Cleveland Williams
Cleveland "Big Cat" Williams | |
---|---|
Statistics | |
Real name | Cleveland Williams |
Nickname(s) | Big Cat |
Rated at | Heavyweight |
Height | 6' 3" (1.905 m) |
Nationality | United States |
Born |
Griffin, Georgia | June 6, 1933
Died |
September 3, 1999 Houston, Texas | (66)
Boxing record | |
Total fights | 92 |
Wins | 78 |
Wins by KO | 58 |
Losses | 13 |
Draws | 1 |
Cleveland "Big Cat" Williams (June 6, 1933 – September 3, 1999) was an American heavyweight boxer who fought in the 1950s through the 1970s. A Ring Magazine poll once rated him as one of the finest boxers never to win a title. He made an imposing figure, tall with an impressive athletic broad shouldered build.
Williams turned professional in 1951 and fought many of the best heavyweights of his era. He is best known for the two brutal bouts he had with Sonny Liston. Critics felt the second match was overrated and quickly over. Liston often said Williams was the hardest puncher he ever fought.
During the late 1950s and early 1960s, the 6 ft 3 in[1] Williams was a top-rated heavyweight. His quest to obtain a title fight, however, was consistently derailed. First he was knocked out by Liston on April 15, 1959, after hurting Liston early and breaking Liston's nose.
Williams recovered from the Liston fight to score more wins, but was again stopped by Liston in 2 rounds in their rematch on March 21, 1960. His quest for the title was later stalled when he was held to a draw by Eddie Machen on July 10, 1962, and when he dropped a split decision on March 13, 1963 to Ernie Terrell, a fighter he had previously knocked out in 7 rounds in 1962. During this time frame, he defeated Billy Daniels.
Williams had been inactive the entire year of 1965 while recovering from a gunshot wound he suffered during a scuffle with police officer Dale E. Witten[2] after a traffic stop. 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. He was fined $50 and briefly jailed after pleading no contest to charges arising from the incident. Witten visited Williams the day before his fight with Muhammad Ali, and the two men bore no malice against each other.[3]
Versus Ali
It was in the aforementioned physical condition that Williams fought for the heavyweight championship against a peak Muhammad Ali on November 14, 1966 and was stopped easily in the third round.
Williams retired from boxing after the Ali bout, but later made a comeback. Although able to defeat journeymen fighters, he suffered several knockout losses before retiring for good in 1972. Williams finished his career with a record of 78 wins (58 KOs), 13 losses and 1 draw. George Foreman interviewed post retirement recalled Williams as one of the three hardest punchers he'd been with, stating they'd sparred when George was a rising boxer.[4] In 2003, he was ranked 49th in Ring Magazine's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time. It was all in the big famous left hook for Williams. Ring Magazine in the 1980s reported he drove a forklift truck later for a while as a job.
According to George Chuvalo, Cleveland Williams was one of the hardest punchers he faced in his career. Willams, aged 38, was decisioned by veteran Chuvalo over 10 rounds at the Astrodome in Houston, Texas in November 1971. Chuvalo's sheer strength winning an all action bout.[5]
Health issues, return to ring, and death
On November 29, 1964, in the evening, during the height of the American Civil Rights Movement, a car driven by Williams was stopped near Houston, Texas, by highway patrolman Dale Witten, who stated afterwards Williams was speeding. According to the police report subsequently filed by the patrolman, Williams resisted arrest, and the officer's .357 magnum revolver went off during the struggle to arrest him. The bullet moved across Williams's intestines, and lodged against his right hip. Williams ultimately had to undergo four operations in the next seven months for colon damage and an injured right kidney. The right kidney of Williams was too damaged and not working, and had to be removed in June 1965. Doctors could not take out the patrolman's bullet, which had broken his right hip joint and caused partial paralysis of some of Williams' hip muscles.
The injury, surgeries and subsequent convalescence caused Williams to lose over 60 pounds, and over 17 months of his career. He regained his weight and strength by tossing 80-pound bales of hay daily on a cattle ranch till he had regained his fighting weight and physique. On February 8, 1966, Williams got a standing ovation from Houston fans as he returned to the ring, and knocked out Ben Black in the first round.[6]
In 1999, Cleveland Williams was tragically killed in a hit and run accident.
