Ike Williams vs Sugar Ray Robinson at 135

Ike would be far too much at that stage of Ray's career.

Ike would treat that growing boy like another Ike did Tina. Okay, maybe not quite, but I couldn't resist....

Williams by UD.

 

I'm not so sure I agree with the consensus so far. Sure, Robinson was yet to reach his absolute peak, but he was already very proven against top comp at the weight, and did a lot of things better than Ike. I'm not sure Ike had the style to really off-set him. I'd take Ray by Decision.

 

Robinson was the better overall athlete in my opinion, clearly. Much swifter of foot, more limber, and generally quicker. The fact that he was every bit as good a puncher, and at least as tough, leads me to believe there aren't many edges that Williams holds. Add to it the fact that Williams was often too conservative for his own good and I don't think he's getting to Robinson outside of maybe a flash knockdown, the same of which could be inflicted on him at any point.

Let's not forget that Williams himself had no easy time with Angott, to say the least. He fought him to two close, Split Decision wins before suffering a TKO loss in their third meeting. Robinson, by all accounts (and from the footage available) handled him a a lot more easily.

 

Williams could show aggression with the best of them. When he had an opponent hurt, that is. That was the problem, he'd often wait too long on finding those openings to really turn the heat up if the situation could then call for it. I'm sure there would be plenty of opportunities present against Robinson, but just as many in return, and I think Ray was the better equipped to exploit them first. But I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree. No biggie.

 

135 is too light for Robinson.......... C'mon......... Williams was a peak 135 pounder, while Robinson was better off at 145 and above......

MR.BILL

 

He fought the first 20-25 fights of his career at the weight, already beating contenders/solid guys like Maxie Shapiro, Pete Lello, Mike Evans, Jimmy Tygh, Joe Ghnouly, Bobby McIntire, and of course Sammy Angott. He wasn't yet primed, but as the Angott bouts can attest, he was a rapidly rising star.

 

I saw Ike Williams at his zenith knocking out the great Beau Jack in Philly 1948...That
night Ike was the most destructive lightweight I have ever seen...The Williams of that night might have beaten the young neophyte 135 lb Ray Robinson who wouldnot be in his prime as Ike Williams was...Williams might have been a little to seasoned for Ray at
that stage of Robinson' career. The key word is might !
However when Ray was Welter champion ,Williams declined to challenge Ray Robinson
for the Welter title as he in candor said,that whatever I could do. Robinson could do better..And he never asked to meet Robinson, although he could have gotten that match in a heartbeat...Robinson was bigger and better than the great lightweight
Ike Williams...But Williams was the best lightweight I ever saw....

 

OMG someone picked Williams? WTF, Ike's wife begged him not to fight Robinson when Robinson was at WW but the best kept secret around here seems to be how great he was at 135, beating Angott proves it but he also dominated/blasted out plenty of LW contenders at that time and shortly after he'd beat Servo/Zivic weighing a little more

Robinson outmoves, outboxes and outbrawles Williams in a very 1 sided beating

 

Robinson. He does everything Williams does better... probably.

 

I'll say Williams because 135 was his peak, but it's by razor-thin decision. Even then, I don't feel safe betting the family fortune on it.