Why are there no photos of Cleveland Williams after the 60s

Good question. I’ve also mentally noted that there seems to be no photos of Williams post career.

I picked up an old boxing mag. years ago that was from the 70s I think.

It had an IV with Williams which included what type of work he was doing as at that time - I believe it was truck driving. I vaguely recollect that it might have had a photo of Cleve sitting in the drivers seat of a truck, door open.

I can’t recall any other photos besides that.

I also remember the IV describing Williams as still having “those” Popeye forearms.

I picked the mag up sometime in the 90s but unfortunately I turfed it some years ago.

 

Aw man I’d have loved to see that picture!

Williams was a tragic figure who perhaps had the worst luck of any contender I know.

 

Cleveland Big Cat Williams career took a turn for the worse on Nov 30 1964 when he was stopped and shot by a Texas State Trooper Dale Witten, who claimed that Williams was intoxicated, this following the announcement that Williams would be meeting fellow challenger Ernie Terrell for the vacant WBA title on March 5 1965. Following the shooting, Cleve had several operations to his intestinal tract where the .357 Magnum bullet had entered and caused extensive damage to his intestine and colon. When Williams returned in Feb 1966, he was a shell of himself. After the severe beating that he suffered against champion Muhammad Ali on Nov 14 1966, TKO 3, Williams had fights against mediocre competition, never contended for the title again. He supported himself as a Truck Driver, he was struck by an auto on Sept 3 1999 and passed away at age 66 on Sept 10 1999.

 

Yeah, I know fighters can fade from the spot light, even preferring it that way - but it’s strange that there aren’t post career photos out there. Most pics from boxing mags turn up eventually online - hopefully there’ll be more of Cleve.

There’s an article online written by a doctor who treated Williams periodically for his kidney damage. The doctor was a big fan of boxing. Not sure if everyone here has seen it. I’ll see if I can chase it up.

 

Yeah, I know fighters can fade from the spot light, even preferring it that way - but it’s strange that there aren’t post career photos out there. Most pics from boxing mags turn up eventually online - hopefully there’ll be more of Cleve.

There’s an article online written by a doctor who treated Williams either periodically or one off for his, I think, kidney damage. The doctor was a big fan of boxing. Not sure if everyone here has read the article.

[url]https://www.michaelfweisberg.com/content/blog/the-patient-experience-that-made-me-a-better-doctor/[/url]

 

Another one I've been looking for is of, Nino Valdez. Their's almost nothing on him. I know he was a night club bouncer in NY, until he passed in '01.

Rumor has it he had cancer, but I've been unable to confirm that.

 

He did truck driving and drove forklifts and stuff in and in 1965 he went to new york with irene(wife)

 

Jimmy Bivins

 

Not post career but this is seems to be a rare photo of Cleve alongside Ronnie Lyle in 1971.

You might know the other fighters - their names are listed in the photo details anyway.


[url]https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/news-photo/all-right-jack-lets-see-how-you-check-out-now-dr-isamu-news-photo/838106668?adppopup=true[/url]

 

Another photo of Big Cat

[url]https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/news-photo/veteran-stopped-bobby-mashburn-for-58th-kayo-of-career-news-photo/836804612?adppopup=true[/url]

 

Hey Chok, how come?

 

Good point. My guess is they are wearing shoes. Even though Lyle isn’t perfectly straight, Williams still appears to have a little bit too much height on Ron - like at least 1”. I’ve seen other photos where Williams wore very well heeled cowboy boots, like with Ali, making Cleve appear somewhat taller.

 

He had twenty fights after Ali.

 

As everyone knows, vampires cannot be photographed.

My working theory is that around 1970 he met a young Leon Spinks, who bit him in the neck and rendered him unphotographable.