Kind regards from Germany
Ali destroyed Williams in the third round in November 1966 in fact Ali was mainly the more aggressive fighter in most of that bout Though by the time they fought Williams had taken a 357 bullet to the gut causing intestinal problems as well as nerve damage and was kod twice by Sonny Liston no matter Ali was at his best if it was the Williams of 1959-60 Ali still would of chopped him up this was Ali at his peak Williams had seen better days but even after the Ali fight continued fighting for some years later with average results against mostly club fighters
This was an easy win for Muhammad Ali.
Cleveland Williams was very expierenced before fighting Ali, having fought fighters like Ernie Terrell and Sonny Liston. A pretty decent fighter with great power, having knocked out Ernie Terrell and broke Sonny Liston's nose! But he had fought from 1951-1972! He had fought Muhammad Ali in 1966, which was near the end of his career. Around 1964-1965, he barely survived and was recovering from gunshot wounds. This fighter was far from his best, no question.
Muhammad Ali was at his best in the 1960's. But if Cleveland Williams hit Ali with a couple of hard shots to the chin, he possibly could of knocked him out (Ali had a great chin, so probably unlikely.) But the thing was, you couldn't catch Muhammad Ali, he was always moving. He was too fast. Ali did fight the best, such as Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, etc. But this one wasn't the best opposition. Still a great win, and probably his best win performance wise, but easy win for Muhammmad Ali.
I have watched that fight dozens of times and every time I come away more impressed as this was truly the prime at his best Muhammad Ali with that dazzling display of footwork, ring agility, lighting fast and accurate punches combined with power just completely overwhelming and dominating the Big Cat Cleveland Williams who was a big man with a big punch and very well respected in the heavyweight division. To me that Muhammad Ali would have defeated any fighter that ever lived. That's how impressive that performance was. Yes he made t look ridiculously easy.
You are looking at an over the hill, back from a death defying gun shot wound Williams rather than the young Williams who could have beaten Ali, earlier in their careers.
This was a fight dominated by Ali, and makes people think less of the Big Cat if they do not know his story and history in boxing.
This was regarded as the greatest example of scientific boxing mastery in the history of boxing. Williams was a tough, hard hitter but Ali LITERALLY ran circles around him. You will never see great athleticism as Ali in that fight.
They haved already have fought
Ali won by KO in 3rd round
But Cleveland Williams was a hard puncher
Every time I watch the footage of Muhammad ali fighting Cleveland Williams, he was just amazing that night. Then again, I feel like Williams was just intimidated by ali considering he only landed a few punches on ali. so was this an easy win for ali?
