Karl Mildenberger is a retired German

Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

 heavyweight

Heavyweight

Heavyweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Fighters who weigh over 200 pounds are considered heavyweights by the major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Association, the World Boxing Council, and the World Boxing...

 boxer

Boxing

Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...

. He was the European Heavyweight Champion from 1964 to 1968 (retained the Title 6 times). Mildenberger fought Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali is an American former professional boxer, philanthropist and social activist...

 for the World Heavyweight Title in September 1966.
Mildenberger, a left-hander, frustrated the champ for most of the fight, but ultimately lost by TKO

Knockout

A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...

 when the referee stopped the fight at 1:28 of the twelfth round following a flurry of punches by Ali.

Karl Mildenberger lost his first fight for the European Heavyweight title when he was knocked out by Dick Richardson

Dick Richardson (boxer)

Dick Richardson was a heavyweight boxer from the Maesglas area of Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales. He held the European heavyweight title from March 1960 to June 1962. In all, he won 31 of his 47 professional bouts, losing 14, with two drawn. He was 6 ft 3ins tall and weighed about 200 lbs...

, the Welsh boxer, 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

Zora Folley

Zora Folley was an American heavyweight boxer. He was well skilled with a good defence and also a punch to go with it....

 in April 1964. Later that year Mildenberger scored a first round knockout over Sante Amonte to capture the European Heavyweight title.

He defeated Eddie Machen

Eddie Machen

Edward Mills Machen was born in Redding, California, on June 15, 1932. Machen was a convict turned boxer. His 64-bout career began on March 22, 1955, and he went on to win his first 24 bouts....

 over ten rounds in 1966. In April 1966 Mildenberger had a five round exhibition in Sweden with former world champion Ingemar Johansson.

In 1967, Mildenberger participated in a tournament staged by the World Boxing Association

World Boxing Association

The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...

 to determine the new heavyweight champion after Ali was stripped of the title for refusing induction into the draft. In the first round of the tournament,getting off the deck he lost to Oscar Bonavena

Oscar Bonavena

Oscar Natalio "Ringo" Bonavena was a heavyweight professional boxer with a career record of 58 wins, 9 losses and 1 draw. A rugged, wild-swinging puncher, he was nicknamed "Ringo" because of his Beatles haircut, and enjoyed professional success in both Argentina and the United States...

 by a clear twelve round decision in what was proclaimed the Ring Magazine upset of the year.

Mildenberger was not the same afterwards, and was knocked out by contender Leotis Martin

Leotis Martin

Leotis Martin was an American boxer, the first ever NABF heavyweight champion and best known for his victory over former heavyweight champion Sonny Liston. Martin was a good puncher and a fairly skilled heavyweight who fought from 1962 to 1969...

 in seven rounds (April 1968). Subsequently in September 1968 Mildenberger lost the European Heavyweigh title to Henry Cooper

Henry Cooper

Henry Cooper may refer to:*Sir Henry Cooper , British Heavyweight boxer*Henry Cooper from Tennessee*Henry Cooper , English recipient of the Victoria Cross...

 on an eight round disqualification.

Mildenberger was the first southpaw to fight for the Heavyweight World Title.

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