# Cleveland Williams

Cleveland "Big Cat" Williams (June 30, 1933 – September 10, 1999) was an American professional boxer. A poll in The Ring magazine rated him as one of the finest boxers never to win a title.

## Early life

Born in Griffin, Georgia, Williams started working at a pulpwood mill at the age of 13, and began his professional boxing career in his home state just a year later. He reported winning four of his first six fights, but was barred from competing until he turned 18 after an official learned of his age.

## Early boxing career

Williams turned professional in 1951 and fought many of the best heavyweights of his era. During the late 1950s and early 1960s, the 6 ft 2 in Williams was a top-rated heavyweight. His quest to obtain a title fight, however, was consistently derailed. First he was knocked out by Sonny Liston on April 15, 1959. Williams recovered from the Liston fight to score more wins, but was again stopped by Liston in two rounds in their rematch on March 21, 1960. His quest for the title was later stalled when he was held to a draw by Eddie Machen on July 10, 1962, and when he dropped a split decision on March 13, 1963, to Ernie Terrell, a fighter he had previously knocked out in seven rounds in 1962. During this time frame, he defeated Billy Daniels.

## Police shooting incident

On the evening of November 29, 1964, during the height of the civil unrest of the American Civil Rights Movement, a car driven by Williams was stopped near Houston, Texas, by highway Patrolman Dale Witten, who stated afterwards Williams was speeding. According to the police report Williams resisted arrest, and the officer's .357 magnum revolver went off during an ensuing struggle, hitting Williams in the stomach and lodging in his right hip. Williams underwent four operations over the subsequent seven months to address injuries to his colon and right kidney. The right kidney ultimately had to be removed in June 1965. Doctors could not extract the bullet, which had broken his right hip joint and caused partial paralysis of some of the hip's muscles, over 10 feet (3.0 m) of his small intestine had to be removed, and nerve damage affected his left leg above the knee and caused it to atrophy as a result. Hugh Benbow, his manager, and Sonny Liston, former world champion, visited Cleveland Williams in the hospital. After his partial recovery Williams was fined $50 and briefly jailed after pleading no contest to charges arising from the incident. (Patrolman Witten visited Williams to wish him luck the day before his 1966 fight with Muhammad Ali, with both men saying they had "no hard feelings" toward the other).

## Recovery and return to boxing

The injury, surgeries and subsequent convalescence caused Williams to lose over 60 pounds (27 kg), and over 17 months of his career. He regained his weight and strength by tossing 80-pound (36 kg) bales of hay daily on a cattle ranch till he had regained his fighting weight and physique. On February 8, 1966, Williams received a standing ovation from the Houston crowd as he returned to the ring, and knocked out Ben Black in the first round.
Williams competed for the heavyweight championship against Muhammad Ali on November 14, 1966, but was badly outclassed, and was knocked down twice in the third round ending the match. Williams retired from boxing after the 1966 Championship defeat, but later made a comeback. Although able to defeat journeymen fighters, he suffered several knockout losses before retiring permanently in 1972.

## Later life

The Ring in the 1980s reported he worked as a forklift truck driver in his later years.

## Death

On September 3, 1999, Williams was knocked down by a car in a hit and run while walking across a street in Houston, Texas; he died of his injuries at Ben Taub Hospital on September 10, 1999, at the age of 66. Williams was buried in Paradise North Cemetery in Houston.

## Tributes

He ended his career with a record of 82 wins (62 KOs), 13 losses and 2 draws. During an interview after his retirement, George Foreman described Williams as having one of the three hardest punches he had experienced professionally, also stating that he and Williams had been sparring partners early in their careers. George Chuvalo also said Williams was one of the hardest punchers he had faced in his own professional career. Williams, aged 38, lost by decision to veteran Chuvalo over 10 rounds at the Astrodome in Houston, Texas, in November 1971. Sonny Liston stated Williams was the hardest puncher he'd ever been in the ring with.
In 2003 Williams was ranked 49th in The Ring's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time.

