Cleveland Big Cat Williams of 1960 vs Oscar Ringo Bonavena 1970.

Williams would never stop Bonavena but he has a minority chance of beating him. Bonavena UD. Wouldn't be surprised if he beat Williams into a stoppage.

 

Feel the same.

 

Though Bonavena was a bit more accomplished than Cleveland, Cleveland wins out on the styles test. Also, Oscar was a very wild brawler, not very effective though. Cleveland was the opposite. A very calculated, purposeful slugger. Not throwing haymakers on a whim. However, I have it close anyway and Cleve takes it by a thrilling SD. Cleve's superior boxing abilities coupled with his power win him the fight.

 

Besides his durability, and power I was never thoroughly impressed with Bonavena, who went life and death with has-beens (Patterson, Folley), losing to both decisively and barely beating a 37 year old Folley in a rematch. His rep is largely based off, decking an 11 fight Frazier twice, then losing decisively in the rematch. I think he put up a decent effort against Ali, though that's mainly because Ali was rusty having fought 9 minutes in 3 years and could no longer "float like a butterfly and sting like a bee" for an extended period of time without tiring.

Williams UD, in a fight where he hurts Bonavena several times. A KD, or even a late stoppage isn't out of the question.

 

Good point. I'm with you know swag. Plus, Cleveland was actually much bigger than anyone Oscar ever faced, Lyle aside.

 

How was Bonavena more accomplished? I myself think Williams had the better body of work. Bonavena is 4-7 against name fighters. And two of those wins were controversial majority decisions. One of them against a 37 year old Folley who'd already beaten Bonavena decisively. He lost decisively to a past prime Patterson and Folley, a rusty Muhammad Ali who'd fought 9 minutes in 3 years, Ellis, an 11 fight Frazier and later an improved one, and Lyle.

 

That's another thing. Williams is going to have a 4-5 inch height advantage.

 

Just on paper. Bonavena has beaten Chuvalo, Folley, Martin, Mildenberger. And I agree, there's something to the first two. Just on paper does Bonavena appear a better fighter.

 

Agreed on paper it looks like, Bonavena had the more recognizable names. But when you consider the manner in which he "beat" them, and or where they were at the time of their career, it puts things in a different light.

 

Pfff HA Bonavena would show just how padded Williams record was. Bonavena was better than anyone Williams ever beat by a damn sight.

 

LOL yeah, lets make sure not to post Williams record against "name" fighters. Youd have to dredge up legends like Miteff and Daniels, a hometown draw against Machen, and a stoppage over a green unrated Terrell. WOW...

 

Agreed. For instance, Folley and Chuvalo definitely appear to be Bonavena's two best wins, but when one finds how old Folley was and how close the Chuvalo fight was, it's more like his best win was against Leotis Martin, who was a serious contender at the time.

 

Bonavena has FOUR wins, FOUR against name fighters. Two of them controversial majority decisions. One against a past it Folley in his late 30s. An MD against Chuvalo many thought he lost, and 2 wins over Martin, and a Mildenberger at the end of the road. In all honesty, (if even possible) do you seriously think Williams couldn't at least match this?

 

Oh god, now he's terrorizing this thread too.
To be correct though, Swag, Bonavena only fought Martin once.