Ali-Williams (1966)

[Brassangel]

Originally Posted by SABBATH
If you watch Liston's head snap, you can see it was no phantom punch. The elasticity in Liston's knees also gives. It was a legit knockdown but Liston could have gotten up in time if Ali had went to a corner.

Watch for yourself.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=5T_dHRLn...=sonny%20liston

You say this as though I was doubting Ali's punch. I wasn't, I was complimenting him. I guess you could read my post again.

[hellfire508]

it was real in the sense it could knock u down, not real beleivable for a ko in that fight though, liston could take sum good punches, he showed that before.

I agree.

Legit KD, Sonny could have easily gotten up, but wanted no more of Ali. He knew he had no chance. And with the threats from the NOI etc., he quit on the canvas.

[Monsi]

'Night Train' by Nick Tosches - a biography of Liston, but reads like a thriller.

There's also a brilliant book about the Benn-McLellan fight called 'War, Baby' by Kevin Mitchell

[butterfly1964]

Two rounds and thirty-eight seconds after Cleveland Williams charged from his corner, seeking the heavyweight championship of the world, the speed and grace of Muhammad Ali's feet left Williams befuddled and confused, and the streek lightning and thunderous power of Ali's fists stretched the challenger on the floor. Four times Ali slashed at Williams with the same homicidal fury that had felled Sonny Liston and other fighters. During those thrill-jammed minutes, The Houston Astrodome was bedlamed, the screams from the crowd revurbiated from the steel beams, as the champion moved irresistably to the attack. The fight ended, Ali's hand raised in victory for the man who has now defended his title for the seventh time and is regarded as invincible.

[butterfly1964]

No one liked the last post?

[QueensburyRules]

Cleveland Williams was still a decent opponent, coming off a winning streak i believe. Watch Williams in the fight against Ali and ask yourself Would a prime Williams be able to do much better? Were there any oppurtunities that this version of Williams wasn't able to take advantage of, but in his prime he could've and in doing so produce a significantly better performance? I don't know if he could.

Ali looked sharpest in that fight against Williams. No clowning, he was well prepared and he went out there with the intention of putting Williams on the canvas ASAP to reduce the risk of Williams being seriously hurt. His performances in later matches in his pre-layoff career against Folley, Terell etc although still impressive were probably adversely affected by his legal battles and the political issues that were surrounding him and really starting to heat up at the time.

- -No doubt you'd look like a world beater against a 10 yr old.

Cleve was pronounced dead at Ben Taub before he came round. Ali had difficulty making fights because venues were scared to book him because of the NOI problem.

No problem in Houston as one of the US Murder capitals where 1 in 5 at boxing matches were prob armed.

Ali gave Cleve a generous retirement purse that sadly his crook manager made off with most.

Ali fought a lot of fighters and almost never looked that good against them even in winning.