One underrated heavyweight that never became champion because he was never given the chance.....Cleveland "Big Cat" Williams. He fought in the same era as Ali, Frazier, Foreman and the rest but in his prime no one would give him a shot due to his skill set.
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Ali gave Williams a shot of his title and in a rather Tysonesque display of power, annihilated him within 3 rounds!Originally posted by SKenterprises44 View Post
Last edited by Panamaniac; 04-08-2016, 12:33 PM.Comment
Cleveland was past his prime when Ali fought himComment
He fought Liston twice and was stopped early twice, in his prime.
He was 10 years older than Ali and at least 17 years older than Big George not exactly the "same era"!
RayLast edited by Ray Corso; 04-08-2016, 12:17 PM.Comment
Cleveland in his ENTIRE career only fought about 11 guys over the 215 mark..He only k.od 50% of them in his prime.Originally posted by SKenterprises44 View Post
Here are some of them...Abie Gibson who he could nt knock out ,he was outweighed by 10 pounds.He k.od him in the rematch when he GAINED 10 pounds more.
Punce Deleon..Williams k.od him he also OUTWEIGHED him by 10 pounds.
His first 220 pound opponent was bob Albright,who had a 25 k.o percentage who lost his previous fight to a 190 pounder.It only took him 38 fights to fight a 220 pounder.
Ben Marshal who was 6'8 and 220he also lost HALF his fights.
Young Jack Johnson He lasted 10 rounds .most likely he was 233 pounds .He also lost2 fights prior to Williams.
Guys he couldn't k.o like Keen simmons a 220 pounder who lost 10 previous fights* with a 13 % k.o record simply because he OUTWEIGHED Cleveland. Howie Turner another doozie who had 18 % k.o percentage and lost 4 previous fights..Mel Turnbow his heaviest opponent at 238with a 9 % k.o percentage, also lost 3 previous fights and even knocked Williams down even though he was as weak as a super heavyweight could get to the 212 Williams.......
He also got k.od by a 175 pounder.
YES I brought up SIZE because im not sure where he was not given the opportunity and where he would be underatted based on those listed above? He did not fight in the Frazier /Foreman /Ali era of the 1970's either.His prime was well before the 70's....unless you are going by rays thinking and have listoon in his prime in 1964 too. Williams was never the same after the gun shot incident anyway. Ali avoided Williams in the 1960's prior to his iirriversible injuries.He did so because Willimas was fast and had that jab left hook he through which may have k.od Ali,but that's about the only guy I could see who avoided him when he was actually still relevant.Comment
Big Cat was a good fighter but he was a tailor made for AliComment
1-joelouis,2rocky marciano,3muhammud ali 4jackjhonson5,jack dempsey6,lennox lewis7,larry holmes8,gerge foreman9,mike tyson,sonnylistonComment
Head to head the Klitschko brothers and Lennox Lewis obliterate everyone of those cruiserweight-ish HW ATGs of the past. The size difference would be simply too much to handle. So the discussion about the top 10 heavyweights is just like P4P discussions, comparing resumes, skills relative to weight etc. It's pretty much meaningless. HW division changed too much over history.Comment
Where did you learn your boxing?
You never heard of JESS WILLARD? And,Holmes, Lewis, Tunney, Charles ARE NOT "underated". Jeffries, Walcott, Foreman ARE NOT UNDERATED! Rid**** BLEW IT!Originally posted by -CANE- View Post
Hard rating between eras. I mean, the dimensions of perception are all distorted and changed Socially. [Boxing a "big deal" in JOE LOUIS day! Not ANYMORE (for Joe Average Citizen!)]Comment
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