cleveland williams-sonny liston story

BrocktonBlockbuster49 · Post by **BrocktonBlockbuster49** » 27 Jul 2006, 02:59

williams was never really the same after sonny became champion. he knew he could never beat sonny and all the years of trying to get floyd patterson in the ring with him was gone. so he lost motivation, he wasnt really mentally there anymore. he knew now he could never be champion. when williams was shot and in the hospital in 1965, liston his good friend came to visit him. liston liked williams, both were thugs. williams was finished, inactive, badly hurt and was thinking about retiring at this point. this took place while liston was training for the 2nd ali fight. liston told williams "get better so when i get the title back i can knock you out again." then this sparked williams and williams said "you know wut im gonna knock u out this time". so williams returned to the ring. poor cleveland didnt realize how far gone he was though by the time he returned.

BrocktonBlockbuster49 · Post by **BrocktonBlockbuster49** » 27 Jul 2006, 12:58

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 27 Jul 2006, 14:10

both were thugs.

Listons criminal activities are well known, but I'm not so that Big Cat Williams was just as bad or was he?

He may well have been a trouble maker in his youth, like many Boxers but I can't recall hearing about Williams getting into trouble during or after his professional Boxing career?

Or am I wrong on this?

BrocktonBlockbuster49 · Post by **BrocktonBlockbuster49** » 27 Jul 2006, 17:57

my dad told me this story the other night. he told me he read it in a ring magazine article from the 60s a while back. if i ever find which one, i will gladly post the source

* but my father knows a shit load about that era. his favorite was floyd patterson and he used to box in the gyms in the late 60s-early 70s. hes a reliable source. he knows the inside stuff from experience

Collins2000 · Post by **Collins2000** » 27 Jul 2006, 18:18

BrocktonBlockbuster49 wrote:my dad told me this story the other night. he told me he read it in a ring magazine article from the 60s a while back. if i ever find which one, i will gladly post the source

* but my father knows a shit load about that era. his favorite was floyd patterson and he used to box in the gyms in the late 60s-early 70s. hes a reliable source. he knows the inside stuff from experience

It's always good to talk to knowledgable people who lived in the era. A lot of things that happened at the time has been totally lost, misreported or written by someone with an agenda to push. Sure, oral history is also replete with inaccuracies and bias but it does add another dimension to relying on brief reports in old newspapers.

Regarding boxing and gyms I think an update on your own progress is in order. I remember your initial announcement was very positive and I was expecting regular updates as you powered your way through the New England amateurs...