Professional boxing record
78 Wins (58 knockouts, 20 decisions), 13 Losses (8 knockouts, 5 decisions), 1 Draw [7] | |||||||
Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes |
Win | 24-25 | Roberto Davila | UD | 10 | October 28, 1972 | Denver, Colorado | |
Win | 7-4-2 | Bob Mashburn | KO | 9 | July 10, 1972 | Denver, Colorado | Mashburn knocked out at 0:51 of the ninth round. |
Win | 28-5-1 | Terry Daniels | UD | 12 | May 11, 1972 | Dallas Memorial Auditorium, Dallas, Texas | Texas Heavyweight Title. |
Loss | 63-17-2 | George Chuvalo | UD | 10 | November 17, 1971 | Astrodome, Houston, Texas | 93-98, 94-97, 93-98. |
Loss | 20-12-2 | Jack O'Halloran | SD | 10 | September 21, 1971 | Houston, Texas | |
Win | 15-2 | Ted Gullick | MD | 10 | April 28, 1971 | Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio | 46-46, 47-43, 48-46. |
Loss | 25-2 | Al "Blue" Lewis | TKO | 4 | October 21, 1970 | Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan | |
Win | 21-18 | Roberto Davila | UD | 10 | May 26, 1970 | Milwaukee Auditorium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin | 98-94, 99-91, 97-94. |
Win | 11-3 | Eddie Brooks | KO | 1 | April 14, 1970 | Milwaukee Auditorium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Brooks knocked out at 2:49 of the first round. |
Win | 5-3 | Leroy Caldwell | TKO | 10 | December 9, 1969 | Orlando, Florida | |
Loss | 20-0 | Mac Foster | KO | 3 | November 18, 1969 | Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas | |
Loss | 19-0 | Mac Foster | TKO | 5 | September 13, 1969 | Selland Arena, Fresno, California | Referee stopped the bout at 1:35 of the fifth round. |
Loss | 25-1-1 | Al "Goulds Terror" Jones | TKO | 8 | May 20, 1969 | Miami Beach Convention Hall, Miami Beach, Florida | Referee stopped the bout at 0:11 of the eighth round. |
Win | 10-9-3 | Charley Polite | UD | 10 | March 18, 1969 | Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas | |
Loss | 44-5-1 | Bob Cleroux | UD | 10 | November 21, 1968 | Montreal Forum, Montreal, Canada | 45-47, 44-49, 47-49. |
Win | 10-3-3 | Moses Harrell | TKO | 7 | October 7, 1968 | Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida | |
Win | 6-7 | Jean-Claude Roy | UD | 10 | August 6, 1968 | Houston, Texas | |
Win | 15-14-2 | Leslie Borden | KO | 1 | June 25, 1968 | Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas | Borden knocked out at 2:22 of the first round. |
Win | 8-12-2 | Mike Bruce | KO | 1 | June 11, 1968 | Houston, Texas | Bruce knocked out at 2:22 of the first round. |
Win | 5-7 | Roy Crear | KO | 1 | May 21, 1968 | Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas | Crear knocked out at 2:42 of the first round. |
Loss | 26-0 | Muhammad Ali | TKO | 3 | November 14, 1966 | Astrodome, Houston, Texas | World Heavyweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 1:08 of the third round. |
Win | 26-5 | Tod Herring | TKO | 3 | June 28, 1966 | Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas | Referee stopped the bout at 0:25 of the third round. |
Win | 19-19-2 | Sonny "Policeman" Moore | PTS | 10 | April 19, 1966 | Houston, Texas | |
Win | 6-4 | M.J. Turnbow | UD | 10 | March 22, 1966 | Houston, Texas | |
Win | 2-1-1 | "Big" Ben Black | KO | 1 | February 8, 1966 | Houston, Texas | |
Win | 19-5-1 | Billy "The Barber" Daniels | PTS | 10 | September 30, 1964 | Houston, Texas | |
Win | 18-5 | Sonny Banks | KO | 6 | July 21, 1964 | Houston, Texas | |
Win | 16-10-3 | Tommy Fields | PTS | 10 | April 7, 1964 | Houston, Texas | |
Win | 22-7-2 | Roger Rischer | KO | 3 | October 8, 1963 | Houston, Texas | |
Win | 27-10-2 | Kirk Barrow | KO | 3 | August 13, 1963 | Houston, Texas | |
