56 years ago today, Nov 14 1966, Muhammad Ali stops Cleveland Big Cat Williams.

Muhammad's most celebrated performance when it comes to a breathtaking exhibition of all his skills. Poetry in motion.

 

It was a remarkable exhibition from Ali.
Speed, athleticism and power and yes I know Williams was over the hill but it was still a sight to behold.

 

The same out come would have happened I believe Rich, Williams was no technician that could hold a candle to Ali and his power wouldn't gain Ali's respect either.

 

This is an odd fight to rate in many ways.

Williams went down hill rapidly after he was shot, but he had a higher ranking than during his prime, because of the momentum that he had built up.

To give you an idea how bad it was, Williams made the cut to middleweight after he was shot.

I don't think that even McGrain would have asked that of him.

Even though Williams would be a shell of his former self after he was shot, it is striking that his sparring partners continued to compare his power to the hardest hitters of all time.

I can't think that Foreman shared the ring with a very good version of Williams!

 

56 years ago. Wow.

Of course I don’t remember this fight but if you were talking boxing in the mid 70s the length of time involved would equate to talking Dempsey vs Willard.

I didn’t get to see it until many years later but I actually prefer the B & W television broadcast version of this fight - Ali’s work and power (with genuine audio, punch sounds) translates much better imo.

I know it’s relative to the impossible fluidity of Ali, but Williams presented as much stiffer fighter than he did pre gun shot wound.

There was talk of Williams being fearful before entering the ring. Possibly true but wasn’t there also $$$ and/or contractual issues that had Williams baulking a bit just before fight time? or maybe the question of a garnishee/writ being attached to Cleve’s fight payment?

Not a nice distraction to have to deal with.

Anyway, Manager Hugh Benbow sounded like a real a** hole.

Otherwise no evidence of any fear in Williams’ career game - certainly didn’t take a backward step in the Liston rematch.

The first fight might’ve naturally made him think twice - nothing doing. When Cleve sniffed blood he still threw down - too bad prime Liston had such a great chin.

I don’t believe anyone can dispute that Sonny took some monster shots in both fights. Even today, both fights maybe still somewhat underrated.

I love reading the comments of first time viewers of the Liston vs Williams fights on You Tube - invariably the response is WOW, with more than positive comments re the skills, power and speed on display from both men.

 

Just rewatched it (B&W version) and it’s like a symphony and poetry all in one. Magnificence.

 

Not sure Cleveland's title shot could have possibly been more of an uphill battle than it was. Aside from losing 60 pounds due to the gunshot and subsequent surgeries, then having to gain it all back properly and get back into peak fighting shape....all in a span of just two years....he probably had the single most difficult task in Heavyweight history in having to deal with THAT version of Ali. If you had to pick a specific date that the single greatest Heavyweight stepped into a boxing ring, I think many would pick Ali on November 14, 1966.

 

Previously, the high majority of the Ali fights my son had seen were his celebrated bouts of the 1970s, FOTC, The Rumble, The Thrilla and so on. I showed this fight to my son a couple of years ago and he was truly astonished at Ali's skill and athleticism. The fight really was a fantastic display of all of Ali's gifts.

 

I agree, obviously Ali was visually tunning in his ability to take Williams apart ,but when you're missing several feet of intestines and were recovering from a legitimate near death experience I can't rate it as a great win.

 

Ah another daily Williams post. Yes, we all know if Williams hadnt been shot, 187 years old, missing miles of intestines, half a kidney, a liver, and most of his colon as well as having the referee and judges against him he would have easily beaten Ali and anyone else who ever stepped in the ring with him. The breeze from his punches alone would have stopped most heavyweights and some say you could feel it in parts of Australia.