Karl Mildenberger
Karl Mildenberger | |
---|---|
Born | Karl Mildenberger 23 November 1937 Kaiserslautern, Germany |
Died | 4 October 2018 Kaiserslautern, Germany | (aged 80)
Nationality | German |
Other names | Milde |
Statistics | |
Weight(s) | Heavyweight |
Height | 6 ft 1+1⁄2 in (1.87 m) |
Stance | Southpaw |
Boxing record | |
Total fights | 62 |
Wins | 53 |
Wins by KO | 19 |
Losses | 6 |
Draws | 3 |
Karl Mildenberger (23 November 1937 – 4 October 2018) was a German
Biography
Mildenberger learned the fight trade, growing up in Occupied Germany. A cousin of his father's, a former boxing champion during the
Mildenberger lost his first fight for the European Heavyweight title when he was knocked out by Welsh boxer Dick Richardson in one round in April 1962. Karl rebounded with wins over Joe Erskine, Archie McBride, Joe Bygraves and a knockout win over Billy Daniels. Mildenberger then got a draw with highly ranked Zora Folley in April 1964. Later that year, Mildenberger scored a first-round knockout over Sante Amonte to capture the European Heavyweight title.[2]
After defending his European title three times, Mildenberger fought
In 1967, Mildenberger participated in a tournament staged by the World Boxing Association to determine the new heavyweight champion after Ali was stripped of the title for refusing induction into the US military draft. In the first round of the tournament, getting off the deck, he lost to Oscar Bonavena by a clear twelve-round decision.[4]
Mildenberger was not the same afterwards, and was knocked out by contender Leotis Martin in seven rounds (April 1968). Subsequently, in September 1968, Mildenberger's career ended when he lost the European Heavyweight title to Henry Cooper by eighth round disqualification after headbutting his opponent. Mildenberger has said of his timing of retirement, "If I had retained the title, I would have relinquished it. Win, lose or draw, I would have retired, anyway. ...This was the end. I was unharmed. No terrible things had happened to me."[5]
Mildenberger worked as a lifeguard after his retirement from boxing. He died at the age of 80 on 4 October 2018.[6][7]
Professional boxing record
Exhibition boxing record
1 fight | 0 wins | 0 losses |
---|---|---|
Non-scored | 1 |
No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | — | 0–0 (1) | Muhammad Ali | — | 2 | Jun 4, 1979 | Grugahalle, Essen, West Germany | Non-scored bout |
Bibliography
- Brunt, Stephen (2002). Facing Ali. Guilford, CT: The Lyons Press. ISBN 1-58574-829-3.
References
- ^ Brunt, p. 84
- ^ Brunt, p. 85
- ^ Brunt, pp. 92–93
- ^ Kram, Mark (25 September 1967). "A BEAN-CAN BOUT IN FRANKFURT". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
- ^ Brunt, p. 95
- ^ "Boxlegende: Karl Mildenberger ist tot". Spiegel Online (in German). 5 October 2018. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
- ^ "Box-Legende: Karl Mildenberger gestorben". FAZ.NET (in German). Retrieved 5 October 2018.
- ^ Karl Mildenberger Archived 21 May 2015 at the Wayback Machine. BoxRec. Retrieved on 11 September 2017.