Cleveland Williams

Cleveland "Big Cat" Williams (June 30, 1933 – September 10, 1999) was an American professional boxer. A poll in The Ring magazine rated him as one of the finest boxers never to win a title.

Early life

Born in Griffin, Georgia, Williams started working at a pulpwood mill at the age of 13, and began his professional boxing career in his home state just a year later. He reported winning four of his first six fights, but was barred from competing until he turned 18 after an official learned of his age.

Early boxing career

Williams turned professional in 1951 and fought many of the best heavyweights of his era. During the late 1950s and early 1960s, the 6 ft 2 in<ref>BoxRec, Cleveland Williams.</ref> Williams was a top-rated heavyweight. His quest to obtain a title fight, however, was consistently derailed. First he was knocked out by Sonny Liston on April 15, 1959.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Williams recovered from the Liston fight to score more wins, but was again stopped by Liston in two 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 seven rounds in 1962. During this time frame, he defeated Billy Daniels.

Police shooting incident

On the evening of November 29, 1964, during the height of the civil unrest 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 Williams resisted arrest, and the officer's .357 magnum revolver went off during an ensuing struggle, hitting Williams in the stomach and lodging in his right hip. Williams underwent four operations over the subsequent seven months to address injuries to his colon and right kidney. The right kidney ultimately had to be removed in June 1965. Doctors could not extract the bullet, which had broken his right hip joint and caused partial paralysis of some of the hip's muscles, over Template:Convert of his small intestine had to be removed, and nerve damage affected his left leg above the knee and caused it to atrophy as a result.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Dead link</ref> Hugh Benbow, his manager, and Sonny Liston, former world champion, visited Cleveland Williams in the hospital. After his partial recovery Williams was fined $50 and briefly jailed after pleading no contest to charges arising from the incident. (Patrolman Witten visited Williams to wish him luck the day before his 1966 fight with Muhammad Ali, with both men saying they had "no hard feelings" toward the other).<ref name="AP">Template:Cite news</ref>

Recovery and return to boxing

The injury, surgeries and subsequent convalescence caused Williams to lose over 60 pounds (27 kg), and over 17 months of his career. He regained his weight and strength by tossing 80-pound (36 kg) bales of hay daily on a cattle ranch till he had regained his fighting weight and physique. On February 8, 1966, Williams received a standing ovation from the Houston crowd as he returned to the ring, and knocked out Ben Black in the first round.<ref name="nyt">Template:Cite news</ref>

Williams competed for the heavyweight championship against Muhammad Ali on November 14, 1966, but was badly outclassed, and was knocked down twice in the third round ending the match. Williams retired from boxing after the 1966 Championship defeat, but later made a comeback. Although able to defeat journeymen fighters, he suffered several knockout losses before retiring permanently in 1972.

Later life

The Ring in the 1980s reported he worked as a forklift truck driver in his later years.Template:Citation needed

Death

On September 3, 1999, Williams was knocked down by a car in a hit and run while walking across a street in Houston, Texas; he died of his injuries at Ben Taub Hospital on September 10, 1999, at the age of 66.<ref name="nyt"/> Williams was buried in Paradise North Cemetery in Houston.

Tributes

He ended his career with a record of 82 wins (62 KOs), 13 losses and 2 draws. During an interview after his retirement, George Foreman described Williams as having one of the three hardest punches he had experienced professionally, also stating that he and Williams had been sparring partners early in their careers.Template:Citation needed George Chuvalo also said Williams was one of the hardest punchers he had faced in his own professional career. Williams, aged 38, lost by decision to veteran Chuvalo over 10 rounds at the Astrodome in Houston, Texas, in November 1971.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Sonny Liston stated Williams was the hardest puncher he'd ever been in the ring with.

In 2003 Williams was ranked 49th in The RingTemplate:'s list of 100 greatest punchers of all time.

