Comparing power between eras

Don't know about Williams but Bruno/Foreman are spot on in terms of power.

 

shavers reputation is based in large part to the testimony of opponents (even those he didn't knock out)

 

While both powerful there's a gulf in difference between Foreman and Bruno in the ability to land powerful punches from any range.

Bruno had massive power if he could load up a right hand haymaker from distance but lost leverage inside and sometimes arm punched. Foreman could accurately throw punches with full leverage from any range

 

I don't always buy sparring stories but who did?

 

Scott LeDoux fought Bruno and Foreman.

 

Shavers and Sheppard seem to be in the same bracket in that all those who faced them were unanimous in claiming them to the hardest puncher.

 

Cooney, Foreman and Bruno all knocked out world class fighters, Bruno less so but at least he knocked out Coetzee. There is no shred of evidence that Williams knocked out a world class fighter. The big cat is unfairly thrown into these debates but apart from being dangerous at a lower level i dont know what he did to deserve being in this debate.

Why people cant just say Cleveland Williams was an incredible looking specimen whom never cut the mustard and leave it at that?


its no good saying "if Williams fought at a time where the rest of the division was slow enough for him to compete at a higher level he would have been better". It dosn't wash.

Williams was found out a few times. He was a KO attraction against journeymen.

 

What kind of an asset is power if it only works up to a level for the majority of fighters?

Its like the gunfighter who can shoot bottles and cans to smithereens with the best gun in the wild west but the trigger jams each time he draws against another gunfighter.

 

On this Frank Bruno-Jumbo Cummings preview from about the 7 minute mark a common opponent and a common sparring partner both compare Bruno's power as being very comparable that of Cleveland Williams and George Foreman and Earnie Shavers etc

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3SBmyx3jpWo

 

Especially the left hook,could throw 3 or 4 of them in a row.He was exceptional.

BTW Sonny and Ali said Williams was a awesome puncher,who both held him the highest calibre of opponent they faced after/during the end of their carrers. Liston himself said he thought he could beat anyone after beating Williams because he "punched hard"

Sonny Liston..I think thats all you need.