Loss | 30-4 | Ernie Terrell | SD | 10 | April 13, 1963 | Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | 44-46, 46-44, 44-46. |
Win | 24-19-1 | Young Jack Johnson | TKO | 10 | April 2, 1963 | Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas | |
Win | 18-1 | Billy "The Barber" Daniels | UD | 10 | March 9, 1963 | Miami Beach Convention Hall, Miami Beach, Florida | 97-92, 98-93, 98-91. |
Win | 14-7-2 | David E. Bailey | KO | 5 | October 23, 1962 | Houston, Texas | |
Draw | 42-4-1 | Eddie Machen | PTS | 10 | July 10, 1962 | Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas | 96-96, 96-96, 97-94. |
Win | 20-10 | Alonzo Johnson | KO | 1 | May 15, 1962 | Houston, Texas | |
Win | 24-3 | Ernie Terrell | TKO | 7 | April 3, 1962 | Houston, Texas | Referee stopped the bout at 1:43 of the seventh round. |
Win | 7-15-3 | Jim Wyley | KO | 1 | December 19, 1961 | Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas | Wyley knocked out at 0:44 of the first round. |
Win | 23-8-1 | Alex Miteff | TKO | 5 | May 16, 1961 | Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas | Referee stopped the bout at 1:32 of the fifth round. |
Win | 22-13-2 | Wayne Bethea | PTS | 10 | February 7, 1961 | Houston, Texas | |
Win | 26-16 | Johnny Hayden | KO | 2 | December 7, 1960 | Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida | |
Win | 13-0 | "King" George Moore | KO | 4 | November 1, 1960 | Houston, Texas | |
Win | 5-4 | "Big" Ben Marshall | KO | 2 | October 24, 1960 | Dallas Memorial Auditorium, Dallas, Texas | Marshall knocked out at 2:24 of the second round. |
Loss | 27-1 | Sonny Liston | TKO | 2 | March 21, 1960 | Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas | Referee stopped the bout at 2:13 of the second round. |
Win | 18-1 | Curley Lee | KO | 10 | October 14, 1959 | Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas | Lee knocked out at 0:58 of the tenth round. |
Win | 13-10-1 | Ernie Cab | KO | 3 | May 26, 1959 | Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas | Cab knocked out at 1:05 of the third round. |
Loss | 23-1 | Sonny Liston | TKO | 3 | April 15, 1959 | Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida | Referee stopped the bout at 2:13 of the third round. |
Win | 10-15 | Ollie Wilson | KO | 3 | January 13, 1959 | Houston, Texas | Wilson knocked out at 1:36 of the third round. |
Win | 20-6-6 | Howie Turner | PTS | 10 | December 9, 1958 | Houston, Texas | |
Win | 34-14-2 | Frankie Daniels | UD | 10 | June 3, 1958 | Houston, Texas | |
Win | 23-6-2 | Dick Richardson | DQ | 4 | March 25, 1958 | Empress Hall, Earl's Court, Kensington, London | |
Win | 18-12 | Gene "Rock" White | TKO | 1 | February 4, 1958 | Houston, Texas | Referee stopped the bout at 2:38 of the first round. |
Win | 31-13-2 | Frankie Daniels | UD | 10 | December 3, 1957 | Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida | |
Win | 27-16-1 | John Holman | KO | 7 | October 15, 1957 | Houston, Texas | |
Win | 21-6-3 | Bob Albright | KO | 7 | September 17, 1957 | Houston, Texas | |
Win | 2-6-1 | Clifford Gray | KO | 1 | July 23, 1957 | Houston, Texas | |
Win | 7-2 | J.D. Marshall | KO | 2 | July 15, 1957 | Tyler, Texas | |
Win | 4-5 | Johnny Mason | KO | 1 | June 11, 1957 | Houston, Texas | |
Win | 8-5-1 | Johnny Hollins | KO | 3 | August 6, 1956 | City Coliseum, Austin, Texas | |
Loss | 33-16-2 | Bob Satterfield | KO | 3 | June 22, 1954 | Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida | |
Win | 8-4 | Sylvester Jones | KO | 7 | June 8, 1954 | Tampa, Florida | |
Win | 18-28-2 | Jimmy Walls | TKO | 1 | March 9, 1954 | Tampa, Florida | |
Win | 14-15-5 | Claude Rolfe | KO | 3 | October 21, 1953 | Charlotte, North Carolina | |
