Moore actually had a great record at heavyweight. He was only beaten by ATG's in Patterson, Marciano and Ali and he was close to 50 when Ali beat him, that's old even by modern day standards, let alone 1962 standards. Moore beat prime Valdez who was a large sized heavyweight by the standards of the day. Could Moore, with his wiles and skill, overcome the size and power of Williams?
I like Moore in a midway stoppage but Williams absolutely has a puncher’s chance in this and if he lands, Moore ain’t getting up like he did against Durelle.
I think for some people it’s because his name was in the mix of the 1960s with Ali, Liston and Patterson. Similar to the way that Tommy Morrison was in the mix with Holy, Bowe, Lewis and Tyson. Sometimes fame through association in an era works out that way
I feel that Cleveland Williams gets put into a "what if" category because he got shot. But it appears to me his career wasn't on some amazing trajectory before the shooting. However that's why I feel Williams gets put more into fantasy matchups than other fighters.
I have posted this fact several times, at the time of Cleveland Williams shooting on Nov 30 1964 by a Texas State trooper, it was announced that Williams would be meeting Ernie Terrell on March 5 1965 for the vacant WBA Title that had been stripped from Muhammad Ali for giving Sonny Liston a rematch, a clear violation of WBA rules. Remember Williams stopped Terrell in round 7 in April 1962 and lost a split decision to Ernie in April 1963.
Archie by late TKO or KO. Archie in his prime was maybe the greatest LHW after Ezzard Charles. I like him here to outbox and stop Williams in later rounds.
