An official sash from the Muhammad Ali v Karl Mildenberger World Heavyweight Title Fight in Frankfurt 10th September 1966, the red, white & blue sash

An official sash from the Muhammad Ali v Karl Mildenberger World Heavyweight Title Fight in Frankfurt 10th September 1966, the red, white & blue sash inscribed in gilt WELTMEISTERSCHAFT, IM SCHWERGEWICHT, MUHAMMAD ALI, KARL MILDENBERGER, mounted under glass with four b&w fight action photographs in an octagonal frame 118cm. 46 1/2in. square; sold together with scans of two photographs featuring Muhammad Ali and his driver Rudolf Roth in Frankfurt (3) Muhammad Ali presented this official fight sash to Rudolf Roth, who was the boxer's driver for the time he was in Frankfurt for the fight against Karl Mildenberger. Rudolf Roth, a relation of the present vendor, drove for many other VIP's visiting Frankfurt including the footballer Pele (see lot 435). The Muhammad Ali v Karl Mildenberger bout took place at Frankfurt's Waldstandion before a crowd estimated between 50,000 and 60,000, which included a sizeable contingent of American GI's stationed in Germany. Mildenberger, a southpaw with an awkward looking style, proved a tricky customer for the champion. The German fought bravely always coming forward to Ali but paid an increasingly heavy price for the tactic as the bout progressed. Having been down twice, and bleeding badly, the referee eventually intervened in the 12th round after a straight right from Ali left the challenger unable to defend himself. It was Ali's third straight defence of his world heavyweight crown on European soil, having defeated Henry Cooper and Brian London in England in May & August 1966.