'Compassionate Cassius Clay, To Give Big Cat A Chance'

April 19, 1966

Sam Houston Coliseum

'Big Cat Defeats Dallas Policeman'

How far had Cleveland Williams slipped.

Cleveland got clearly outboxed over the first '6-Rounds versus 'journeyman'
'South Dallas Policeman' Sonny Moore, who gave the 'Big Cat' a tough time.

Cleveland had to go 'balls out' to win the last 4-Rounds, to squeeze out a close
10-Round Decision.

Cleveland got 'banged' around pretty good in the early rounds, and a 'lucky' right hook
broke Sonny Moore's nose, which changed the 'flow' of the fight.

The fans boo'd the 'Big Cat', and the 'questionable' Decision.

The 28 year-old Sonny Moore, brought in a record of 19-19-2 (10 KO's), and the 6' 2" 210 lb.
Dallas Heavyweight was considered nothing more than a 'super easy opponent' for the 'Big Cat'.

After this bout, the boxing pundits reported, 'The Big Cat has no more lives left, he's done.'

This content is protected

 

Tuesday Night - June 28, 1966

Sam Houston Coliseum - Houston, Texas

On the undercard of the WBA Heavyweight Championship between -
Champion - Ernie Terrell and Challenger - Doug Jones.

'The Big Cat Crushes A Herring'

In front of 9346 Sam Houston Coliseum fans, Cleveland Williams gave Tod Herring
the 'good old-fashioned' beating, forcing the Referee to call a halt to the bout at
just 0:25 of Round 3.

Tod Herring, a 29 year-old 6' 3" 205 lb. - Texas Heavyweight, with a record of
26-5-0 (19 KO's) had entered the ring confident, and with a swagger. Tod had
stated before the bout, that he would end the Big Cat's career, by knocking
him out.

The 33 year-old 6' 3" 210 lb. veteran Cleveland Williams, wasted little time in
pounding his over-matched opponent, and by Round 2, Tod Herring was reeling
around the ring.

At 0:25 of Round 3, Referee - Jimmy Webb stopped the 'one-sided beating'.

The Big Cat improves his record to 65-5-1 (51 KO's), and his Manager -
Hugh Benbow stated that they were ready for a Championship Bout with
Ernie Terrell.

 

I think that is Hugh Benbow, The Manager of Cleveland Williams.

 

Don't forget,,,,,

Cleveland Williams and Sonny Liston were really good friends, despite their 'two' ring battles.

They both considered themselves (late-1950's - Rebel Heavyweights), the 'two guys' that nobody wanted to fight.

 

Cleveland 'Big Cat' Williams

Had the 'Pulpwood Punch' a left hand that was 1/2 hook and 1/2 uppercut.

After his bout with Tod Herring,

Fight Promoter - Chris Dundee put up a purse bid to get Ernie Terrell and the 'Big Cat' to get together
in Miami Beach for September 1966.

But Chicago - Fight Promoter- Irving Schoenwald upped the fight purse bid, which halted everything.

 

Not that it matters,,,,

But Cleveland was offered a fight purse guarantee of $60,000 for a 'proposed'
WBA Heavyweight Championship bout with Ernie Terrell - and set for a 'September' date in Chicago.

Manager - Hugh Benbow said 'NO'.....we can get more.

Then Promoter -Earl Gilliam showed up, and came in with a 'promotion' for a Cassius Clay vs 'The Big Cat'
set for November in Houston, at the Astrodome.

Earl Gilliam offered Hugh Benbow and 'The Big Cat' an option, either a $75,000 fight purse guarantee, or
20% of the 'live gate' and 14% of the Tel-Star 'closed circuit' broadcast revenues.

They took the 'percentage deal', thinking that if the Houston Astrodome sold out with it's 66,000 capacity,
plus the additional revenue from the 'closed circuit broadcast', the fight would have grossed close to
$1,250,000 - netting Hugh Benbow and Cleveland Williams a nice tidy sum of $250,000.

[url]

This content is protected

[/url]

 

November 1966

'The Chronicle'

'Boxing pundits, regard the Cassius Clay vs. Cleveland Williams 'Heavyweight Championship' as a 'joke'.

With no disrespect to the 'Big Cat', he in no way qualifies as a Top 10 Heavyweight. The 33 year-old,
and his comeback from a severe gunshot wound is courageous. But the 'Big Cat' has not proven that
he is worthy of a Championship, based upon '4' wins over a completely inadequate group of opponents.

Though Mr. Williams still carries a dangerous weapon, his left hand, the Houston-based Heavyweight has
weakened legs, and his ability to take a good punch has left him faster than a quick-cat chasing a mouse.

Don't expect too much in his fight with Champion, as Cleveland will go crashing to the canvas with the
first punch that lands on his chin. Everybody in the Houston Astrodome will be out of their seats by the
4th Round, and be heading home to catch the nightly news on television.

 

'The Massacre'

Cassius Clay floors the 'Big Cat' Cleveland Williams, '3-times' in Round 2, and then again 'once' in Round 3.

Williams made it to his feet, but was defenseless as the Champion unloaded a 'dreadfull barrage' on him.

Referee - Harry Kessler had no other choice but to stop the 'one-sided' bout at 1:08 of Round 3.

Cleveland Williams, 'My manager told me to come out slow and pace myself, and to box him. He told me
to take my time, and slowly get into the fight. That's not my style at all. I like to come out fast, and bomb away.
I have no idea why I did that. I was fighting in 1st-Gear, and Cassius was in Overdrive.'

This content is protected

 

The Financial Blunder

Poor Cleveland Williams, instead of agreeing to a $75,000 'fight purse' guarantee,
he took the deal with a 'percentage' of the live gate, hoping for a sellout and
massive viewing from the closed circuit outlets, whrre if everything worked perfectly,
he would have gained close to $250,000.

The attendance of the bout was 35,460 - just a bit over half-capacity of the 66,000
seat Astrodome. And rhe closed circuit revenue was 'far less; than had been expected.

Cleveland Williams only received $44,449 for his fight purse. After paying taxes, his owed
debts and manager's fee, Cleveland Williams walked out of the Championship Bout with
only $7471.

Instead of parlaying that fight into getting bouts with other top fighters,
ie; Floyd Patterson, George Chuvalo, Ernie Terrell, and even Sonny Liston -
Cleveland went into a shell for a year-and-a-half, only to return in May 1968.

Cleveland Williams; 'He may have knocked me down '4-times', but I was still on
my feet when they stopped the fight.'

This content is protected