Ali VS Williams..whats up with that?

Considering it was a record heat wave and the referee had to be replaced after passing out in the 10th round, yeah, I'd guess we'd have heard about it anyway.

 

The Cleveland Williams fight has been described as Ali's definitive fight of the sixties. The reason being,imo,that it was a good EXHIBITION of his skills. Not his greatest VICTORY by any means. Similarly Mike Tyson's fight with Michael Spinks. Tyson demonstrated all his skills in that one,but like Cleveland Williams for Ali.hardly Tyson's greatest victory.

 

You are correct ... he was fighting a shell of Williams ...

 

I've never understood why it's so universally regarded that this is Ali's best performace, yes he was amazing but, IMO, the first Liston fight is his best performance. He made a top 10 heavyweight look absolutley foolish, completely outclassed him in every regard and with the external pressures i.e. being scared shitless of Liston, crowd hating him and yelling slurs etc. makes it just that bit more better. The fact that Liston couldn't even do much to Ali when he was blinded is just the icing on the cake.

 

He had bullet in spine, lost part of lung, and had an easy win or two to set up big money bout. He had no business in a title bout. He had almost died, and would never be any good or a contender again.

 

It's an extension of how people react whenever a top level fighter completely destroys a decent journeyman or gatekeeper. You never really expected that journeyman or gatekeeper to be competitive or to win, but it stills provokes a lot of awe and talk when the top level fighter impressively blows them out of the water. Sure, struggling with a fighter on or around your own level and pulling out the win in the end does more one's record, but it doesn't usually look as impressive.

The Williams fight is the same thing, just that he had more reason to be uncompetitive.

 

I think Ali had remembered Cleve Williams calling for him before he had won the title and was minded to "Give him what he Wished for", Ali/Clay perhaps might of taken it easier, but as i recall Cleve's manager, in the build up had been rather disrespectful of Clay's abilities, and was voiceing How Cleve would "Run Clay right out of the Ring.." It might of Been Benbow who actually lit the fuse on this
unsually aggressive Ali/Clay performance

 

Reportedly, Ali's camp had to be shown photos of a hospitalized 160-pound gunshot victim Williams before they agreed to this match.
Ali insisted as champion he must fight everyone anyway, to his credit.

Ali's performance was spectacular. He was a peaking fighter up against damaged goods. He is not the only great fighter to be credited for looking at his best against depleted or faded opposition. It is common.

 

Big Cat get knocked out 2 time by Sonny Liston and get shoot by a cop....he was ****ing past his best

 

Ali's 60's accomplishments are a bit overrated. He was able to get away with superfluous and exagerrated stylizing due to the mummies and no-hopers he fought.

Kudos to him.

 

not his best WIN but man was it a show...

 

joe louis picked williams :nut

 

The only time Louis got it right with Ali was the first Frazier fight

 

Louis tended to pick against Ali,no matter who he was fighting. Until 1972,when Muhammad was having his second fight with Jerry Quarry. Ali told Louis that he was nervous and mentioned to Joe that he'd picked virtually every quality fighter to beat him over a period of about seven years. Louis replied "Well in that case Quarry's the next world champion,because tonight I'm picking you"

 

Ali was so sharp that night. However, look at Williams vs Liston and look at him vs Ali and you'll see 2 different men.