Professional boxing record

Template:Abbr	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, time	Date	Age	Location	Notes
97	Template:Yes2Win	82–13–2	Roberto Davila	UD	10	Oct 28, 1973	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
96	Template:Yes2Win	81–13–2	Bob Mashburn	KO	9 (10), Template:Small	Jul 10, 1972	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
95	Template:Yes2Win	80–13–2	Terry Daniels	UD	12	May 11, 1972	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small	Template:Small
94	Template:No2Loss	79–13–2	George Chuvalo	UD	10	Nov 17, 1971	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
93	Template:No2Loss	79–12–2	Jack O'Halloran	SD	10	Sep 21, 1971	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
92	Template:Yes2Win	79–11–2	Ted Gullick	MD	10	Apr 28, 1971	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
91	Template:No2Loss	78–11–2	Alvin Lewis	TKO	4 (10), Template:Small	Oct 21, 1970	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
90	Template:Yes2Win	78–10–2	Roberto Davila	UD	10	May 26, 1970	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
89	Template:Yes2Win	77–10–2	Eddie Brooks	TKO	1 (12), Template:Small	Apr 14, 1970	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
88	Template:Yes2Win	76–10–2	Leroy Caldwell	TKO	10 (10)	Dec 9, 1969	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
87	Template:No2Loss	75–10–2	Mac Foster	TKO	3 (10), Template:Small	Nov 18, 1969	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
86	Template:No2Loss	75–9–2	Mac Foster	TKO	5 (10), Template:Small	Sep 13, 1969	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
85	Template:No2Loss	75–8–2	Al Jones	TKO	8 (10), Template:Small	May 20, 1969	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
84	Template:Yes2Win	75–7–2	Charley Polite	UD	10	Mar 18, 1969	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
83	Template:No2Loss	74–7–2	Bob Cleroux	UD	10	Nov 21, 1968	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
82	Template:Yes2Win	74–6–2	Moses Harrell	TKO	7 (10), Template:Small	Oct 7, 1968	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
81	Template:Yes2Win	73–6–2	Jean Roy	UD	10	Aug 6, 1968	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
80	Template:Yes2Win	72–6–2	Leslie Borden	KO	1 (10)	Jun 25, 1968	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
79	Template:Yes2Win	71–6–2	Mike Bruce	KO	1 (10), Template:Small	Jun 11, 1968	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
78	Template:Yes2Win	70–6–2	Roy Crear	KO	1 (10)	May 21, 1968	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
77	Template:No2Loss	69–6–2	Muhammad Ali	TKO	3 (15), Template:Small	Nov 14, 1966	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small	Template:Small
76	Template:Yes2Win	69–5–2	Tod Herring	TKO	3 (10), Template:Small	Jun 28, 1966	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
75	Template:Yes2Win	68–5–2	Sonny Moore	UD	10	Apr 19, 1966	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
74	Template:Yes2Win	67–5–2	Mel Turnbow	UD	10	Mar 22, 1966	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
73	Template:Yes2Win	66–5–2	Ben Black	KO	1 (10)	Feb 8, 1966	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
72	Template:Yes2Win	65–5–2	Billy Daniels	UD	10	Sep 30, 1964	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
71	Template:Yes2Win	64–5–2	Sonny Banks	TKO	6 (10)	Jul 21, 1964	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
70	Template:Yes2Win	63–5–2	Tommy Fields	UD	10	Apr 7, 1964	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
69	Template:Yes2Win	62–5–2	Roger Rischer	KO	3 (10)	Oct 8, 1963	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
68	Template:Yes2Win	61–5–2	Kirk Barrow	KO	3 (10), Template:Small	Aug 13, 1963	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
67	Template:No2Loss	60–5–2	Ernie Terrell	SD	10	Apr 13, 1963	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
66	Template:Yes2Win	60–4–2	Young Jack Johnson	TKO	10 (10)	Apr 2, 1963	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