## Professional boxing record

| 97 fights | 82 wins | 13 losses |
| By knockout | 62 | 8 |
| By decision | 19 | 5 |
| By disqualification | 1 | 0 |
| Draws | 2 | 2 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Age | Location | Notes |
| 97 | Win | 82–13–2 | Roberto Davila | UD | 10 | Oct 28, 1973 | 40 years, 120 days | Denver Coliseum, Denver, Colorado, US | |
| 96 | Win | 81–13–2 | Bob Mashburn | KO | 9 (10), 0:51 | Jul 10, 1972 | 39 years, 10 days | Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado, US | |
| 95 | Win | 80–13–2 | Terry Daniels | UD | 12 | May 11, 1972 | 38 years, 316 days | Memorial Auditorium, Dallas, Texas, US | Won vacant Texas State heavyweight title |
| 94 | Loss | 79–13–2 | George Chuvalo | UD | 10 | Nov 17, 1971 | 38 years, 140 days | Astrodome, Houston, Texas, US | |
| 93 | Loss | 79–12–2 | Jack O'Halloran | SD | 10 | Sep 21, 1971 | 38 years, 83 days | Houston, Texas, US | |
| 92 | Win | 79–11–2 | Ted Gullick | MD | 10 | Apr 28, 1971 | 37 years, 302 days | Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, US | |
| 91 | Loss | 78–11–2 | Alvin Lewis | TKO | 4 (10), 2:39 | Oct 21, 1970 | 37 years, 113 days | Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan, US | |
| 90 | Win | 78–10–2 | Roberto Davila | UD | 10 | May 26, 1970 | 36 years, 330 days | Auditorium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US | |
| 89 | Win | 77–10–2 | Eddie Brooks | TKO | 1 (12), 2:49 | Apr 14, 1970 | 36 years, 288 days | Auditorium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US | |
| 88 | Win | 76–10–2 | Leroy Caldwell | TKO | 10 (10) | Dec 9, 1969 | 36 years, 162 days | Orlando Sports Stadium, Orlando, Florida, US | |
| 87 | Loss | 75–10–2 | Mac Foster | TKO | 3 (10), 1:37 | Nov 18, 1969 | 36 years, 141 days | Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas, US | |
| 86 | Loss | 75–9–2 | Mac Foster | TKO | 5 (10), 1:35 | Sep 13, 1969 | 36 years, 75 days | Selland Arena, Fresno, California, US | |
| 85 | Loss | 75–8–2 | Al Jones | TKO | 8 (10), 0:11 | May 20, 1969 | 35 years, 324 days | Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida, US | |
| 84 | Win | 75–7–2 | Charley Polite | UD | 10 | Mar 18, 1969 | 35 years, 261 days | Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas, US | |
| 83 | Loss | 74–7–2 | Bob Cleroux | UD | 10 | Nov 21, 1968 | 35 years, 144 days | Forum, Montreal, Quebec, Canada | |
| 82 | Win | 74–6–2 | Moses Harrell | TKO | 7 (10), 2:26 | Oct 7, 1968 | 35 years, 99 days | Fort Homer Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida, US | |
| 81 | Win | 73–6–2 | Jean Roy | UD | 10 | Aug 6, 1968 | 35 years, 37 days | Houston, Texas, US | |
| 80 | Win | 72–6–2 | Leslie Borden | KO | 1 (10) | Jun 25, 1968 | 34 years, 361 days | Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas, US | |
| 79 | Win | 71–6–2 | Mike Bruce | KO | 1 (10), 2:22 | Jun 11, 1968 | 34 years, 347 days | Houston, Texas, US | |
| 78 | Win | 70–6–2 | Roy Crear | KO | 1 (10) | May 21, 1968 | 34 years, 326 days | Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas, US | |
| 77 | Loss | 69–6–2 | Muhammad Ali | TKO | 3 (15), 1:28 | Nov 14, 1966 | 33 years, 137 days | Astrodome, Houston, Texas, US | For WBC, NYSAC, and The Ring heavyweight titles |
| 76 | Win | 69–5–2 | Tod Herring | TKO | 3 (10), 0:25 | Jun 28, 1966 | 32 years, 363 days | Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas, US | |
| 75 | Win | 68–5–2 | Sonny Moore | UD | 10 | Apr 19, 1966 | 32 years, 293 days | Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas, US | |
