Ike Williams - Was he...

Williams' knockout record is very deceptive; it's not that he wasn't much of a puncher, but that he was a very good boxer. He didn't always need to knock his opponents out.

But he always hurt them, particularly to the body, and he was a feared fighter during his time. Williams could turn suddenly like a rabid wolf and tear his foe to shreds. His punching ability was awesome when in full flight; his knockout of the swarming Jose Gatica is perhaps the best finish I've ever seen. It was a classic case of the veteran champion putting the over-eager challenger in his place - on his arse.

Williams was mean. He didn't ever not look for the knockout, but he didn't always chase it either; he was a clever fighter, you see, and wouldn't over-exert himself to induce concussion. But when the opportunity arose, there was no escape.

"That Ike Williams was a destroyer. He will destroy you" - Beau Jack.

Williams was such a well rounded performer; he was like a lighter, more nimble and explosive version of Joe Louis. The jab was versatile; it could be either pawing or thudding. The right hand was slashing and the left hook was a grenade. The uppercuts contained full pivot and lift, and most evil of all were Williams' rib shots. He didn't dedicate himself to the body like a Joe Frazier, but his sharpshooting downstairs was every bit as damaging.

"Ike Williams hit harder than Ray Robinson. He was lifting me off the floor with some of those shots" - Carmen Basilio.

I've also seen Johnny Bratton, an accomplished welterweight, have his jaw smashed by the lightweight Williams and become totally overwhelmed by the latter's assault. Williams carried his power with him as he fought the heavier fighters.

But that's just the punching. Williams was a top boxer on the retreat as well, or he could pressure his man and outpoint him that way, as seen in the second Enrique Bolanos fight. Williams stalked, pressured, took his time and outjabbed the jabber. He slipped punches, always hit solidly and cut off the ring. Williams was solid as well - when Bolanos hit him, it was like shooting at a tank with a 9mm handgun.

EDIT: just corrected a shitload of mistakes. That was terribly written.

 

No worries. You can see Williams against Beau Jack on Youtube. This isn't his best filmed performance, but his ferocity is on display - particularly at the end.

 

Williams was more boxer puncher. A lot like Joe Louis was imo. When he has a guy hurt, He can swarm all over you and end it. Williams was one of the best finishers of all time. Or underated at it.

 

Yeah Ike could be ferocious, the only person nowadays who reminds me of Ike Williams is Shane Mosley.

 

Mosely does not appear nearly as accurate with his punches as Ike Williams did. IMO.
The thing about Ike, was his accuracy and the power...and yeah, damn fast hands too!:good

 

Manassa, I know you are partial to the Gattica knockout...but the TKO of Beau Jack is a scary thing...with Ike's power being demonstrated...Williams' speed throwing those powerful punches was awe inspiring...a lightweight great to be feared and respected...I don't know much about Gans was he similar to Williams in some ways? I can't see another lightweight being quite as powerful as Williams...Duran was coarse was a puncher as well as having a multiplicity of skills...but Williams was a superior puncher than even Duran IMO

 

I agree that Williams is the best lightweight puncher; the Joe Louis of his division. Gans was also a good puncher, but more calculated. Instead of going all-out like Williams, when Gans had someone hurt he'd take a more methodical Archie Moore approach. Of course, this meant oppoprtunities were not always taken advantage of; Ike Williams made sure that once someone was hurt, they were hurt permanently.

 

I wish there was footage of Williams' fights with Gavilan...I'd love to see it...:-(
I believe Archie Moore stated that Williams was the best welterweight he had seen...But take that with a grain of salt...SRR never won any popularity votes among peers...

 

Yes, I don't buy into Basilio's 'Williams hit me the hardest out of anyone' claim. Second hardest, perhaps...

 

The thing that strikes me about the older generational fighters is their approach to boxing...It wasn't a 'boxing game' as some of the modern fighters have described it...Fighters like Williams, SRR, and Saddler...they were stone cold killers (to paraphrase johngarfield)...

 

Yeah he wasn't as accurate with his punches as Ike but there's no other lightweight I can think of besides Mosley at lightweight with that combination of speed and power.