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

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Richard M Murrieta, Jan 29, 2021.



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  1. Richard M Murrieta

    Richard M Murrieta Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Was not Sonny Liston the referee for the Ernie Terrell vs Cleveland Big Cat Williams rematch in Houston? I was not sure.
     
    Richard M Murrieta, Jan 30, 2021
    Richard M Murrieta, Jan 30, 2021
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  2. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I envy you lol.
     
    William Walker, Jan 30, 2021
    William Walker, Jan 30, 2021
    #47
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  3. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Liston refereed the first fight, which was in Houston. Pete Tomasco refereed the return bout in Philadelphia.
     
    William Walker, Jan 30, 2021
    William Walker, Jan 30, 2021
    #48
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  4. BlackCloud

    BlackCloud I detest the daily heavyweight threads Full Member

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    Fact of the day.......

    If you put William on ignore, it frees up page 1 by 12 threads.

    Lol.
     
    BlackCloud, Jan 30, 2021
    BlackCloud, Jan 30, 2021
    #49
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  5. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Good one.
     
    William Walker, Jan 30, 2021
    William Walker, Jan 30, 2021
    #50
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  6. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 Loyal Member

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    I believe he was Rich!!!
     
    JohnThomas1, Jan 30, 2021
    JohnThomas1, Jan 30, 2021
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  7. Richard M Murrieta

    Richard M Murrieta Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Thanks my friend.
     
    Richard M Murrieta, Jan 30, 2021
    Richard M Murrieta, Jan 30, 2021
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  8. Richard M Murrieta

    Richard M Murrieta Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I agree.
     
    Richard M Murrieta, Jan 30, 2021
    Richard M Murrieta, Jan 30, 2021
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  9. The Fighting Yoda

    The Fighting Yoda Active Member Full Member

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    Frankly speaking, for me it`s super tough to estimate the outcome. Cleveland Williams was taller, had a great punch and handspeed. Bonavena was tough and durable, but he didn`t had to fight Liston either. So difficult, but I tend to Bonavena.
     
    The Fighting Yoda, Jan 31, 2021
    The Fighting Yoda, Jan 31, 2021
    #54
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  10. Richard M Murrieta

    Richard M Murrieta Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Cleveland Big Cat Williams was an upright strong heavyweight with a big right hand. Oscar Ringo Bonavena was a bullish wild swinging heavyweight whose claim to fame was knocking down a rising Smoking Joe Frazier on Sept 20 1966 twice in one round but lost a split decision to Joe. Also Ringo defeated Karl Mildenberger on points in 12 rounds on Sept 16 1967, as part of the 1967 WBA Tournament to find a successor to the banished champion Muhammad Ali. Jimmy Ellis decked Oscar with a right hand and defeated Bonavena on points in Dec 1967 Bonavena was decisioned by Frazier on Dec 10 1968 in 15 rounds. He was kayoed by a come backing Muhammad Ali in round 15 on Dec 7 1970. Williams fought Sonny Liston twice, in 1959 and 1960, even broke Liston's nose before being kayoed. Big Cat even has a 7th round stoppage of Ernie Terrell in April 1962 in a bout refereed by Liston. Williams was shot by a Texas State Trooper on Nov 30 1964 after it was announced that Cleveland would be meeting Terrell for the vacant WBA title in 1965. Oscar is vulnerable to a right hand as evidenced against Ellis. Ringo would be swarming in on a flatfooted Big Cat that would time and again tag him with the big right hand that caused the fracture of Liston's nose in one of their bouts. The bout would have it's moments during several heated exchanges. In round twelve as both combatants are exchanging, a big right hand finds its mark on Oscar's exposed jaw, spilling him to the canvas. Williams rains punch after punch on Ringo, forcing a stoppage by trainer Gil Clancy, who mercifully throws in the towel.
     
    Last edited: Jan 31, 2021
    Richard M Murrieta, Jan 31, 2021
    Richard M Murrieta, Jan 31, 2021
    #55
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  11. The Fighting Yoda

    The Fighting Yoda Active Member Full Member

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    Great knowledge! Cleveland Williams lost also once against Bob Satterfield, but he was still quite young and Satterfield was an exceptional puncher.

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    The Fighting Yoda, Jan 31, 2021
    The Fighting Yoda, Jan 31, 2021
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  12. The Fighting Yoda

    The Fighting Yoda Active Member Full Member

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    Apparantly, Cleveland Williams was also a sparring partner of George Foreman.

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    The Fighting Yoda, Jan 31, 2021
    The Fighting Yoda, Jan 31, 2021
    #57
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  13. sweetsci

    sweetsci Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Despite me citing monthly ratings a lot, I realize that they're not perfect and only a reflection of ratings compilers, busy ones at that, at the time. I'm curious who Rischer was ranked by at the time of the Williams fight? Not by the Ring or WBA. Boxing Illustrated, perhaps? Rischer fell out of other rankings after his late May loss to Eddie Machen.

    Here's what I have for the time of the Williams - Rischer bout:

    The Ring - November 1963
    (as of September 17, 1963)

    World Champion: Sonny Liston

    1. Cassius Clay
    2. Doug Jones
    3. Ernie Terrell
    4. Floyd Patterson
    5. Cleveland Williams
    6. Zora Folley
    7. Billy Daniels
    8. Eddie Machen
    9. Karl Mildenberger
    10. Henry Cooper

    The Ring – as of October 2,1963 (AP)

    World Champion: Sonny Liston

    1. Cassius Clay
    2. Doug Jones
    3. Ernie Terrell
    4. Floyd Patterson
    5. Cleveland Williams
    6. Zora Folley
    7. Billy Daniels
    8. Eddie Machen
    9. Karl Mildenberger
    10. Gregorio Peralta

    WBA Ratings (as of October 2, 1963)

    Champion: Sonny Liston

    1. Cassius Clay
    2. Doug Jones
    3. Cleveland Williams
    4. Ernie Terrell
    5. Billy Daniels
    6. Henry Cooper
    7. Floyd Patterson
    8. Gregorio Peralta
    9. Zora Folley
    10. Thad Spencer
     
    sweetsci, Jan 31, 2021
    sweetsci, Jan 31, 2021
    #58
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  14. SolomonDeedes

    SolomonDeedes Active Member Full Member

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    Rischer had actually slipped out of the WBA top 10 just one month before he faced Williams. Not because he lost a fight but because a space had to be found to reward Gregorio Peralta for his win over light heavyweight champ Willie Pastrano. This is why the AP report on the Williams-Rischer fight states that Rischer was ranked 9th - they must have not had the most up to date ratings to hand.
     
    SolomonDeedes, Jan 31, 2021
    SolomonDeedes, Jan 31, 2021
    #59
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  15. sweetsci

    sweetsci Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Thanks for the explanation.
     
    sweetsci, Jan 31, 2021
    sweetsci, Jan 31, 2021
    #60
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