| 74 | Win | 67–5–2 | Mel Turnbow | UD | 10 | Mar 22, 1966 | 32 years, 265 days | Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas, US | |
| 73 | Win | 66–5–2 | Ben Black | KO | 1 (10) | Feb 8, 1966 | 32 years, 223 days | Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas, US | |
| 72 | Win | 65–5–2 | Billy Daniels | UD | 10 | Sep 30, 1964 | 31 years, 92 days | Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas, US | |
| 71 | Win | 64–5–2 | Sonny Banks | TKO | 6 (10) | Jul 21, 1964 | 31 years, 21 days | Houston, Texas, US | |
| 70 | Win | 63–5–2 | Tommy Fields | UD | 10 | Apr 7, 1964 | 30 years, 282 days | Houston, Texas, US | |
| 69 | Win | 62–5–2 | Roger Rischer | KO | 3 (10) | Oct 8, 1963 | 30 years, 100 days | Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas, US | |
| 68 | Win | 61–5–2 | Kirk Barrow | KO | 3 (10), 2:15 | Aug 13, 1963 | 30 years, 44 days | Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas, US | |
| 67 | Loss | 60–5–2 | Ernie Terrell | SD | 10 | Apr 13, 1963 | 29 years, 287 days | Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US | |
| 66 | Win | 60–4–2 | Young Jack Johnson | TKO | 10 (10) | Apr 2, 1963 | 29 years, 276 days | Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas, US | |
| 65 | Win | 59–4–2 | Billy Daniels | UD | 10 | Mar 9, 1963 | 29 years, 252 days | Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida, US | |
| 64 | Win | 58–4–2 | Dave Bailey | KO | 5 (10), 2:56 | Oct 23, 1962 | 29 years, 115 days | Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas, US | |
| 63 | Draw | 57–4–2 | Eddie Machen | PTS | 10 | Jul 10, 1962 | 29 years, 10 days | Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas, US | |
| 62 | Win | 57–4–1 | Alonzo Johnson | KO | 1 (10) | May 15, 1962 | 28 years, 319 days | Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas, US | |
| 61 | Win | 56–4–1 | Ernie Terrell | TKO | 7 (10), 1:43 | Apr 3, 1962 | 28 years, 277 days | Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas, US | |
| 60 | Win | 55–4–1 | James Wiley | KO | 1 (10) | Dec 19, 1961 | 28 years, 172 days | Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas, US | |
| 59 | Win | 54–4–1 | Alex Miteff | TKO | 5 (10), 1:32 | May 16, 1961 | 27 years, 320 days | Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas, US | |
| 58 | Win | 53–4–1 | Wayne Bethea | UD | 10 | Feb 7, 1961 | 27 years, 222 days | Houston, Texas, US | |
| 57 | Win | 52–4–1 | Johnny Hayden | KO | 2 (10) | Dec 7, 1960 | 27 years, 160 days | Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, US | |
| 56 | Win | 51–4–1 | George Moore | KO | 4 (10) | Nov 1, 1960 | 27 years, 124 days | Houston, Texas, US | |
| 55 | Win | 50–4–1 | Ben Marshall | KO | 2 (10) | Oct 24, 1960 | 27 years, 116 days | Memorial Auditorium, Dallas, Texas, US | |
| 54 | Loss | 49–4–1 | Sonny Liston | TKO | 2 (10), 2:13 | Mar 21, 1960 | 26 years, 265 days | Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas, US | |
| 53 | Win | 49–3–1 | Curley Lee | KO | 10 (10), 0:58 | Oct 14, 1959 | 26 years, 106 days | Coliseum, Houston, Texas, US | |
| 52 | Win | 48–3–1 | Ernie Cab | KO | 8 (10), 1:05 | May 26, 1959 | 25 years, 330 days | Coliseum, Houston, Texas, US | |
| 51 | Loss | 47–3–1 | Sonny Liston | TKO | 3 (10), 2:04 | Apr 15, 1959 | 25 years, 289 days | Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, US | |
| 50 | Win | 47–2–1 | Ollie Wilson | KO | 3 (10) | Jan 13, 1959 | 25 years, 197 days | Houston, Texas, US | |
