening.
03:00 Zech lets his hands go but his punches land on the arms of Ali.
03:00 A nice action round, as both fighters had their moments and receive a well-deserved round of applause as they head for their corners.

[Rocco Del Sesto]

ROUND 8.....

0:00 The seconds hurry out of Ali's corner as the bell sounds for Round 8.
0:06 Eddie Inabagsky seemed to pump up Ali between rounds.
0:07 There's a lead right hand that finds its mark. That can be a dangerous punch. Muhammad Ali better be careful when he throws that one.
0:11 Muhammad Ali looks fresher than Zech.
0:16 The two fighters lean on one another, neither willing to do any work for the moment. The referee pushes them apart and tells them to get on with the action.
0:24 Zech continues to follow Muhammad Ali about the ring.
0:28 The two men are circling one another, looking for an opening.
0:32 Muhammad Ali has Zech trapped in the near right neutral corner...
0:36 Ali leaves the jab just short.
0:39 Zech shoots the right home. That's a sneaky punch.
0:52 Ali is gliding around the ring like it's his own personal dance floor.
0:56 Ali seems really focused on what he's doing this round.
0:59 Both fighters are exchanging blows! Gerhard Zech scored more on that exchange.
01:08 The fighters are jockeying for position as both men try to gain the advantage here in the 8th.
01:15 Zech brushes the ropes and quickly spins away, heading back to ring center.
01:20 Zech grabs Ali. Too much of this kind of thing can have a negative affect on the scoring of the fight. Referee Jay Referson separates the two...
01:29 There's a pause in the action as both fighters regroup.
01:33 Zech retreats into the lower right corner.
01:37 Jay Referson warns Muhammad Ali for holding and hitting, although he is doing a lot more holding than hitting.
01:47 Zech is staying at the center of the ring.
01:51 Zech is like an old steam train going uphill. He just keeps chugging away trying to move inside on Ali.
01:56 Neither fighter seems to be anxious to mix it up. They've been a little overly cautious so far this round.
01:59 Both fighters ought to be using their jabs more to set up their other punches this round.
02:08 Gerhard Zech moves in at an angle, trying to cut off the ring on Muhammad Ali.
02:13 These guys are giving head feints, faking jabs, doing everything but throwing punches at the moment.
02:22 Muhammad Ali lands a devastating jab!
02:22 Zech had better reach deep if he's going to continue!
02:31 Ali tries to push Zech back in an attempt to gain room to punch.
02:41 Zech misses with what looked like a backhand. He's lucky. If that had landed, he might have drawn a warning.
02:47 Both fighters need to close the distance between them.
02:55 They are working the angles, looking to get the upper hand in this contest.
03:00 There's the bell. That brings Round 8 to a close.

[Rocco Del Sesto]

ROUND 9.....

0:00 Round 9 is about to begin... There's the bell!
0:11 Ali backs into the left corner.
0:15 Considering the clinch Zech has on Ali it looks like he wants to dance with him, not fight him. Muhammad Ali pushes him away.
0:29 Oh! That was a straight right by Zech!
0:29 Ali seems to have been hurt by that punch!
0:44 Ali is trying to free his gloves from under Zech's gloves.
0:53 The two men continue to measure one another.
01:00 Zech can't find the range with that punch.
01:07 It's a sweet uppercut by Ali! He snapped Zech's head straight back with that punch!
01:07 He made Zech blink with that shot!
01:18 The two fighters lean on one another. Their arms are free and they should be throwing punches. Now they separate and the action resumes.
01:22 The action slows for the moment.
01:51 Ali frees himself from Zech's clutches! They move to ring center now.
01:57 Ali pushes Zech away to give himself a little more space to work with.
02:04 Ali circles around the ring.
02:11 Ali is trapped in his own corner...
02:11 Zech is trying to put his punches together and he tags Ali with a nice combination of punches.
02:19 Both fighters are staying cautious, and keeping out of range.
02:28 Ali lands a solid uppercut!
02:28 Mercy! Ali just landed a crushing uppercut! It was absolutely obscene! Gerhard Zech is trying to hang on…
02:40 The fighters are jockeying for position as both men try to gain the advantage here in the 9th.
02:44 Ali jolts Zech with a short, crisp uppercut that had to hurt.
03:00 Muhammad Ali lands a devastating jab!
03:00 Gerhard Zech is suddenly in trouble!
03:00 Ali appears to have a pretty good lead at this point.
03:00 Round 9 ends with the sound of the bell.

[Rocco Del Sesto]

ROUND 10....

