ATG LIGHTWEIGHT TOURNIE: ROUND 1, FIGHT 7 - IKE WILLIAMS UD15 LOU AMBERS

Ike Williams, seeded 7, posted an impressive record in world-title fights, going 6-1 in lineal world title fights and that“1” was suffered in 1951 with the poundage almost past him and the battle to make it as tough as the one Jimmy Carter waged against him. Before that, Williams was close to invincible. He grabbed a strap in 1945, destroying the excellent Juan Zurita in two having established himself four months before in a similarly brutal dispatch of Dave Castilloux in five; in 1947 he became undisputed and lineal based upon perhaps his greatest lightweight performance, a six round obliteration of Bob Montgomery who found himself helpless on the ropes against the most devastating technical puncher of the lightweight era.

Five defenses followed in a period during which only a welterweight Kid Gavilan could best him, despite the fact that Williams operated almost exclusively against ranked men. By the time Carter got to him in 1951, his ability to make the limit was all but a thing of the past.

This content is protected

The hook Lou Ambers' (Seeded 10) greatness is generally hung upon is his win over Henry Armstrong, but this 1939 victory was tarnished somewhat by the fact that Armstrong was penalized so many rounds for low blows, five in total. The lightweight who could have beaten Ambers and also give away so many rounds has probably never been born, although he was stopped once at the poundage, by Lew Jenkins who turned the trick only after Lou’s admired speed of hand and foot had begun to slip.

That said, Ambers was able to win rounds without fouling, and one needs to consider for a moment the difficulty in remaining poised and vertical while Hammerin’ Hank repeatedly hits low. If Armstrong had been dialed in, it’s possible that the result would have been different, but being hit below the belt brings its own problems and Ambers did not bend; he held the line and took the win.

For me though, it is primarily his series victory over Tony Canzoneri, another great lightweight champion, and a man he met no fewer than three times for the title, that makes him so pre-eminent.

This content is protected

Who will win under the following rules?

15 round fight.
1940 referee.
8oz boxing gloves.
10 points must.

Cast your vote and explain yourself in a post below! You have 3 days.

 

Wow, shut out for Williams so far, that's crazy.

 

I kind of get that. He was an astonishing fighter.

 

It's a late surge for Ambers!

 

Williams controls the fight early, loses some middle rounds to some over-the-top aggressive pressure from Ambers before Williams takes control of the final third with big right hands and solid-counterpunching.

Clean UD after a scare in the middle rounds.