Cleveland "Big Cat" Williams (1959) vs Ike "The President" Ibeabuchi (1997)

At least Williams found his level, he is easier to assess. Ike had two good wins then went into personal meltdown before he could realise his potential. He is harder to assess.

Williams was a dangerous puncher who had been exposed early in his career against unknown Sylvester Jones and the veteran bob satterfeild. He never went past three rounds against a world Champion. As it turned out his big punching was never that effective at the highest level. A Draw with Machen, a knockout over a young, unrated Terrell and shop worn Miteff, are about all there is to talk about. Terrell beat him in a return fight. even Chuvalo outpointed him. Despite this Williams remained exciting because nobody was quite as good to watch at destroying the lower ranks (especially in Texas) and his career ran for years. He was always popular but I feel had he fought more bigger names he would have lost more fights. He never fought Zora Folley but he did box an exhibition against Frazier.

Tua's punching did not bother Ibeabuchi so he took a punch. however, he kind of came out of nowhere before that fight. Nobody raved on him until then. The pace he fought at was good and Ike looked like a boxer with a nice style. His physical appearance did look a bit manufactured, like he was some steroid experiment that went wrong. And it did go wrong. He went wild in a gym one time that we know about. Ezra Sellers was attacked. Then there was the stuff he went to jail for. And Voices in his head.

Based on the Tua fight I think Ike was the better fighter. I would make him the favorite just on that but it seems unfair to the big cat when there is a whole body of work to assess with Williams.

 

based off a few fights against top level that we have seen both men in against I would favor IKE who seemed more durable. Ike was never beaten and never dropped but had only 20 or so fights, I think Big Cat was about 31-1 when he was KO'd by Satterfield

 

It's crazy that Satterfield lost to the likes of Jake Lamotta who wasn't a huge puncher and then goes on to Knockout the big heavyweight Willlimas who had big power, just goes to show these fantasy fights of smaller heavyweights of the past beating the likes of Lewis May not be as far fetched as it seems.

 

George Chuvalo was around the same age and had the same kind of career span and simular miles on the clock as big cat. There is no evidence that their result could have been different at an earlier time. It is not like one was going in one direction and the other was on the way down. It was two veterans and actually, it was a good fight. I've seen the highlights and it was all action, hard fought.

Sylvester Jones was a show case night for Williams on the undercard of Marciano v Lastarza at the polo grounds. His backers had moved heaven and earth to get him on that show. Jones was hand picked. A ten fight novice who had already lost a third of his fights where as 27-0 Willliams had already beaten Omilio Agramonte and Keene Simmons respected journeymen. Jones cast as the heel, handed Williams a beating knocking him down twice. It was a disaster. Williams had three times as many fights.

Satterfeild was clearly a danger man but Williams was again the prospect with the impressive 31-1 record having beat the one guy he lost to. He was ready to move up at that point but failed that assignment. Satterfeild had lost twice that year, much smaller and was suposed to be a stepping stone. Satterfeild only lost to good fighters but Williams at 31-1 was hardly thrown in the deep end.

 

The President by UD. I've never seen a big heavyweight with such great cardio and workrate. Great talent that went to waste.

 

I'm voting for the President.

 

Ike in 2

 

Ike beat a prime Tua going toe to toe with him, nobody else was willing to do that. Ike KTFO of Byrd in the 5th round, nobody else ever beat him like that until he had started to fade. Unfortunately that is all we have to go on.

Williams went 1-1 (1) vs. Terrell (KO7 and L10) and he drew with Eddie Machen. He was slaughtered by Bob Satterfield, Sonny Liston twice, Ali, and others.

I like Ike by KO.

 

First of all williams in his prime weighed 210-214 not 220, he is overrated like hell.. Ike by ko, he was bigger,stronger,heavier and did take a better shot

 

I think Ike is over rated too. There is not that much to go on.

 

I'd heavily favor Ibeabuchi in this fight from what we got to see of him he looked to be the real deal. The punch output he showed in the war with Tua to go along with being able to catch up to and stop the extremely skilled and slick Chris Byrd leads me to believe Ibeabuchi would've been a very formidable contender possibly a champion. I think these two would have a fight something like Williams vs Liston. It would be action packed and back and forth for a few rounds but eventually Ibeabuchi with his size, work rate and good combinations would overwhelm Williams.