0:00 It's Round 10 of this scheduled 15 rounder.
0:14 If Ali stays on the inside, he'd better keep busy. There he lands a short, crisp uppercut that scored big.
0:24 Ali lands a jab. He's using it as both an offensive and defensive weapon on occasions.
0:33 Ali tries to push Zech back in an attempt to gain room to punch.
0:42 Zech misses with the left and then fails to connect with the right as well.
0:45 Ali is getting the better of it on the inside. There's that crunching uppercut again!
0:54 Both fighters are staying cautious, and keeping out of range.
01:01 Ali throws a crushing right to Zech's jaw!
01:01 Zech's knee almost touched the canvas…
01:11 There's a crushing hook to the head, landed by Ali! Gerhard Zech flashes a quick smile at Ali as if to acknowledge the blow.
01:25 Ali is either lucky or has radar. Zech's last punch missed landing by a fraction of an inch!
01:32 Ali lands a solid jab!
01:32 That was a beautiful jab! Zech's eyes actually rolled back in his head! It's amazing that he's still standing.
01:41 The fighters are jockeying for position as both men try to gain the advantage here in the 10th.
01:49 Zech is holding on to Ali. He seems to be taking a breather. Jay Referson moves them apart.
01:58 The two men continue to measure one another.
02:10 Ali feels his back touch the ropes and immediately moves away. He doesn't want to be trapped there.
02:15 There's a pause in the action as both fighters regroup.
02:19 Zech slides into a neutral corner...
02:23 Ali lands a devastating cross!
02:23 Gerhard Zech was stopped in his tracks by that shot…
02:32 Both fighters ought to be using their jabs more to set up their other punches this round.
02:39 Muhammad Ali has Zech blocked in!
02:43 Muhammad Ali lands a crushing jab!
02:43 Zech looks stunned!
02:48 Ali motions for Jay Referson to stop the fight... Jay Referson is going to do it!! It's a TKO!!!


That's it the referee stops it!!! Man I couldn't believe the ref stopped it that quick!!?? Well, I guess we meet the end of that fantasy ride! But, a few fights still left for our old friend Gerhard.

Here's what the score cards looked like.....
<Generic 1> Round Total
USA 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Gerhard Zech 9 9 9 9 10 9 10 9 9 83
Muhammad Ali 10 10 10 10 10 10 9 10 10 89

<Generic 2> Round Total
USA 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Gerhard Zech 10 10 9 8 10 9 10 9 9 84
Muhammad Ali 9 9 10 10 10 10 9 10 10 87

<Generic 3> Round Total
USA 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Gerhard Zech 10 9 9 8 10 9 10 9 9 83
Muhammad Ali 9 10 10 10 10 10 9 10 10 88

Round Totals Round Total
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Gerhard Zech 29 28 27 25 30 27 30 27 27 250
Muhammad Ali 28 29 30 30 30 30 27 30 30


Hope you enjoyed reading through it as much as I did watching it! I was happy to see Gerhard last as long as he did.

Rocco

[Gunsmoke]

Ah well back to reality for Zech, though he is still the Euro champ isn't he???

Anyway my Norton replay has been going slow in the last couple of weeks for two reasons:

1) After seeing all this color stuff for the Zech replay I've decided to add color descriptions of the actual Norton fights to the rating posts of Norton's opponents and am currently writing up the first eight fights.

2) I have been doing another little project which is now ready for release...

The Ed Sanders Career Replay

Ok for those that don't know Ed Sanders was the Olympic Heavyweight Champion from the 1952 Helsinki games where he won the final over Ingemar Johanson via DQ in the final (Johanson is the only fighter to ever be DQ'd in the olympics for not trying... seriously). He completed his Navy service in 1953 and began his pro career in 1954.

It would also end in 1954. Sanders decided to fight Willie James for the New England title in preparation for a World Title bout with Marciano. James would KO him in the 11th round and Sanders would never regain conciousness, dying because his Spinal Fluid drained from the column into the brain... James would only fight one more time (a 2nd round KO loss) before declaring that because of the trajedy he could no longer fight.

The Fighters included:

Ed Sanders: natch
Bert Whitehurst: He is already rated in the game but I have made his Chin v KO to a 2 because he should be harder to stop.
Willie Wilson: a Journeyman
Battling Jack Flood: see Wilson
Billy Booker: a walking punching bag
Henry Anderson: see Booker
Sonny Nichols: a club fighter at best.

Enjoy,
Mark

[LeeSkye]

Great Ali-Zech fight!

Zech lost his opportunity in the 7th to pull a "Leon Spinks" upset but that was Ali-he could always move out of harms way when necessary.

Maybe Zech should consider Henry Cooper next as a chance to move back up for another shot. Offer Cooper the chance to fight for the European crown and he may take it instead of fighting Floyd Patterson as you mentioned earlier in this thread. If he can take Cooper then Patterson might be a willing partner since they both would want another shot at Ali. Once Ali gives Chuvalo and Terrell their shot, Zech wins over Cooper & Patterson would put him in a pretty good postion to fight Ali again or have a good money fight against another contender [Buster Mathis is about 16-0 at this point].

Joe Frazier will be fighting Chuvalo about a year after this point as he moves up the ranks so Zech has got a good shot at getting another fight with Ali between then and now. Anyway-interesting stuff.

