The man looks on film to be equal to welterweights for size. He had spindly legs, but a hulking upper body that beggars belief for a fighter in his division. While he does not appear out of place in his title bout with Beau Jack (another big one), I struggle to reconcile his massive physique with those of famed lightweights of the recent past. In fact, guys like Duran, Chavez, and Whitaker are all dwarfed by him. So, if we were to be very, very discriminating, was he, strictly speaking, a lightweight or more like a lightweight for the modern era? Please use video evidence when available.
I've never considered Ike Williams a small lightweight, that's for sure. I think he was fairly comfortable at 140lbs, but I'm not sure about him being a welterweight, not in peak condition. I actually see him as very well proportioned apart from having extra muscular shoulders. I don't think any of the great lightweights would have a physical advantage - not size, speed, stamina nor strength.
excellent point, though it's hard to believe given the Era that he, fighting below his natural weight, would have had "time" too make weight so often... you can bet like most of his peers, that the majority of his fights were at catch weights, therefore allowing him the extra poundage, but I think he was probably comfortable in & around 140 so when called to make the lightweight limit with enough notice it was mostly within in shooting distance!
Ike Williams who I saw many times was a 5ft9" lightweight for MOST of his career. He was one inch taller than the featherweight Sandy Saddler, and two inches shorter than the welterweight Ray Robinson...Occasionally for a non title bout Ike would be over the 135 pound LW mark, but would get to under 135 pounds when defending his title...He was most effective at 135 pounds... When Ike Williams was not "under wraps" he was the best LW I ever saw...Bar none...But he was blackballed by the powerful manager's guild ,and was under cuffs many times...What an era Ike ruled over, with Beau Jack, Bob Montgomery, Sammy Angott, Willie Joyce, Freddie Dawson,etc...They fought each other time and again, not like today...
How do you rate Montgomery compared to Williams and/or jack? Although he could not seem to beat Angott he split his 6 fights w/ Williams and jack. I have heard you say that you saw all 3 of them fight at different times. How does bobcat stack up in a comparrison?
Yes P,I saw all three, Beau Jack, Ike Williams, and the Bobcat Bob Montgomery several times each,ALL in their primes...On any given day each was capable of beating the others, so close were they in ability...Beau Jack was the greatest crowd pleaser of the 1940s, with his bolo punches,hooks and crosses thrown in barrages with no thought of self defense...Bob Montgomery was a tough offensive body puncher from Philly who had his ups and downs, whilst Ike Williams at his best ,was the best puncher of the three, just a tad under the WW Ray Robinson in his powerful combination punching...Call me a sentimentalist, but when was their lightweights as Ike Williams, Beau Jack, Bob Montgomery, Sammy Angott, Willie Joyce, Freddie Dawson, and the best pure boxer of them all Tippy Larkin [who had a porcelain chin]all fighting at the SAME time. ?
He's listed as 5′ 9″ with a 68″ reach. Other Lightweight's of note. Benny Leonard 5' 5"/69″ Joe Gans 5′ 6½″ /71" Roberto Duran 5′ 7″/66″ Pernell Whitaker 5′ 6″/69" Julio Cesar Chavez 5′ 7½″/ 66½″ Floyd Mayweather 5' 8"/72" Shane Mosley 5′ 8½″/71" Ike Williams is on the tall side for lightweights. Williams who has a reputation for being a puncher has a KO% of 38.85%. Based on stoppages 61/Bout (157). It moves to 48% using the stoppage win (61)/Win (127) scale. One of the best lightweights ever.
Thanks for the feedback....I have long searched for Montgomery footage, and have resigned myself to the idea that I will never locate any!
