I have been a Big Cat fan for a long time, but you have to be realistic. Sonny Liston KO'd him twice when he was in his prime. If Ali was able to beat George Foreman, he would have beaten Williams also even without the gunshot wound.
This Williams you see in this fight is maybe the best HW to never win the belt. That left hook to Wiley's body completely lifted him off his feet.
People who only know Williams from his loss to Ali don't know the real Big Cat. That fight never should have been sanctioned. This is the real Williams.
@zenmachinefilms sam langford, John Henry Lewis, jimmy quarry, archie moore, harry wills, so manny more, the big cat was a very very good fighter, he would deffinatly win the title, in a heavy weight reign such as berbick or 2004+
What I am pointing out is that whilst you're correct in the argument below that it was the racist cop who destroyed Williams. But my point is that you can make the same argument for Muhammad Ali when he fought Larry Holmes in Parkinson's. So cannot make the same comparison of an Ali of Larry Holmes but not for Cleveland Williams against Ali. Remember one thing Ali feared the Big Cat more than any other fighter his record alone states that clear and simple
@MrTClubber -I recall Ali saying in an interview that he thought Williams was over the hill when they fought and that he'd thought it would be an easy night[which it was].
I highly doubt he feared Williams more than Liston...why would he?
Ali never ducked Williams or anyone else. Liston smashed him twice and then received the same treatment from Ali. Don't blame Ali for Williams' misfortune, blame the racist cop who shot him
Cleveland Williams was a man who under-achieved in his carrear due to primarily because most of the top heavy's of the late 50's and early 60's wanted nothing to do with the Big Cat. As you can see in this fight, clearly, Williams was a huge puncher and was a force to be reckoned with. He was a beast in the ring in his prime. He only lost a hand full of fights before his Championship battle with Ali. So it shows you he was a beast and no one wanted nothing to do with him at all in his prime.
Just as I'd imagine a fight between me and Williams would go, after I'd got up the spunk to have a go at him. Great fighter, Williams. Even in the obliteration against Ali, the champ said he could feel his power. Unlucky with cars: it was over a motoring infraction he was shot and it was as a result of being knocked down that he died. Had over 30 fights with something like 27 stoppages before his first defeat.
MrTClubber, I agree with the well deserved title shot with Ali, and that Williams was not the fighter he was because of the shooting. However, as I heard it, Ali wanted to fight Williams instead of Daniles, but William's camp thought that the Ali fight would not help his cause for a tight match. Remember back in 61, everyone thought Ali was a joke, just a simple load mouth. So it was the Williams camp that missed the opportunity back then. I still think Ali would've beat Williams.
This was the Cleveland Williams Muhammd Ali did not want to meet. His trainer Dundee chose the fight with Billy Daniles ahead of Cleveland Williams because he knew this would spell disaster. Loo at Cleveland Williams a true heavyweight he would have destroyed Ali. So Ali gave Williams his long awaited and deserved title shot after taking that .357 bullet to the body. That shows you what Sonny Liston was like in the ring to take on a Cleveland Williams who went through that. Williams was ducked
Cleveland Williams was a warrior this heavyweight many ducked because of his punching power. He displayed in this fight a true character and ability to destroy his opponent. He is a hero. A champion to come back after a shooting incident taking a .357 slug body. A true ability of a heavyweight. Look at Paul Briggs and his shameful performance against Danny Green. Williams fought for nothing against Ali and had tremendous courage and heart to keep fighting that is a true champion. Go Williams
Huge puncher was Williams. Lot of those around at the time said he hit harder than Liston.
pugilistofpower 2 months ago
I wish we had a Big cat around today.
1899sharkey 3 months ago
I have been a Big Cat fan for a long time, but you have to be realistic. Sonny Liston KO'd him twice when he was in his prime. If Ali was able to beat George Foreman, he would have beaten Williams also even without the gunshot wound.
bassai2010 3 months ago
This Williams you see in this fight is maybe the best HW to never win the belt. That left hook to Wiley's body completely lifted him off his feet.
