This is a strange episode, according to The Ring, Brittish edition, oct/nov. 1958:
"Sir Leslie Joseph, Promotor of Coney Beach Arena, will always remeber his HOODOO-VOODOO Show, for when Cleveland Williams of Houston Texas, had a dream on the day of his contest with Dick Richardson, Newport, he stated he would not take part in it, for in his dream "HE HAD RECIEVED A MESSAGE" that said he should not box. Boxing Board officials declared him fit, but could NOT cajole him into changing his mind".
Bob Baker (another strange veteran) was brought over as a substitute and SPARRED 10 rounds with Richardson, losing on points.
Query; Was the Big Cat Williams known for other strange behavoirs? Is he still alive and if so, where is he?
:)
Cleveland Williams
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Guest
- Heavyweight
CLEVELAND WILLIAMS
NO SUPRISE THERE. WILLIAMS AND SONNY LISTON BOTH WERE FROM THE AMERICAN DEEP SOUTH. WILLIAMS FROM EAST TEXAS AND LISTON FROM ARKANSAS. BOTH AREAS HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE BOTH BLACK AND WHITE WHO HAD ROOTS GOING BACK INTO LOUISIANNA WHERE THE CAJUN INFLUENCE HAD A GREAT EFFECT IN DAYS PAST. WILLIAMS AND LISTON WERE BOTH HIGHLY SUPERSTITIOUS. THATS WHY LISTON WAS SPOOKED BY A KID NAMED CASSIUS CLAY. LISTON THOUGHT CLAY WAS LEGITIMATELY CRAZY AND SONNY WAS SCARED OF CRAZY PEOPLE BECUASE CRAZY WERE NOT SCARED OF ANYBODY AND WERE PROTECTED BY GOD. I CAN BELIEVE THAT WILLIAMS WAS THE TYPE WHO WOULD BE HEAVILY INFLUENCED BY A DREAM. HE WAS KNOWN TO BE JUST AS SUPERSTITIOUS AS LISTON. BOTH OF THEM IN THIER PRIMES, AT THERE MENTAL BEST COULD HAVE BUTCHERED ALI. Dan Coli
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Vetteguy99
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 58
- Joined: 19 May 2003, 00:53
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john garfield
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 95
- Joined: 29 Dec 2001, 20:00
Cleveland Williams & Willie Pep
When I saw the name Cleveland Williams, this incident came to mind immediately.
In the mid 50's, Cleveland Williams was considered one of the hardest hitting heavyweights in the world...and a MONSTER.
And, none of that did him justice. The only thing he was missing was the big red "S" on his chest.
He was a walking anatomy chart, and we're talking here when he was at his best, before he got shot.
Willie Pep was in the waning days of his career, but still had more than enough in his tank to run rings around most anybody. But he was only doing it now for the "walking around money."
Willie was "Peck's bad boy", with a twinkle in his eye and no muscle tone at all. Most fighters look bigger in trunks; he looked smaller.
The 5th St. Gym in Miami was not a large place, so Williams and Pep had to train and do their floor exercises pretty near each other.
The gym rats kept trying to stoke Willie's ego:
"Willie, You could kill that big bum! He'd never touch you."
"You'd make him look like a jerk, Willie" And, it went on and on like that for weeks.
There was no way that Williams didn't hear it.... And he was 9 feet tall, so it started to get under his skin.
One day when all those guys were really egging Pep on:
"You could kick his ass, Willie"
"You'd make him look like fool, Willie!"
Pep just turned to them and said: "All I can tell you is: I'd hate to have him hang his hammer on me!"
And Williams exploded with laughter.
In the mid 50's, Cleveland Williams was considered one of the hardest hitting heavyweights in the world...and a MONSTER.
And, none of that did him justice. The only thing he was missing was the big red "S" on his chest.
He was a walking anatomy chart, and we're talking here when he was at his best, before he got shot.
Willie Pep was in the waning days of his career, but still had more than enough in his tank to run rings around most anybody. But he was only doing it now for the "walking around money."
Willie was "Peck's bad boy", with a twinkle in his eye and no muscle tone at all. Most fighters look bigger in trunks; he looked smaller.
The 5th St. Gym in Miami was not a large place, so Williams and Pep had to train and do their floor exercises pretty near each other.
The gym rats kept trying to stoke Willie's ego:
"Willie, You could kill that big bum! He'd never touch you."
"You'd make him look like a jerk, Willie" And, it went on and on like that for weeks.
There was no way that Williams didn't hear it.... And he was 9 feet tall, so it started to get under his skin.
One day when all those guys were really egging Pep on:
"You could kick his ass, Willie"
"You'd make him look like fool, Willie!"
Pep just turned to them and said: "All I can tell you is: I'd hate to have him hang his hammer on me!"
And Williams exploded with laughter.