Cleveland Big Cat Williams gets a title shot on Sept 26 1962 instead of Sonny Liston.

While it’s possible that his lethal power could have been the end of Floyd, I’m still going to favor Patterson.

 

Floyd is my third favourite fighter but I’ve always thought Williams takes this one. Especially if Patterson allows Liston to get in his head as he did Patterson.

 

Another cracking post Richard M. Fascinating fight. After Liston, Cleveland was probably the guy that caused sleepless nights in the Heavyweight division.
You may need to educate me here, (Not for the first time and hopefully not the last), I have only seen Williams in two complete fights, his good showing against Liston and his demolition by Ali. From the other bits I've seen, Williams looks a bit wild, a bit swing and hope. He crosses his feet at times in his haste to get a shot away.
Floyd, of course, also took risks as he was a small Heavyweight but he had great basics, A golden Gloves, AAU and Olympic Champion. As you say, Patterson was no stranger to the deck but his terrific heart got him up so many times.
From the little I know of Williams, I really can't see him beating Floyd. Patterson would be too quick, too clever and too powerful with the counter punch.
I would love to have seen it though.

 

Ernie was way easier to hit than Patterson. You had to get him clean though, otherwise he'd grab you forever.
From what I've seen of Cleveland, he could bang almost anyone out if they were there to be hit. Brian London, a similar Fighter to Terrell, a tough awkward spoiler, said Patterson was the fastest thing on legs, (Before he fought Ali of course).
I admit to a certain bias. Having read Patterson's autobiography, I admire him enormously.

 

Oversimplified of course but IF Williams caught Floyd with the type of bombs he laid on Liston then I could see Patterson being KO’d.

However, I don’t see Big Cat catching Floyd so flush but he might rake him for an early round KD with Patterson bouncing back up and still more than viable.

Floyd could hurt Cleve but I don’t know if he necessarily puts the Big Cat out - maybe, but I see a clear decision win for Patterson being more likely - but the fight remains perilous throughout in view of William’s punch and it’s KO potential, if not via a single shot, at least a single, fight turning punch to get things rolling.

Agreed, great match up - as I’ve said, though Ali stood above, there was still some great talent around that time - some very good fantasy matches in potential.

 

I think the Patterson who shows up is always a big contention in these threads. Patterson was always very vulnerable to the psychological aspect of fighting, he openly expressed a fear for fighting that I don't know any heavyweight champion ever did. But riding off his win to regain the belt from Johansson, he probably would have a confidence against Williams that he didn't have against Liston for the sole fact that Williams is not Liston.

Williams was a prolifically powerfully puncher and possessed a marvelous physique and from what I know is a mediocre technician. Patterson is elusive, I can see if Patterson tried to go to war then Williams would knock him down again and again. Both have stamina, so I see the likelihood of a Williams knocking out Patterson to be relatively consistent throughout the fight. Like @Pugguy said it may just take one punch to lay Patterson out for good. But he has to catch Patterson first. And for everyone that rates Patterson's chin as glass, it is neglectful to not acknowledge that he had a otherworldly ability to recover and keep fighting.

Patterson's resume speaks for itself. Even after his losses to Liston he remained a contender for the rest of his career. I think Patterson would just be too elusive and explosive to be put down, and if he hit the canvas I don't think Williams would land often enough, or correctly, to keep him there.

 

Williams was fast. But not fast enough to land first. Not against Floyd.

Ingo caught Floyd by luring him. And that was the way to do it. Whereas Williams fought fire with fire.

I don’t see Floyd freezing like he did against Sonny. Patterson would be at his explosive best here like he was against Cooper. Beating him to the draw.

patterson chopped down some tall guys that stood like Williams. Guys like Todd Herring and Charlie Powell. I think Floyd swiftly deals with a brave big cat who keeps trying to get up.

 

Todd Herring and Charlie Powell were a far cry from Cleveland Williams.

 

Cleveland Williams actually stopped Todd Herring 15 seconds quicker than Patterson did 13 months prior Swag. Perhaps chok was checking the depth of attention being paid by producing a "red" Herring. Could he have been a ginger? This was after Williams was shot when his legs were no longer the same and could stiffen up when he was hurt. His balance just wasn't the same. He did ship a couple of heavy blows against Herring, a hard puncher, quite well tho. The moment when Williams caught a big right hand clean as he attacked then in the blink of an eye came back to stagger Herring and bombard him should be on any fans highlight reel. Herring never recovered. Incidentally i believe Herring ended up jailed after killing a guy, with his fists, in a bar fight.