Ingemar Johansson vs Cleveland Williams

Not sure either of them deserve top 25...hmmm ingemar has the prestige of being lineal but what a short career. Cleveland wasn’t anything special to me.

 

You’ve got me wanting to make a top 25 list now though lol

 

Ali, Joe Luis, Foreman, Larry, Marciano, Lennox, Holyfield, Tyson, Frazier, Dempsey, Vitali, Wlad,Liston ,Bowe, Norton, Walcott, Spinks, Tunney, Baer, Ike, Shavers, Walcott, Byrd, Ingemar, Quarry....last five had no idea lmao this is edited. Def right tough call

 

I would def change my list then...was thinking more skill and success in era

 

We had a thread going last night...join the fun:

https://www.boxingforum24.com/threads/top-25-all-time-greatest-heavyweights.615734/

In any event, my answer is Johanson by a country mile. Wins over Patterson, Machen and Cooper, with the only losses to Patterson.

Compare that to Cleve's spotty record.

 

Cleve's best era was when Sonny Liston stood in his way..Liston would have crushed Ingo too.
I don't think Williams ever really recovered mentally from the 2 Liston losses.

 

Better expand your list to the top 100 or more to include these guys.

I go with Ingemar over Williams, but I don't feel real confident about it.

Ingemar clobbered Machen and Williams couldn't touch him. I know it's only one fighter and styles matter, but Williams telegraphed his heavy punches, and I think Ingo was a good enough boxer to avoid them even if he wasn't as big as the Cat. Also, Ingo hit a ton, and my impression is that Williams couldn't catch so good. Of course, neither could Ingo for that matter.

 

Exactly. Williams was shot with a .357 Magnum in the abdomen, barely survived, and suffered permanent kidney damage, a loss of over ten feet (3m) of his small intestine, and nerve damage from the bullet, which affected his left leg above the knee and caused it to atrophy as a result. (And later he fought "super prime" Ali.)

 

Top 25 based on what?! Cool names?

 

Williams for me, better jab ,faster puncher.

 

cleveland Williams wasnt a great Heavyweight. he was a good Puncher, but his stoppages came against mostly nobodies. he has that stoppage of ernie terrell…….but that doesnt make a great fighter. Johansson punched straighter and had a better chin.
Johansson by ko. early.