Win | 3-3 | Bo Willis | KO | 2 | October 20, 1953 | Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida | |
Loss | 7-3 | Sylvester Jones | PTS | 4 | September 24, 1953 | Polo Grounds, New York City | |
Win | 8-18-1 | Keene Simmons | PTS | 10 | September 2, 1953 | Tampa, Florida | |
Win | 46-19 | Omelio Agramonte | PTS | 10 | May 12, 1953 | Tampa, Florida | |
Win | 11-17-4 | Ponce DeLeon Taylor | KO | 2 | March 24, 1953 | Tampa, Florida | |
Win | 6-21-2 | Terry O'Connor | KO | 3 | March 12, 1953 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | |
Win | 11-16-4 | Ponce DeLeon Taylor | PTS | 8 | March 4, 1953 | Miami Stadium, Miami, Florida | |
Win | 0-2 | Abie Gibson | KO | 1 | January 13, 1953 | Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida | |
Win | 1-0 | Graveyard Walters | KO | 2 | December 8, 1952 | Daytona Beach, Florida | |
Win | 8-12-3 | Claude Rolfe | KO | 9 | November 25, 1952 | Tampa, Florida | |
Win | 5-0-1 | Johnny Hollins | KO | 1 | October 3, 1952 | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana | Hollins knocked out at 2:48 of the first round. |
Win | 5-4-1 | J.J. McFadden | KO | 6 | September 23, 1952 | Philadelphia Municipal Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | |
Win | 16-23-1 | Art Henri | TKO | 8 | September 16, 1952 | Miami Beach, Florida | |
Win | 1-2 | Roosevelt Holmes | KO | 1 | September 12, 1952 | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana | Holmes knocked out at 2:10 of the first round. |
Win | -- | Baby Booze | KO | 1 | September 2, 1952 | Tampa, Florida | |
Win | 5-0-1 | Candy McDaniels | KO | 2 | August 12, 1952 | Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida | |
Win | 3-1 | Sam Harold | KO | 4 | July 25, 1952 | Macon, Georgia | |
Win | 0-1 | Lee Raymond | TKO | 5 | July 22, 1952 | Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida | |
Win | -- | Jimmy Felton | KO | 3 | July 8, 1952 | Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida | |
Win | 0-1-1 | Eddie Lee Williams | KO | 1 | June 24, 1952 | Daytona Beach, Florida | |
Win | -- | Harry Turner | KO | 1 | June 17, 1952 | Tampa, Florida | |
Win | -- | Paul Favrot | KO | 4 | June 10, 1952 | Tampa, Florida | |
Win | 1-2 | Ray Brown | KO | 3 | May 28, 1952 | Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida | |
Win | 4-1-1 | Johnny Fowler | KO | 5 | April 15, 1952 | Tampa, Florida | |
Win | 1-2 | Ray Banks | KO | 1 | March 28, 1952 | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana | Banks knocked out at 1:35 of the first round. |
Win | 1-1 | Roosevelt Holmes | UD | 6 | February 29, 1952 | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana | |
Win | -- | Rudolph Wood | KO | 2 | February 26, 1952 | Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida | |
Win | 1-1 | Ray Banks | TKO | 1 | February 15, 1952 | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana | |
Win | 1-4-1 | Lee Hunt | KO | 3 | December 11, 1951 | Tampa, Florida |
References
- ↑ http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=9382&cat=boxer
- ↑ https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19641130&id=6FUaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iycEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5058,6536612&hl=en
- ↑ http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Cleveland_Williams
- ↑ net Foreman interview watched Nov 2013
- ↑ http://boxrec.com/boxer/9382
- ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/1999/09/15/sports/cleveland-williams-66-loser-to-ali-for-title-dies.html
- ↑ http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=9382&cat=boxer
- ALI's DOZEN, ESPN Home Entertainment/Genius Entertainment, 2007.
External links
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