65	Template:Yes2Win	59–4–2	Billy Daniels	UD	10	Mar 9, 1963	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
64	Template:Yes2Win	58–4–2	Dave Bailey	KO	5 (10), Template:Small	Oct 23, 1962	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
63	Template:DrawDraw	57–4–2	Eddie Machen	PTS	10	Jul 10, 1962	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
62	Template:Yes2Win	57–4–1	Alonzo Johnson	KO	1 (10)	May 15, 1962	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
61	Template:Yes2Win	56–4–1	Ernie Terrell	TKO	7 (10), Template:Small	Apr 3, 1962	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
60	Template:Yes2Win	55–4–1	James Wiley	KO	1 (10)	Dec 19, 1961	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
59	Template:Yes2Win	54–4–1	Alex Miteff	TKO	5 (10), Template:Small	May 16, 1961	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
58	Template:Yes2Win	53–4–1	Wayne Bethea	UD	10	Feb 7, 1961	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
57	Template:Yes2Win	52–4–1	Johnny Hayden	KO	2 (10)	Dec 7, 1960	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
56	Template:Yes2Win	51–4–1	George Moore	KO	4 (10)	Nov 1, 1960	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
55	Template:Yes2Win	50–4–1	Ben Marshall	KO	2 (10)	Oct 24, 1960	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
54	Template:No2Loss	49–4–1	Sonny Liston	TKO	2 (10), Template:Small	Mar 21, 1960	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
53	Template:Yes2Win	49–3–1	Curley Lee	KO	10 (10), Template:Small	Oct 14, 1959	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
52	Template:Yes2Win	48–3–1	Ernie Cab	KO	8 (10), Template:Small	May 26, 1959	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
51	Template:No2Loss	47–3–1	Sonny Liston	TKO	3 (10), Template:Small	Apr 15, 1959	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
50	Template:Yes2Win	47–2–1	Ollie Wilson	KO	3 (10)	Jan 13, 1959	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
49	Template:Yes2Win	46–2–1	Howie Turner	PTS	10	Dec 9, 1958	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
48	Template:Yes2Win	45–2–1	Frankie Daniels	UD	10	Jun 3, 1958	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
47	Template:Yes2Win	44–2–1	Dick Richardson	DQ	4 (10)	Mar 25, 1958	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
46	Template:Yes2Win	43–2–1	Gene White	TKO	1 (10), Template:Small	Feb 4, 1958	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
45	Template:Yes2Win	42–2–1	Frankie Daniels	UD	10	Dec 3, 1957	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
44	Template:Yes2Win	41–2–1	John Holman	KO	7 (10)	Oct 15, 1957	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
43	Template:Yes2Win	40–2–1	Bob Albright	KO	7 (10)	Sep 17, 1957	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
42	Template:Yes2Win	39–2–1	Clifford Gray	KO	1 (10)	Jul 23, 1957	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
41	Template:Yes2Win	38–2–1	J.D. Marshall	TKO	2 (10), Template:Small	Jul 15, 1957	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
40	Template:Yes2Win	37–2–1	Johnny Mason	KO	1 (10)	Jun 11, 1957	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
39	Template:Yes2Win	36–2–1	Johnny Hollins	TKO	3 (10)	Aug 6, 1956	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
38	Template:No2Loss	35–2–1	Bob Satterfield	KO	3 (10), Template:Small	Jun 22, 1954	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
37	Template:Yes2Win	35–1–1	Sylvester Jones	KO	6 (10)	Jun 8, 1954	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
36	Template:Yes2Win	34–1–1	Jimmy Walls	TKO	1 (10), Template:Small	Mar 9, 1954	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
35	Template:Yes2Win	33–1–1	Jack Walsh	KO	8 (10)	Nov 10, 1953	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
34	Template:Yes2Win	32–1–1	Bo Willis	KO	2 (10)	Oct 20, 1953	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
