The Big Cat Pre Gunshot versus the following ranked contenders from the 50's/60's Roy Harris Johnny Persol Manuel Ramos Charlie Norkus Jimmy Slade Brian London Henry Cooper Hubert Hilton Eduardo Corletti Karl Mildenberger Robert Cleroux Amos Lincoln Coley Wallace Dan Bucceroni Heinz Neuhaus JohnnyWilliams Jack Gardner Karel Sys Cesar Brion Don Cokkell Joe Erskine Archie Moore [1962 version aged 46, number 9] 21 top ten ranked contenders . How many does he beat?
Ramos was similar to Williams in that he had a big powerful punch and a average or slightly below average chin. Ramos vs Williams would be a fun fight. Some people say Joe Frazier never beat a big heavyweight that could punch really hard they forget about Ramos. It all the parts of his game were flawed but he could hit. Like Cleveland Williams.
Those are some pretty weak contenders. Moore, and Mildenberger were probably the best on that list. Williams should be too big and powerful, and there aren't many punchers here, so I think he would defeat 18 or so of those names with maybe an upset along the way But the real question is how many contenders who never won a world title ( Lineal ) were better than Wiliams. Probably 25 or more.
By my count Williams has victories over TWO currently ranked at the time of the fight top-10 contenders during his career: Alex Miteff in 1961 and Billy Daniels in 1963. He also has the draw against Machen in July 1962. He has other wins against guys who were decent and / or rated at one time or another, but none were considered top-10 material at the time Williams fought them, FWIW. Williams may or may not have had the potential to beat more top-10 guys, but he either couldn't get or wouldn't take more bouts against rated fighters.
I think Cleveland Williams would have have had a tough time with Eduardo Corletti, Karl Mildenberger, Archie Moore, and Mando Ramos. Corletti was mentioned by Angelo Dundee, as a possible contender on the telecast following the Zora Folley fight on March 22 1967, in New York, Ali won by KO7 over Zora. Mildenberger gave Ali some stiff competition on Sept 10 1966, before Muhammad stopped the southpaw, in round 12. Moore gave Marciano, all he could handle in their Sept 21 1955 title bout, before falling to Rocky in round 9, in which turned out to be Marciano's final fight. Ramos gave Smokin Joe some anxious moments, before falling to Frazier in round 2, on June 24 1968, in Madison Square Garden. Williams before he was shot in 1964, hit Sonny Liston so hard, that he broke Sonny's nose before being stopped himself in round 2, in 1959. Liston did mention that fact.
