How long would Cleveland Williams have lasted against Marciano?

If only this were an NFL combine, Williams would have him beat by a mile! Alas it is boxing, where Andy Ruiz can beat the dog **** out of Anthony Joshua

I agree that general improvements in doping make it impossible for Marciano to beat someone like Tyson or Lewis, but Williams is well within his ability.

 

I would guess in that 6-9 range. Rocky by KO

 

That 188 pound guy was able to knock out Satterfield in 3. How did Williams do?

 

Seamus choosing violence on behalf of Classic Forum this week.

 

Awhile back I put pen to paper and did my best to sing a tune based on my treatment when it's time to dish out truth on these threads...

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And was 20 pounds heavier, 2 inch taller with bigger reach too, plus he was experienced fighter with 35 pro fights and full size heavy while he was fighting LHW with weak chin.

 

Awesome find man, bet that Williams fans are uncomfortable reading this.

 

Not really. It's Williams interviewed as an overconfident 20 year old kid who's excited at having won a grudge match against his local rival. In the second interview, nine years later, he talks about how he's learned the value of staying cool.

 

Yet he repeated the same mistake in second Liston fight.

 

After seeing his quit job against Liston?

1-3….

 

Not sure why people continue to say he quit against Liston, he absolutely gave it his all. At times he even took Liston’s best and returned better than he got. He just got outclassed by the better fighter.

 

Honestly, it’s less about the stoppage and more about the strategic choices he made..

He boxed very well in the first round, utilizing his height and strength… Then allows Liston to literally walk right into him in the next round, and just stays there the whole fight.

I cant speak for other people, but thats why I think that way.

 

Gruelling war, but mid rounds stoppage

 

Good point. He did box very well in that first round, but I don't think his turn of fortunes had anything to do with being a frontrunner. Liston was excellent at making on the fly adjustments.. With all due respect to Williams, he simply wasn't on Liston's class in terms of skill. Being from Georgia, in a time where good trainers were concentrated in NY and Philly, really hurt him. Williams' trainers left A LOT to be desired to say the least. And this would come back to haunt him in Liston fights, when he had no idea how to react to Liston's adjustments, and more importantly no idea how to survive when hurt. Didn't clinch, use his legs, or anything.

How he got as far as he did with those trainers is remarkable.

 

Marciano's overhand right is getting to that chin. Big Cat was an upright boxer. He's not getting underneath the Suzie Q. He's not sticking and moving, he's gonna be right there. Rocky has much the lower center of gravity. He successfully dealt with tall guys like Shkor and Vingo, but we only have brief color clips of Vingo.

Archie Moore thought he could get Rocky with his hook, but realized Marciano wasn't that easy a target for the left once in the ring with him. Cleve would discover the same.