BoxRec

Once upon a time....... UPI reported the following....


"Cleveland (Big Cat) Williams, who shattered the title hopes of 7th ranked Alex Miteff with a 5th round TKO, set up a howl today for a shot at champion Floyd Patterson. If Williams ever looked as though he deserved a shot at the title, it was Tuesday night. He took command of the fight from Miteff from the start, opened a bad cut over his left eye in the 2nd, floored him for eight counts in the 3rd and 4th, and was beating him badly when referee Ernie Taylor mercifully ended it 1:32 deep into the 5th." -United Press International


After this bout, Texas Boxing Enterprises, the promoter of the bout, sent Floyd Patterson an offer of $100,000 or an option of 40% of the gate to meet Cleveland Williams.


The fight never happened though it was very sellable ......but Floyd did choose another opponent, and did manage to avenge his loss to that fighter. So maybe it was for the best?



I'm not sayin I'd pick Cleveland to beat I.J. But it's not a bad bet. Now if Kalan picked Ingy, I'd cover that bet, just for shoots and greens.

Now this is a real good matchup. I think this is one of those pairings that could go either way. If these guys fought 4 times there's a very good chance they'd have 2 wins a piece...by KO of course.

Would be an interesting discussion. I'm sure "Kay Lynn" will be here shortly. He loves these what if's.

As far as the fight itself, I'd be lying if I said one or the other. I have no clue how it would go, so 50/50 it is for me.

Cleveland did have wins over Terrell, Sonny Banks, Eddie Machen.....

How he managed it? Probably caught them all on a bad nights.

Unless he was the reason for their bad nights.

why does williams get so much attention still in history forums? not saying he doesnt deserve it, im legit curious. i look at his record and pretty much everyone i recognize beat him, usually by stoppage. it could just be my lack of knowledge though. he has a win over terrell (terrell beat him in a rematch) but thats all i really recognize. ingo was at least hw champ for a short spell and im not sure if he even gets the same attention

he seems like a guy who was a big hitter but very limited

So I don't have to look it up, who besides Patterson did Johanson fight that was a name. I can't recall.

BoxBuzz wrote: ↑19 Apr 2018, 22:47 Cleveland did have wins over Terrell, Sonny Banks, Eddie Machen.....

How he managed it? Probably caught them all on a bad nights.

Unless he was the reason for their bad nights.

a draw with machen, unless the win you mention isnt listed

Never mind on my question. Johanson stopped Machon in 1; cooper in 5.

oogiebe wrote: ↑19 Apr 2018, 22:52 Never mind on my question. Johanson stopped Machon in 1; cooper in 5.

I'd take Johannson in 6. Williams was so hot and cold. Big hitter with no consistency, even prior to being shot.

yep, while even clevands mentioned win over machen didnt actually happen. the guy does very well with historical rememberance for someone who accomplished as little

jamamb wrote: ↑19 Apr 2018, 22:54 yep, while even clevands mentioned win over machen didnt actually happen. the guy does very well with historical rememberance for someone who accomplished as little

Yeah...agreed. BTW, Wales made me howl on the other thread!

Yep the fight with Machen was a draw, though some ringsiders gave Williams an unexpected edge in their opinions.

And to be fair a better version of Terrell did beat him later......

However.....after being gutted and his entrails literally hanging off his body, he managed to fight Jack O Halloran....(super powers and all) competently....losing a split.


He was not a cadaver.

I'm going to go against the grain with this one & pick Williams to KO Ingo in 5 rounds. I just don't think that the Swede would have relished trading blows with the Texan nor stood up to them in any sort of an exchange.

Like Eddie Machen went... Johansson would smash Williams with a big right and he'd be gone... Ingo could throw.

Williams was wide open.. Even Todd Herring nailed him with a straight right.. But Todd threw like dandelion fluff.

Ingo had far superior boxing skills, too much for Cleveland.