Prime Jersey Joe Walcott - Prime Cleveland Williams?

I have to tell you, ok I lied. I don't have to. I want to tell you that this is a challenging question simply because it is really difficult to discern exactly when the Big Cat's prime was. While he had some very solid winning streaks none of them show him beating a string of quality fighters. I'm going to say it was the three years in between his second loss to Sonny Liston and his loss to Ernie Terrell. During that time, Williams beat a lot of lesser opponents but also defeated Alex Miteff and Terrell as well as fighting to a draw with Eddie Machen.

Walcott lost to a lot of top fighters but he also has more than a handful of solid wins. I think this is a levels thing and Jersey Joe is just a better boxer than Williams. I will go with Walcott by competitive but unanimous decision.

 

Walcott beat quite a few punchers,and I think he beats Williams,by walking him into something,big.

 

Walcott lost so many times it's baffling people consider him some sort of great. Everyone loves to look at the highlight footage but he had holes and lapses, could be outworked, I would put Williams at even odds to spark him out cold.

 

Walcott by KO. Walcott beat a similar puncher in Elmer Ray and Curtis Shepherd. He also floored Joe Louis 3 times.

 

Most of Walcotts losses had to do with holding down a full time job to feed a family of eight. No time to train or eat well/eat at all. Walcott was a real hero to the sport and his family. Only a real slime ball would try to discredit his career.

 

Williams liked to throw punches with his hands by his hips. Especially when he throws a left hook. walcott had a very nice left hook in his own right. If he baits Willams into throwing a left hook and counters with his own, that could be it.
Walcott had some ups and downs in his career.For a time, he had a good run and he accomplished quite a bit at the highest level, in his era. I understand the fascination with Cleveland Williams and the what ifs around him; I was on that train decades ago. But he was not all that. A big strong guy with a very stiff punch, but, best for best, he is a step or two behind Walcott. Walcott was a good bit smarter and more clever in the ring, a bit better.
I look at Walcott kind of like Freddie Pendleton. They both started their careers kind of desperate and took what they could get; they had nobody behind them so they took fights under less than ideal conditions just to get paid. Both of them eventually caught the eye of a team that enabled them to focus on boxing and they both maximized that opportunity. Neither of them were great fighters. rather, they were guys that learned lessons the hard way, developed skills and did the best they could when they got a shot.

 

Walcott prob knocks him out or decision

 

If anything, Douglas should've counted the ref out.

 

On paper Walcott is the favorite , but I wouldn't wager a bundle on it. Jersey Joe lost to a lot less

 

Walcott is a very proven fighter.

For me, Williams is a ?

Williams has a very puffed up record against second-raters. No way to get a good handle on how good he might have been. A void for each to fill in with what they want. For some an unacknowledged great. For others a carefully managed fighter who failed badly against the top men.