33	Template:Yes2Win	31–1–1	Claude Rolfe	KO	3 (10), Template:Small	Oct 1, 1953	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
32	Template:No2Loss	30–1–1	Sylvester Jones	PTS	4	Sep 24, 1953	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
31	Template:Yes2Win	30–0–1	Keene Simmons	UD	10	Sep 1, 1953	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
30	Template:Yes2Win	29–0–1	Omelio Agramonte	UD	10	May 12, 1953	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
29	Template:Yes2Win	28–0–1	Bob Garner	KO	7 (10)	Mar 31, 1953	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
28	Template:Yes2Win	27–0–1	Ponce de Leon	KO	2 (10)	Mar 24, 1953	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
27	Template:Yes2Win	26–0–1	Terry O'Connor	TKO	3 (8)	Mar 12, 1953	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
26	Template:Yes2Win	25–0–1	Ponce de Leon	PTS	8	Mar 4, 1953	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
25	Template:Yes2Win	24–0–1	Abie Gibson	KO	1 (10), Template:Small	Jan 13, 1953	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
24	Template:Yes2Win	23–0–1	Graveyard Walters	KO	2 (10)	Dec 8, 1952	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
23	Template:Yes2Win	22–0–1	Claude Rolfe	KO	9 (10), Template:Small	Nov 25, 1952	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
22	Template:Yes2Win	21–0–1	Johnny Hollins	KO	1 (10), Template:Small	Oct 3, 1952	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
21	Template:Yes2Win	20–0–1	Joe McFadden	TKO	3 (6), Template:Small	Sep 23, 1952	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
20	Template:Yes2Win	19–0–1	Art Henri	TKO	8 (10), Template:Small	Sep 16, 1952	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
19	Template:Yes2Win	18–0–1	Roosevelt Holmes	KO	1 (10), Template:Small	Sep 12, 1952	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
18	Template:Yes2Win	17–0–1	Baby Booze	KO	1 (6)	Sep 2, 1952	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
17	Template:Yes2Win	16–0–1	Candy McDaniels	KO	2 (10)	Aug 12, 1952	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
16	Template:Yes2Win	15–0–1	Sam Harold	KO	4 (6)	Jul 25, 1952	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
15	Template:Yes2Win	14–0–1	Lee Raymond	TKO	5 (10)	Jul 22, 1952	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
14	Template:Yes2Win	13–0–1	Jimmy Felton	KO	3 (8)	Jul 8, 1952	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
13	Template:Yes2Win	12–0–1	Eddie Joe Williams	KO	1 (8)	Jun 24, 1952	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
12	Template:Yes2Win	11–0–1	Harry Turner	KO	1 (8)	Jun 17, 1952	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
11	Template:Yes2Win	10–0–1	Paul Favorite	KO	4 (10)	Jun 10, 1952	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
10	Template:Yes2Win	9–0–1	Ray Brown	KO	3 (6)	May 28, 1952	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
9	Template:Yes2Win	8–0–1	Johnny Fowler	KO	5 (6)	Apr 15, 1952	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
8	Template:Yes2Win	7–0–1	Ray Banks	KO	1 (6)	Mar 28, 1952	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
7	Template:Yes2Win	6–0–1	Roosevelt Holmes	UD	6	Feb 29, 1952	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
6	Template:Yes2Win	5–0–1	Rudolph Wood	KO	2 (4)	Feb 26, 1952	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
5	Template:Yes2Win	4–0–1	Ray Banks	TKO	1 (6)	Feb 15, 1952	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
4	Template:Yes2Win	3–0–1	Lee Hunt	KO	2 (4)	Dec 11, 1951	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
3	Template:DrawDraw	2–0–1	Dan Bolston	PTS	4	Nov 16, 1949	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
2	Template:Yes2Win	2–0	Phillip Nelson	TKO	3 (4)	Jun 30, 1949	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small
1	Template:Yes2Win	1–0	Al Williams	TKO	2 (4)	Mar 25, 1949	Template:Age in years and days	Template:Small

External links

• Template:Boxrec
• Brief Lives - Cleveland Williams from Hannibal Boxing