BoxRec

10 rounds.

max knocks out slick cleveland, after struggling a bit early with cw's smooth defensive moves

Baer at his best beats Williams up handily. Max by TKO.

Max Baer at his absolute best, bringing his A+ game, was one hell of a hoss for arguably any heavyweight whoever lived. One of the last heavyweights to ever go 20 rounds, he certainly had great stamina when he trained hard and was serious. He couldn't box all that well, but he was certainly a better boxer than Wilder is.

Wins over Primo Carnera, Max Schmeling, Tommy Farr, Ernie Schaaf, Jose Santa, Kingfish Levinsky, Tuffy Griffiths, Tom Heeney, and Tony Galento are pretty solid to have on a resume.

He had trouble with movers who had high ring IQs (ie, Tommy Laughran, Jim Braddock) but he was always dangerous because of roughhouse tactics and having one of the most powerful right hands the heavyweight division ever saw.

Cleveland Williams, before getting shot in 1964, was a pretty damn good heavyweight. Wins over Ernie Terrell, Alex Miteff, Sonny Banks and Alonzo Johnson were nice--- but mostly knock out wins over complete nonentities.

Like most big punchers (he had 53 kayos before facing Ali in 1966) he didn't have the best of chins, though. A lot of the big bangers could give it but not take it usually because they blew everybody away so fast that they never had to take much punishment.

Williams was stopped by Sonny Liston twice (KO3, and KO2) and was stopped by Bob Satterfield in three rounds. All in all, by the time he finished his career he would lose five more times by knockout before he retired in 1972.

Williams and Baer were virtually the same size. Both 6'2" and Williams had an 80" reach, whereas Baer had an 81" reach. Both men basically were the same weight throughout much of their careers.

Baer certainly beat better opponents than Williams did. Baer, unlike most big punchers, actually could take a punch--- and that may very well be the deciding factor. Williams could get hurt and not recover, whereas Baer could dig down deep and fight back harder.

I lean towards Max Baer, although I do think Williams would have his moments. It took Joe Louis to drop Max Baer for the first time in his career, and I'm not sure Williams can replicate that feat. I'm thinking mid round stoppage win for Max Baer.

Baer had the greater chin than Big Cat Williams and he would get the better of him by knocking him out in 8 rounds with a big devastating right hand.