| 49 | Win | 46–2–1 | Howie Turner | PTS | 10 | Dec 9, 1958 | 25 years, 162 days | Houston, Texas, US | |
| 48 | Win | 45–2–1 | Frankie Daniels | UD | 10 | Jun 3, 1958 | 24 years, 338 days | Houston, Texas, US | |
| 47 | Win | 44–2–1 | Dick Richardson | DQ | 4 (10) | Mar 25, 1958 | 24 years, 268 days | Earls Court Empress Hall, Kensington, London, England, UK | |
| 46 | Win | 43–2–1 | Gene White | TKO | 1 (10), 2:38 | Feb 4, 1958 | 24 years, 219 days | Houston, Texas, US | |
| 45 | Win | 42–2–1 | Frankie Daniels | UD | 10 | Dec 3, 1957 | 24 years, 156 days | Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, US | |
| 44 | Win | 41–2–1 | John Holman | KO | 7 (10) | Oct 15, 1957 | 24 years, 107 days | Houston, Texas, US | |
| 43 | Win | 40–2–1 | Bob Albright | KO | 7 (10) | Sep 17, 1957 | 24 years, 79 days | Houston, Texas, US | |
| 42 | Win | 39–2–1 | Clifford Gray | KO | 1 (10) | Jul 23, 1957 | 24 years, 23 days | Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas, US | |
| 41 | Win | 38–2–1 | J.D. Marshall | TKO | 2 (10), 2:40 | Jul 15, 1957 | 24 years, 15 days | Tyler, Texas, US | |
| 40 | Win | 37–2–1 | Johnny Mason | KO | 1 (10) | Jun 11, 1957 | 23 years, 346 days | Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas, US | |
| 39 | Win | 36–2–1 | Johnny Hollins | TKO | 3 (10) | Aug 6, 1956 | 23 years, 37 days | City Coliseum, Austin, Texas, US | |
| 38 | Loss | 35–2–1 | Bob Satterfield | KO | 3 (10), 1:03 | Jun 22, 1954 | 20 years, 357 days | Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, US | |
| 37 | Win | 35–1–1 | Sylvester Jones | KO | 6 (10) | Jun 8, 1954 | 20 years, 343 days | Fort Homer Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida, US | |
| 36 | Win | 34–1–1 | Jimmy Walls | TKO | 1 (10), 2:43 | Mar 9, 1954 | 20 years, 252 days | Municipal Auditorium, Tampa, Florida, US | |
| 35 | Win | 33–1–1 | Jack Walsh | KO | 8 (10) | Nov 10, 1953 | 20 years, 133 days | Fort Homer Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida, US | |
| 34 | Win | 32–1–1 | Bo Willis | KO | 2 (10) | Oct 20, 1953 | 20 years, 112 days | Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, US | |
| 33 | Win | 31–1–1 | Claude Rolfe | KO | 3 (10), 2:10 | Oct 1, 1953 | 20 years, 93 days | Armory, Charlotte, North Carolina, US | |
| 32 | Loss | 30–1–1 | Sylvester Jones | PTS | 4 | Sep 24, 1953 | 20 years, 86 days | Polo Grounds, New York City, New York, US | |
| 31 | Win | 30–0–1 | Keene Simmons | UD | 10 | Sep 1, 1953 | 20 years, 63 days | Fort Homer Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida, US | |
| 30 | Win | 29–0–1 | Omelio Agramonte | UD | 10 | May 12, 1953 | 19 years, 316 days | Fort Homer Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida, US | |
| 29 | Win | 28–0–1 | Bob Garner | KO | 7 (10) | Mar 31, 1953 | 19 years, 274 days | Fort Homer Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida, US | |
| 28 | Win | 27–0–1 | Ponce de Leon | KO | 2 (10) | Mar 24, 1953 | 19 years, 267 days | Fort Homer Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida, US | |
| 27 | Win | 26–0–1 | Terry O'Connor | TKO | 3 (8) | Mar 12, 1953 | 19 years, 255 days | Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota, US | |
| 26 | Win | 25–0–1 | Ponce de Leon | PTS | 8 | Mar 4, 1953 | 19 years, 247 days | Miami Stadium, Miami, Florida, US | |
| 25 | Win | 24–0–1 | Abie Gibson | KO | 1 (10), 1:22 | Jan 13, 1953 | 19 years, 197 days | Fort Homer Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida, US | |
