Homburg's first boxing victory came on 16 September 1962, when he knocked out Bob Brown in the third round at San Diego. On 25 October, he lost for the first time, being knocked out in round three by Freeman Harding in the third round at Los Angeles. Eight victories followed, including two over Clifford Gray, before he drew against Tommy Merrill on 1 June 1963 in Las Vegas. Homburg won three of his next five fights, then returned home with a record of 17-3-2. He settled in his hometown of Hamburg and was managed by Willi Zeller in Germany. Homburg held his German professional boxing debut on 8 May 1964, when he was held to a ten round draw by Ulli Ritter. However, he went on to win seven of his next ten bouts, being described by German press at the time as a "promising newcomer" and using his fight earnings to move to the Hamburg neighborhood of St. Pauli. He was known for channeling his braggart persona into wrestling as well and mixing in examples from Cassius Clay’s, and was christened the nickname “the Beatle Boxer” due to his haircut resembling those of The Beatles. During this period he and his lifelong friend, Texas heavyweight fighter Buddy Turman, shared billing on several occasions in Germany and Austria, until Turman's retirement in 1967.