The Sparring Partners - 'Talk About Cassius Clay vs Sonny Liston II'

Francis Lee Williams,

If Sonny can hit Cassius, he will win. We've been working on the right
hand to the body, which will break Cassius in half, if Sonny can land it.

The power is there in his fists, but if he can't hit Clay, it will be for naught.

 

Francis 'Lee' Williams,

A 29 year-old, 6' 1 1/2" 220 lb. Boston Heavyweight, a 1957 National A.A.U. Heavyweight
Champion.

By April 1965 -

With a record of 15-1-1 (14 KO's), 'Lee' could punch, and had a very good defense.

'Lee' had sparred many rounds with Sonny before the first scheduled bout in November
1964, and was again around in April/May 1965.

One of those $40 / Day 'sparring partners'.

Lee Williams, had stated that in the early sessions with Sonny back in 1964 before
the 'first scheduled rematch', Sonny was 'lost in the ring'.

'Sonny seemed to forget how to fight. Fighting a 'Frozen Floyd' was one thing, but
fighting guys who were not afraid of him and hit back, knocked all the confidence
out of Sonny. He now, doubted his abilities.'

'After '3' 3-Round sparring sessions with him, I was getting the best of him. He had a
sullen look in his eyes, one of realizing he was no longer invincible.'

'I never asked Sonny about the first fight with Clay in February 1964. I personally thought,
that Sonny 'threw the fight', so that they could 'scoop up the money' on the long odds.
It only made practical sense. But that was just my opinion.'

 

That would make the 'Mobster Guys' in Youngstown and Cleveland, Ohio
feel very comfortable and very happy.

 

Francis 'Lee' Williams

'By mid-November 1964, Sonny was a 'rib-crushing machine', and if he had
fought Cassius at the Boston Garden, with everything on the
'up-and-up' he would have destroyed him, probably in 8 or 9 Rounds.'

'But something changed in the days leading up to the fight in May 1965.
The ferocity in Sonny was no longer there. He had this look of, 'lets
just get this thing over, and go home'.

People forget, I was supposed to fight Sonny (if he had wanted to) in
December 1964 or January 1965, as a 'tune-up bout' before the rematch.

Francis 'Lee' Williams (December 1959 photo)

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Francis 'Lee' Williams,

Sonny put in 3-months of intense training and about 175 Rounds of sparring
before the schedeuled November 16, 1964 bout.

When I had 'first' sparred with him, I was having no difficulty hitting him and
avoiding him. But, after 8-weeks, he was really smashing me up, and his right
hand was really working good.

He was probably in the 'best shape of his career', or at least since the Summer of 1962.

He was 'primed' for that fight. But, after it was cancelled, the new date was an on-again
off-again fight, and the 'lustre' of the Heavyweight Championship was no longer
an interest to Sonny.

 

Amos 'Big Train' Lincoln,

The 28 year-old, 6' 2" 210 lb. 'Big Bomber from California'

In October 1964, 'Big Train' with a record of 28-6-1 (17 KO's),
was the 'man' who pushed Sonny the most.

3-Round 'slug-fests' were the normal routine in Denver. In the early weeks
of training, Amos was able to out slug the 230+ lb. bloated Sonny. But,
by late-October, the trimmer and quicker Liston was the 'boss in the ring'.

But Amos had stated, 'If and only if Sonny can hit Clay, he will cause him trouble.
But, if he can't catch him, he will be outboxed, as Clay has a great left hand.
It is possible, that Clay will outbox him for 12 of the 15 Rounds. But, Sonny only
needs 'one' opening to end it.'

 

Amos 'Big Train' Lincoln,

April/May 1965

May 1965, now with a record of 30-7-1 (19 KO's) after fights with,

December 15, 1964.........KO 9........Thad Spencer
February 2, 1965............KO 5........Jimmy 'The King' Fletcher
April 2, 1965..................L Dec 10...Santo Amonti

'Sonny was really ripping the ribs of all his sparring partners, but though
his right-hand to the body was a 'killer', he failed to try and improve on
his overhand right, which would work 'perfectly' on Clay.'

'In turn, he kept his left hand low, and I could counter over it without
any problem. It was like he was letting me hit him with the right hand.'

'Time and again, I could easily hit him, and he made no effort in trying to
correct his weakness. I always felt that as being odd.'

'If there was any glaring weakness, it was that Sonny was slow'.

But, Sonny was in 'great shape', and would have no problem in going 100 Rounds
if he had to. He was 'mean', and terrible to be with in the sparring ring.'

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