George Foreman vs Cleveland Williams

I'm not using this as a blanket rule, but as for myself, I remember Cleveland Williams was one of the very first fighters I heard of and read about.

 

I guess I somehow missed all of the casual references to Williams in popular or even sports media that tickled the curiosity of so many prompting them to take an interest in the sport in my 40 years of following it.

 

Well, you have to admit, a lot of boxing historians have hyped Williams up a lot. I obviously like him a lot more than you do, but a lot of articles mention how he's considered the greatest heavy never to win the title.

 

To be fair a lot of articles talk up a lot of other fighters as being “the greatest heavy never to win the title” in a kind of coulda shoulda woulda kind of way.

There are more guys like that in articles than there have been heavyweight champions!

And with all of them, even individually, when you check them out, there really isn’t any credence when you look at the film and the records for yourself though.

Williams was good copy. He was what they used to call “a colourful fighter”. I think his fans should be happy with that.

what used to be called a colourful fighter shouldn’t be confused with being a would be champion.

There isn’t really anything logical on Williams record that says he should be on any short list of greatest heavyweights not to become world champion.

 

I agree w/ u, I think, on all points. Actually, I take that back. This may be based solely on experience, or lack thereof, but Jerry Quarry's the only other heavyweight I remember being referred 2 as the greatest heavy 2 never win a title, although in terms of resume, that's actually true.
I am happy w/ that. I think he was part of what made the late 50s and 60s such a great era. I do think he had the skill 2 be a champion, but oh well. At this point, I would just be happy w/ some more videos of Williams, like his fights w/ Richardson, Holman, Miteff, Daniels 2, Machen, Terrell 1, Curley Lee, Cleroux, and Bob Mashburn.

 

One does not need to pretend anything but it may he helpful to keep in mind that the loss to Terrell wasn’t decisive.

 

I don’t think anyone chased him away my guess is that he became a little weary of being subjected to being attacked and banned for responding at most in kind.

 

That’s a shame.we disagreed but I always liked him.

 

I think that if Williams had been a little better trained, taught to hit and move and to pick more carefully when exchanges took place ... and to PROTECT HIS CHIN ... he might have done substantially better. Personally I like the looks of him, he'd be a stiff test for anybody outside the elite.

 

His froot loops comment was hideous though, surely that ban was deserved?

 

What versions of Williams are fighting Big George? He’d need multiple versions in the ring at the same time to stand a chance.

 

What thread was that on? I’d like to have a look at that.

 

No idea. I just recall that he was banned for calling somebody froot loops. Pretty mild stuff tbh.

 

Mendoza was perma-banned? His profile still shows up.