Cleveland Williams

He is a bit of an enigma really.

Contemporary fighters and trainers raved about him, but his record doesn't quite back up what they say.

There are enough testimonials about his power, that I am sold on this aspect of his game.

He is exactly the kind of fighter, who would have been assured of some success in any era, with the right management.

 

Foreman never fought Williams.He was a level below Liston with good skills,he was never on Foremans level. He wouldn't be in a top 5 spot in other eras.He would be like a smaller Frank Bruno.

 

Wasn,t he shot down before the Clay fight?

 

Yes, he never really fully recovered.

 

Thanks for the info! who knows how good he could have been without
those setbacks

 

As i Recall Cleve was Shot at extreme close range in the Abdomen by a Cops Magnum Handgun, Doctors were amazed that he survived and it was because of the amazing strengh/condition of his abdominal muscles, it's little wonder he was never really the same again, I think for 2 and Half rounds he was very impressive against Liston before Ol Stoneface bought the roof down on him... This williams i feel would of had chances against some of the 70's upper echelon like Norton, Shavers, and Lyle, He probably would be a very Live underdog... for three of four rounds...

I think it was in a 1962 Boxing illustrated Article that Cleve stated he wanted to meet the Loudmouth Clay, and his manager Hugh Benbow was also very Vocal , Particularly when the match was signed in 66.. Ali remembered these earlier "Verbals" and Benbow's deemed Lack of respect, Ali was stoked to push some barbs back down some throats... ( Terrell would get a slower Admin next time up !)

 

They sparred.

 

I disagree he had fast hands ,a good jab and terrific power in both hands.Rated when he was were :
Cooper
Lavorante
Folley
Logan
Erskine
Jones
London
Rischer
Cleroux
Mildenberger

I would confidently pick him to beat any of them, except possibly Jones, [he beat Rischer & lost to Cleroux, after he had been shot].
That being the case I can't see how he is overated.Avoided yes.

 

He was pretty good.
He did okay when he stepped up to fight Machen and Terrell, there's nothing to say he wasn't on that level, and he gave Liston some trouble in both the fights, did as well or better than Folley did against Liston and much better than Patterson did.
Liston rated Williams as the best man he'd fought anyway.

 

According to the Sports Illustrated piece on Ali-Williams, Hugh Benbow, Williams' manager, showed Ali's handlers a photo of a 155-pound Williams as he was in hospital before they agreed to fight him.
Ali, for his part, would have fought him anyway at that stage, Ali didn't duck anyone in those years and was a champion at the peak of his game.

 

Ali knew Williams was significantly diminished, he said to someone," there isn't much left now".

 

Ali was, at that point, fighting at a pace unseen since Joe Louis amongst heavyweights (and probably never seen again). I feel it was to make as much as he could before the Vietnam issue forced his hand.

 

I agree.