[jofre]

I don't believe Ed was being groomed for Marciano at the stage of his career when he met Boston's Willie James. Ed was a much better amateur than he was a professional. Prior to the Olympics he suffered a devastating knockout defeat to Lloyd Willis in the Mid-West Olympic Boxing Trials. He avenged the defeat with a knockout over Willis two weeks later to earn a berth on the US Olympic team. He was nothing less than sensational in the 1952 Olympics, destroying everyone he met leading up to the final against Johannson. After the Olympics he reaimed an amateur for another year and was soundly beaten by Charle (Sonny) Liston in the finals of the Chicago Golden Gloves in February 1952. 13 months later he turned professional. I always wondered if the beatings he took in the first Willis fight and the Liston fight didn't ultimately lead to his demise.

Here is my research of Sanders from a few years back.


EDWARD SANDERS
HEAVYWEIGHT
BORN: March 24, 1930, Los Angeles, CA
DIED: December 14, 1954, Boston, MA from a blood clot on the brain
sustained in his last professional fight.
Height: 6-4
Weight: 220
Amateur Record: 43-4-0 (Idaho State Boxing Team; US Navy Boxing Team)
Professional Record: 6-2-1 (3)

Amateur Highlights
1950 NCAA Championship (Idaho State)
1951 NCAA Championship (Idaho State)
1952 NCAA Championship (Compton Junior College)
1952 Gold Medal: Heavyweight Boxing

1952

May -- Johnny Little (Ire) Dublin W 3 (Ireland vs US)
Jun 7 Lloyd Willis Omaha KO by 1
(Mid-West Regional Olympic Boxing Trials)
Lloyd ended Ed's long winning streak with a devastating knockout
victory. Lloyd was a soldier stationed at Ft. Riley, Kansas.
"Willis dazed Sanders with a series of solid right hand smashes
in the first minute of the fight, then chased him around the ring
...with both fists flying. Sanders absorbed enough punishment for
ten men before he crumpled to the deck. He tried to get up but
pitched head-long into the ropes and was counted out." (1)
Jun 21 Lloyd Willis Kansas City KO 2
(Final Olympic Boxing Trials)
" Willis stood up to Sanders at the start and it was obvious he
came prepared to to knock out Big Ed as he had done two weeks before
in the Mid-West Regional Trials. Willis landed several good blows
in the early fighting but he slowed up as Sanders began to find the
range with jolting lefts and rights which he fired to both head and
body. Sanders buckled Willis' knees with a right cross to the jaw
near the end of the first round and then moved in relentlessly.
The action was still rugged in the second frame but it was Sanders
who was doing the damage and he finally dropped Willis with a terrific
left hook. Willis staggered to his feet but was in no condition to do
battle with Sanders who knocked him colder than a February morn with
a vicious right-uppercut to the chin." (1)

1952 Olympic Games - Helsinki (July 28 - August 2)
First Round Hans Jost (SUI) KO 1
Quarter-Final Round Giacomo Di Segni (ITA) KO 3
Semi-Final Round Andries C. Nieman (SAF) KO 2
Final Round Ingemar Johansson (SWE) W DQ 2

"Navy sailor Ed Sanders... operated like a lesser Joe Louis. Big and strong,
he demonstrated power that was more than slightly frigtening to his
opposition. In the final against Sweden's Ingemar Johansson .....Ingemar
wanted no part of him. He ran, literally ran, from big Ed, and the referee
disqualified Johansson for not fighting." (2)

1953
Feb -- Charles (Sonny) Liston Chicago L 3 (3)
(Golden Gloves)

After winning the gold medal, Sanders served 2 years in the Navy and turned
professional in Boston where he was stationed.

Professional Record

1954
Mar 8 Sonny Nichols Boston KO 1 (debut)
Apr 1 Billy Booker Boston KO 1
Apr 10 Henry Anderson Boston KO 2
Apr 24 Willie Wilson Boston L 5
May 23 Battling Jack Flood Boston W Dsq 4
Aug 12 Willie Wilson Boston W 8
Oct 5 Bert Whitehurst Boston D 10
Oct 26 Bert Whitehurst Boston W 10
Dec 11 Willie James Boston KO by 11 (Died from injuries)
(New England Heavyweight Title)

(1) Spike Webb, Boxing Coach, US Naval Academy - The Ring - Oct 52 p38, 50
(2) Jess Abramson - The Ring - Nov 52 p8,9,41
(3) Sonny Liston - The Champ Nobody Wanted

[Gunsmoke]

In two of the articles about Sanders that I read said that a Marciano - Sanders meeting was on the cards for early '55, however I always took that with a grain of salt considering his pro career had not exactly been an amazing success.

Still it has been reported so I took it as it came...

Just as an aside some of my (limited) research leads me to believe his real name was Hayes Sanders (named after his father) and Ed Sanders was his ring name.

Interesting stuff. Let me know what you think of the ratings.

Cheers,
Mark

[vistaman44]

Rocco;
Lee's got a point on the next step for Zech.

Gunsmoke;
Really interesting stuff on Sanders. Good research. I had rated Flood for my 1940s universe, and our rankings are very close. PM me when you get a chance, please. Thanks.