Cleveland Williams KO 1 Jim Wiley 1961

Big Cat in his prime

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[MrTClubber]

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

[adamkotta888]

Hmm. Looks like Williams implemented "The Smash" hook-ercut long before Razor Ruddock did.

[chrismck100]

if he had been trained today and faught then . he would not have just did what he did

[pugilistofpower]

Huge puncher was Williams. Lot of those around at the time said he hit harder than Liston.

[1899sharkey]

I wish we had a Big cat around today.

[bassai2010]

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.

[MrLukedanger]

@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+

[caspergolightly]

@zenmachinefilms I Agree. Against Ali, Williams was a shell of the fighter seen here. He never recovered from those gunshot wounds.

[zenmachinefilms]

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.

[jimmah1967]

@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?

[MrTClubber]

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

[zulubro]

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