BoxRec

Ike Williams, TKO late. I think he was just the more talented and consistant of the two.

joe brown is my all time favourite fighter but I feel he would fall short against the intelligence and ferocity of Williams

Brown

As for why they didn't fight:
At first glance you would think it's odd that they didn't. They were fighting at the same time for about 14 years.
However, Brown started really young. He struggled a bit early and it took him quite awhile before he was a contender. Believe it or not, Brown and Williams were never actually in the Top 10 at the same time. Williams was already retired by the time Brown won the title.

Ambling Alp II wrote:As for why they didn't fight:
At first glance you would think it's odd that they didn't. They were fighting at the same time for about 14 years.
However, Brown started really young. He struggled a bit early and it took him quite awhile before he was a contender. Believe it or not, Brown and Williams were never actually in the Top 10 at the same time. Williams was already retired by the time Brown won the title.

I see your point above Ambling Alp. At one time in his career, the great Joltin' Joe Brown fought the great Sandy Saddler. Saddler put him to sleep. I don't remember the round where I read that. But, I know that Brown was a green boxer then that was thrown to a shark too early. Saddler also stopped three-time lightweight king Jimmy Carter.

I also wonder why the great Willie Pep didn't challenge the great Ike Williams. Another underrated and extraordinary boxer in my view. Williams lost 2 out of 3 fights with a very good contender named Willie Joyce. Pep went up to lightweight and beat Joyce by decision. Pep also fought lightweight champion Sammy Angott. But, he never faced the great Beau Jack, or Bob Montgomery or Lew Jenkins.

But, at featherweight, Pep was almost invincible.

Anyway, I pick Williams over Brown by stoppage. Williams was an extraordinary fighter. I can't see him at his very best losing to Brown.

I wish Pep would have fought Williams. A win over Williams or one of the other great lightweight fighters of the time would have helped his all time pound for pound rating.

Ambling Alp II wrote:I wish Pep would have fought Williams. A win over Williams or one of the other great lightweight fighters of the time would have helped his all time pound for pound rating.

Yeah, I agree with you on that. If he would at least beaten the great Ike Williams, at least on a ten-rounder, we would have to agree with The Wil of the Wisp in the top 3 all time, at least.