He stopped Ernie Terrell. Atleast Terrell was a live dog who went undefeated for the next 5 years, not a 40 year old man. If Williams could KO Terrell, a far more durable fighter than Gerry Coo ney, then he can surely KO Coo ney.
I see what you mean. It was Terrell but it was not a rated Terrell. I think Wayne Bethea was beating Terrell then too. It's like gypsie Daniels beat Max Schmelling, it wasn't the real Schmelling. Later Terrell improved went on a good run and beat Williams back. When ever Williams fought a leading guy he lost.
It's just not accurate to say that "Wayne Bethea was beating Terrell then too". Terrell's split decision loss to Bethea was a year and a half earlier - a long time in the career of a rising young fighter - and he'd racked up five more wins since then. Another year later, Terrell did "beat Williams back" but it wasn't exactly a triumphant revenge for his stoppage loss in their first meeting. He spent the final round clinging on for dear life and was awarded a split decision. It's bizarre to say that Williams lost every time he faced a leading guy seeing that while he was anywhere close to his prime he lost clearly to no one but Sonny Liston.
If truth be told, I think even the faded versions of Ken Norton, Ron Lyle and Jimmy Young were probably better scalps than most of what Williams beat.
I think that you ultimately have to go with whose victims held a better standing in the division, even if you have some misgivings about doing so.
****ey was an unfulfilled promise. Williams was a hype train derailed by Sonny. I can't really pick between them tbh. Gun to my head I'm going ****ey.
I was surprised ****ey lasted so long with holmes and surprised foreman got rid of ****ey so easily. I'll go with Williams in 3
Williams by the time five rounds are over. C00ney was very much a fighter who never developed beyond novice stage.
Both Williams and Co0ney were heavily groomed, well guided prospects. If Co0ney was steered away from fighters so was Williams. Folley, DeJohn, Harris, Valdes, Summerlin and Floyd Patterson were all prepared to fight a pre championship Sonny Liston. Surely they would have been willing to fight the big Cat too? Co0ney got guys at the right time and did a number on them. That's what a good fighter is supposed to do. Then he gave a great champion a great fight. He only ever had 31 fights. Williams did a number on guys from the Tommy can circuit but kind of underwhelmed against name fighters like Billy Daniels, Machen and was exposed by Satterfeild at the 31 fight stage. Even guys like Agramante and Keene Simmons, Frankie Daniels, Wayne Bethea, young Jack Johnson would not budge against Big Cat Williams. The big Cat wound up being a horrible mismatch challenger for Ali too.
He was given the perfect chance because he got his title shot. Williams also got his title shot. Williams, like ****ey doesn't have enough names at the top end if his resume. ****ey: Norton, Lyle, Young Williams: Terrell, Daniels, Miteff, Bethea, Rischer and a draw with Machen. In terms of losses ****ey lost to Holmes and Spinks with a past prime loss to Foreman. Williams lost to Satterfield and Liston with a past prime loss to Ali and a close loss to Terrell. Yes Williams does have more substance, never realised quite how much he actually did. The loss to Satterfield is really damaging to his ledger. That aside only really Liston dominated him before his loss to Ali. Maybe I'm beginning to favour Williams a bit.