Cleveland Williams vs Ron Lyle primes

Don't forget Lynn Ball too, a fight he was even closer to peak for (a full three fights before he ever fought Cooney). If he can't survive Lynn Ball imagine what punchers the likes of Williams and Shavers would do to him.

 

We can at least imagine this is Williams and Lyle awaiting their medical check ups before engaging one another in the ring.

https://www.gettyimages.com.au/deta...u-check-out-now-dr-isamu-news-photo/838106668

 

Lyle did pretty well in one of the toughest eras of heavyweight boxing, he did well against two of the hardest punchers ever in Foreman and Shavers.
So even tho Cleveland could certainly get a win I m gonna go with Ron.
I think Williams was the faster but Ron had slightly better chin.
I can actually see this as being like Lyle V Foreman both hitting the floor, but Ron getting the W this time.

 

Ron was 38 years old and had recently been stopped

 

Two big punchers who would bring it but in a fire fight logically I'll go with the fighter with the better chin Lyle.

 

I see no problem with his logic.

 

Styles make fights.

This is a great match up, with both fighters kind of evenly paired and somehow cancelling each other's advantages.

At the end I go with Big Cat, but it depends on what kind of ring strategy he applies.

- Williams goes to the trenches, then he is toast, because in an all out brawl Lyle has the advantage: more punch, better chin.

- Williams keeps his distance using his mobility and defensive skills, he can manage to outbox Lyle and grab a win by decision.

BTW, what is exactly a Prime Wiliiams? I have had always problems with this issue because he was shot when he was 29 and I think his wound, long recovery and early retirement cut short an interesting progressiong.

When he came back from retirement he was not the same fighter and Ali was already in his apogee, so it is like Big Cat missed some of his best years and we didn't see his true prime. Am I wrong?

 

Williams KO

 

Well knock me down with a feather hahahaha

 

Lyle's losses to Lynn Ball, and Cooney are absolutely fair game.

Williams' post shooting losses are off limits though. As are his pre-prime losses.

Edit: We can also through out the Terrell "loss" as he had damaged hands verified before the bout.

Which leaves us with only the Liston losses. And even there, Liston was rumored to have used hot gloves. A view I personally subscribe to given Liston's sudden turnaround after the first round.

Liston knew he couldn't beat Williams without them and did what he had to do. In his defense can you blame the guy?

 

Out of interest Pug, who would you pick in this match-up? You've previously noted Williams chin is underrated these days. I don't think Lyle's was much better if at all. I certainly don't see him fairing any better against Liston, nor do I think the Foreman he faced was nearly as powerful or as good as he was pre-Ali.

I think he gets a lot of credit for the success he had against a rusty, inferior, Foreman. Success I doubt he would've had 2 years prior.

 

So basically we should just use an imaginary best version of Williams that never existed against a Lyle who was 38 years old and coasting on fumes... Got it.

 

Your stupidity and inability to read the room never ceases to amaze me.

 

Yes, I do think Cleve’s whiskers are underrated due to overweighting of the early career KO loss to Satterfield and pair of KO losses to a well chinned and well proven power puncher in Liston - his only KO losses prior to the shooting.

I think Lyles whiskers were pretty decent - he was certainly getting hit a ton by Shavers and did survive that monumental KD.

Overall I’d favour Lyle but perhaps a nice slugfest might develop, shifting it closer to a 50/50 fight based on previously upheld chins and power.

 

He did survive the KD, but imo was saved by the bell. If Shavers had any time to finish the show, Lyle is toast.