People who only know Williams from his loss to Ali don't know the real Big Cat. That fight never should have been sanctioned. This is the real Williams.
zenmachinefilms 8 months ago
@zenmachinefilms I Agree. Against Ali, Williams was a shell of the fighter seen here. He never recovered from those gunshot wounds.
caspergolightly 8 months ago
@zenmachinefilms sam langford, John Henry Lewis, jimmy quarry, archie moore, harry wills, so manny more, the big cat was a very very good fighter, he would deffinatly win the title, in a heavy weight reign such as berbick or 2004+
MrLukedanger 5 months ago
What I am pointing out is that whilst you're correct in the argument below that it was the racist cop who destroyed Williams. But my point is that you can make the same argument for Muhammad Ali when he fought Larry Holmes in Parkinson's. So cannot make the same comparison of an Ali of Larry Holmes but not for Cleveland Williams against Ali. Remember one thing Ali feared the Big Cat more than any other fighter his record alone states that clear and simple
MrTClubber 9 months ago
@MrTClubber -I recall Ali saying in an interview that he thought Williams was over the hill when they fought and that he'd thought it would be an easy night[which it was].
I highly doubt he feared Williams more than Liston...why would he?
jimmah1967 8 months ago
Ali never ducked Williams or anyone else. Liston smashed him twice and then received the same treatment from Ali. Don't blame Ali for Williams' misfortune, blame the racist cop who shot him
zulubro 9 months ago
Cleveland Williams was a man who under-achieved in his carrear due to primarily because most of the top heavy's of the late 50's and early 60's wanted nothing to do with the Big Cat. As you can see in this fight, clearly, Williams was a huge puncher and was a force to be reckoned with. He was a beast in the ring in his prime. He only lost a hand full of fights before his Championship battle with Ali. So it shows you he was a beast and no one wanted nothing to do with him at all in his prime.
MrTClubber 10 months ago
Just as I'd imagine a fight between me and Williams would go, after I'd got up the spunk to have a go at him. Great fighter, Williams. Even in the obliteration against Ali, the champ said he could feel his power. Unlucky with cars: it was over a motoring infraction he was shot and it was as a result of being knocked down that he died. Had over 30 fights with something like 27 stoppages before his first defeat.
madmax8903 11 months ago
MrTClubber, I agree with the well deserved title shot with Ali, and that Williams was not the fighter he was because of the shooting. However, as I heard it, Ali wanted to fight Williams instead of Daniles, but William's camp thought that the Ali fight would not help his cause for a tight match. Remember back in 61, everyone thought Ali was a joke, just a simple load mouth. So it was the Williams camp that missed the opportunity back then. I still think Ali would've beat Williams.
parrisht 1 year ago
This was the Cleveland Williams Muhammd Ali did not want to meet. His trainer Dundee chose the fight with Billy Daniles ahead of Cleveland Williams because he knew this would spell disaster. Loo at Cleveland Williams a true heavyweight he would have destroyed Ali. So Ali gave Williams his long awaited and deserved title shot after taking that .357 bullet to the body. That shows you what Sonny Liston was like in the ring to take on a Cleveland Williams who went through that. Williams was ducked
MrTClubber 1 year ago
Hmm. Looks like Williams implemented "The Smash" hook-ercut long before Razor Ruddock did.
adamkotta888 1 year ago
Cleveland Williams was a warrior this heavyweight many ducked because of his punching power. He displayed in this fight a true character and ability to destroy his opponent. He is a hero. A champion to come back after a shooting incident taking a .357 slug body. A true ability of a heavyweight. Look at Paul Briggs and his shameful performance against Danny Green. Williams fought for nothing against Ali and had tremendous courage and heart to keep fighting that is a true champion. Go Williams
MrTClubber 1 year ago 3
This is the Big Cat that Ali never fought cause Ali mighta got whipped.
dapoetmaster 1 year ago
CW swats like a cat with the left hook. He was still a force after he was old, gut shot, lost a kidney and with nerve damage. A pro since 1950!
PUGCAT 1 year ago
great post, ngwrestler! Have you got any more clips of the BIG CAT? It would be great to see CLEVELAND'S victories against the likes of TERRELL etc.
kaspafischer 1 year ago
@PUGCAT You can see why he never got a shot until he was old
Richdanahuff 1 year ago
Comment removed
choklab 1 year ago