| 24 | Win | 23–0–1 | Graveyard Walters | KO | 2 (10) | Dec 8, 1952 | 19 years, 161 days | Beach Arena, Daytona Beach, Florida, US | |
| 23 | Win | 22–0–1 | Claude Rolfe | KO | 9 (10), 1:55 | Nov 25, 1952 | 19 years, 148 days | Municipal Auditorium, Tampa, Florida, US | |
| 22 | Win | 21–0–1 | Johnny Hollins | KO | 1 (10), 2:48 | Oct 3, 1952 | 19 years, 95 days | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, US | |
| 21 | Win | 20–0–1 | Joe McFadden | TKO | 3 (6), 2:09 | Sep 23, 1952 | 19 years, 85 days | Municipal Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US | |
| 20 | Win | 19–0–1 | Art Henri | TKO | 8 (10), 0:30 | Sep 16, 1952 | 19 years, 78 days | Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, US | |
| 19 | Win | 18–0–1 | Roosevelt Holmes | KO | 1 (10), 2:10 | Sep 12, 1952 | 19 years, 74 days | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, US | |
| 18 | Win | 17–0–1 | Baby Booze | KO | 1 (6) | Sep 2, 1952 | 19 years, 64 days | Fort Homer Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida, US | |
| 17 | Win | 16–0–1 | Candy McDaniels | KO | 2 (10) | Aug 12, 1952 | 19 years, 43 days | Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, US | |
| 16 | Win | 15–0–1 | Sam Harold | KO | 4 (6) | Jul 25, 1952 | 19 years, 25 days | City Auditorium, Macon, Georgia, US | |
| 15 | Win | 14–0–1 | Lee Raymond | TKO | 5 (10) | Jul 22, 1952 | 19 years, 22 days | Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, US | |
| 14 | Win | 13–0–1 | Jimmy Felton | KO | 3 (8) | Jul 8, 1952 | 19 years, 8 days | Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, US | |
| 13 | Win | 12–0–1 | Eddie Joe Williams | KO | 1 (8) | Jun 24, 1952 | 18 years, 360 days | Daytona Beach, Florida, US | |
| 12 | Win | 11–0–1 | Harry Turner | KO | 1 (8) | Jun 17, 1952 | 18 years, 353 days | Municipal Auditorium, Tampa, Florida, US | |
| 11 | Win | 10–0–1 | Paul Favorite | KO | 4 (10) | Jun 10, 1952 | 18 years, 346 days | Fort Homer Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida, US | |
| 10 | Win | 9–0–1 | Ray Brown | KO | 3 (6) | May 28, 1952 | 18 years, 333 days | Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, US | |
| 9 | Win | 8–0–1 | Johnny Fowler | KO | 5 (6) | Apr 15, 1952 | 18 years, 290 days | Fort Homer Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida, US | |
| 8 | Win | 7–0–1 | Ray Banks | KO | 1 (6) | Mar 28, 1952 | 18 years, 272 days | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, US | |
| 7 | Win | 6–0–1 | Roosevelt Holmes | UD | 6 | Feb 29, 1952 | 18 years, 244 days | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, US | |
| 6 | Win | 5–0–1 | Rudolph Wood | KO | 2 (4) | Feb 26, 1952 | 18 years, 241 days | Fort Homer Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida, US | |
| 5 | Win | 4–0–1 | Ray Banks | TKO | 1 (6) | Feb 15, 1952 | 18 years, 230 days | Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, US | |
| 4 | Win | 3–0–1 | Lee Hunt | KO | 2 (4) | Dec 11, 1951 | 18 years, 164 days | Fort Homer Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida, US | |
| 3 | Draw | 2–0–1 | Dan Bolston | PTS | 4 | Nov 16, 1949 | 16 years, 139 days | City Auditorium, Macon, Georgia, US | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Phillip Nelson | TKO | 3 (4) | Jun 30, 1949 | 16 years, 0 days | Griffin High School Gym, Griffin, Georgia, US | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Al Williams | TKO | 2 (4) | Mar 25, 1949 | 15 years, 268 days | Griffin High School Gym, Griffin, Georgia, US | |