Cleveland Williams vs Floyd Patterson

1- Patterson should win this, but i keep my money in my pockets, knowing how dangerous of a puncher William is.
2-Floyd should use his superior speed (but don't underestimate The big cat's handspeed !) and greater skills to outpoints Clev, but if one bomb landed clean on Patterson....good night floyd.
3- Again Patterson should be the favorite but he has to be VERY careful...Careful with a capitale C.

 

Patterson is my third favorite fighter but this is a terrible match up for him. I see Williams jumping on him as he did Liston. Only Patterson doesn’t have the durability to survive. I see him bravely getting up and continuing to fight until the bout is stopped around the third with Patterson no longer able to defend himself.

Odds would be 70-30 Williams IMO

 

I think this scenario would likely happen had They fought in the late 1950's with a cautious and a Patterson who was not as brave as the one who came after the Liston fight, facing a williams who was a huge threat at that time for any fighter not named sonny Liston.
Here? I think Cleveland would brutally stops him.

 

Both could shake each other up, but I lean towards Patterson beeing more vulnerable to power.
Scientific smaller Patterson as a boxer vs. the chance to find himself on the floor. Looks like alot of this fight is what you make out of the abilities of Cleveland Williams.

 

Most likely Patterson by knockout, since Williams relied on his size and power too much and had a habit of getting complacent when he had his man hurt, which would be a big mistake against Patterson.

In the two biggest fights of his career he made the same mistake and both times got flattened by both Satterfield and Liston. I see Williams hurting Patterson, but I also see Patterson coming back and knocking Williams out, since I don’t see Williams being patient enough to finish Patterson off.

 

I think that Patterson would have to overcome some really tough moments, but Cleveland's defense or chin aren't great either and Floyd would outland him and stop him after rough first half of the fight.

 

Floyd Patterson fought tough punchers as his career evolved from the two brutal beatings that he suffered against Sonny Liston. He beat a stylish boxer in Eddie Machen in July 1964 on points, almost took Eddie out. Defeated George Chuvalo on points in Feb 1965,lost to Muhammad Ali in Nov 1965, lost by TKO 12, had two good fights against Jerry Quarry in 1967, a draw and a loss. In Sept 1968 gave WBA champion Jimmy Ellis a very tough fight in Sweden, even broke Jimmy's nose, but lost the controversial 15 round decision, Ellis had power. Even defeated Oscar Ringo Bonavena in Feb 1972 by decision. Then gave Ali a very competitive bout in Sept 1972, losing by TKO 7, eye laceration. Cleveland Big Cat Williams prior to his near fatal shooting on Nov 30 1964, had two tough fights against pre champion Sonny Liston, even broke Liston's nose before being stopped. Williams owns a 7th round KO over Ernie Terrell in April 1962, but lost by a close decision to Ernie in April 1963. I see Floyd tasting the canvas early, weathering the storm, but Floyd makes adjustments in his style, to outbox Cleve, then begins to use his superior speed to stop a very exhausted Williams by TKO 7.

 

You are entitled to your opinion, so am I. Debating is above my pay grade, I do not have to agree with everyone. I have been watching boxing since 1965. But I did not mean to rattle you about going against your favorite fighter, Williams was pretty good. But remember here we are all adults, insulting others means keyboard courage, you may be reported to the mods or placed on Ignore, so lighten up, it is just an opinion. Everybody does not have to agree with you and I.

 

I agree with your opinion but not your method of delivering it.

 

You're correct that Williams getting overexcited got him knocked out against Satterfield when he hurt him and prematurely went in for the kill but he was a green 20 year old kid who took the fight on a 2 day's notice and had been out of the gym for 2-3 weeks. He was also years away from a ranking. Quite clearly nowhere near his prime.

Also how were Satterfield and Liston the two biggest fights of his career? Neither were for the championship and in the case of the former, neither man was ranked.

His 2 biggest fights were undoubtedly against Ali, and probably the Billy Daniels rematch. He needed to win it to advance to the finals to face Terrell for the WBA championship (which would've been his 2nd biggest fight but it was not meant to be).

 

Patterson by KO. Williams has his moments but he's not as good as Ingo, who obliterated Patterson in one meeting and Machen, a man it must be said Williams struggled against. Curiously, I see this playing out like Patterson/Ingo 3.

 

See I respect your opinion, your going to be a good poster

 

Whatever you think about how this fight would have come out, Patterson himself doesn't seem to have been keen to put it to the test.

March 1964, the NYSAC wanted to pick Muhammad Ali's first challenger with an elimination tournament featuring Patterson, Williams, Doug Jones and Eddie Machen. Madison Square Garden tried to kick things off with Patterson-Williams. Williams quickly accepted despite being offered the shorter end of the purse. Patterson decided it would be a better idea to disappear to Sweden and fight Machen.

Later the same year, the WBA tried to organise a tournament to fill their vacant title. The idea was that the semi-finals would be the #1 contender vs the #4 - that's Terrell and Chuvalo - and the #2 vs the #3 - that's Williams and Patterson. So Patterson signed to fight... Chuvalo. This wrecked the whole idea and led the WBA to give up and just sanction Terrell-Williams as being for the vacant title.