"Ron Lyle vs Cleveland Williams" but no option in the poll to choose Williams? That's clever. Stop your copy-pasting.
Big Cat ended his career by headlining two cards with an undefeated Lyle in Denver, and it may well be that this was building up to a showdown between the two when Williams decided to call it a career instead, going out a winner rather than a sacrificial lamb. Cleveland had a serious edge in hand speed, but Ron could be resilient. He recovered fairly quickly when Jerry Quarry staggered him, and he got up from early knockdowns to defeat Shavers and LeDoux. Williams did get up to post a decision over hard hitting Mel Turnbow in his second match after his shooting recovery, but typically got taken out when stunned like that. I think Ron takes him out. Liston proved that overwhelming speed wasn't necessary to stop a prime Big Cat, and Lyle had the stamina and skills to beat the fast Bugner and Ellis over the 12 round distance. Both, as well as fellow 12 round limit victim Bonavena were more durable than Williams. Ron would be wise to go after him, and not try to take it on the cards.
Either we are assured of the greatest exhibition of heavyweight fisticuffs in the history of the sport, given these are the TWO GREATEST HEAVYWEIGHTS! I'll take Lyle in 10.
