[Rocco Del Sesto]

01/17/67 Tuesday
Houston, TX, USA
Karl Zurheide – LHW (13-1-0) vs. Cassius Clay Scott – LHW (2-5-0)

Karl Zurheide - Rating 3 USA
LIght Heavyweight 1964-79
39 wins / 29 losses / 5 draws / 9 KO

Hometown: Fond du Lac, WI

Rating by: Rocco Del Sesto

Fighting predominantly out of Texas, especially in Houston from 1964 thru October 1968 against the usual array of local club fighters, Zurheide compiled an impressive 24-3-0,8KO record. The best looking of his opponents during that time included a wins over Billy Marsh, Tommy Sims(33-36-4,13) three times, Benny Lee Bowser(19-16-3,15) and then finally in Oct. 1968, a UD win over Eddie Talhami(24-12-1,17). At this time, Zurheide started traveling and fighting more out of Texas and meeting a better stable of opponents.

Over the next 3 years, Karl's record reflected the better competition he was meeting going only 7-7-2,0KO through November 1971. Included in those fights were losses to Ron Marsh, Vincente Rondon, Jimmy Dupree and Ray Anderson. At this time from December 1971 through the remainder of his career, Zurheide fought a large number of fights against many of the upper level LHW's of the 1970's, who are represented in this game. Unfortunately, the results showed through that Zurheide was a journeyman at best who could not stand in the ring against the middle and upper echelon as he went a dismal 8-1903,1KO the rest of his career. During that time he was stopped 11 of the 14 times he was KO/TKO'd in a fight.

The wins were few, twice beating Kosie Smith, Harold Carter, Gary Summerhays, Andy Kendall with draws against Summerhays, and Carter. The losses were many including twice to Pierre Fourie, Johnny Frankham, Eddie Jones, Lonnie Bennett, Kendall, Victor Galindez, Mike Quarry twice, Domenico Adinolfi, Billy Douglas, Bobby Cassidy, Mate Parlov, Tony Mundine, Alvaro Lopez, Marvin Camel, Pat Cuillo and finally Murray Sutherland.


Cassius Clay Scott - Rating 1 USA
Light Heavyweight 1965-71
5 wins / 19 losses / 0 draws / 2 KO

Hometown: New Orleans, LA

Rating by: Rocco Del Sesto

Well, he did fight Karl Zurheide, Brian Kelly twice and Lonnie Bennett loosing all those fights. He may have had the name, but definetly did not have the talent!

The fight...
Both of these Light Heavies are early on in their careers but going in opposite directions. Zurheide after starting out his career 12-0 is looking to continue rebounding from his first loss suffered in November 1966 against Bobby Dennard. Karl climbed back into the ring the next month and managed to knock out Willie Lee in the 2nd round for win number 13. Scott’s career is not going much where very fast. He’s lost his last 3 fights, the most recent, a 6 round decision loss to Mark Tessman, who is 5-0-0 on his way to a 32-4-0 career. This was a scheduled 6 rounder between Zurheide and Scott here in Houston in 1967. It ended up going the full 6 with Zurheide getting win number 14 with a decision.
The replay looked like maybe it would go the full 6 also but with Zurheide controlling the fight for the most part. Through the first 4 rounds Karl was up on all 3 judges cards, 40-36, 39-37, 39-37. In the 5th round he started to pour on Scott, banging away at both the body and head. With about a ½ minute to go in the 5th, Scott was just trying to hang on and get through to the bell and back to the corner, though up till then Karl had not been able to hurt Scott enough to put him down. Then with about 15 seconds left in the 5th, Zurheide lands a double left, one to the head and one to the body. The one to the head opens up a nasty gash over Scotts eye and immediately there’s blood pouring from it covering Scott’s face. The referee stops the fight and motions Scott to a corner for the ring doctor to look at his cut eye. As the doctor is looking at Scott, Cassius is pleading his case to let the fight go on, but, the doc’s not buying it. That’s it, the referee is calling it off. Winner by TKO at the 2:49 mark of the 5th round, Karl Zurheide.!