Everyone In The 1950's Was Afraid of This Boxer

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4 ай бұрын

Join Rainy Day Boxing for an in depth career tribute to the most feared heavyweight boxer of the 1950's, the 'Big Cat’, Cleveland Williams.
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@GavinFox-uk9sn 4 ай бұрын

He had muscles on his eye lids. - Sonny Liston

@SurendranNambiath 4 ай бұрын

Sonny Liston was unable to read or write because he was older and huge: the kids in his class ridiculed him. Not saying it was right, but he was driven to crime and developed the reputation of being a cop basher. Consequently, he was picked up and harassed by the cops even when he moved to a different city. He had a menacing look on his face at all times. He did not communicate at all with the media because they hated him and he hated them. Yet, those who were close to Liston swear that he was very intelligent and that he was just great with kids and older people: neither kids nor older folk presented him a threat! Big George Foreman, who sparred for Liston, says that Liston was a father figure to him, always advising him the right things. his 'muscles on his eyelids' quip, and the one he made about Clay (Ali) 'he should be locked up for impersonating a fighter' show us just how observant and witty he could be! It is wrong that he was never given a chance to redeem himself even after he became the Heavyweight Champion... I am sure he would have shed the mob and been a great champion if he had got the second chance he craved! When he found that he would always be the 'bad man', he decided that that was what he would give the public, that was what the public deserved! I wish people realize that Sonny Liston was one of the Top Five Heavyweights of all time!

@assassindelasaucisse.4039 4 ай бұрын

Everybody has.

@yotamdude5866 4 ай бұрын

@@SurendranNambiathStop stealing the spotlight from those who deserve it!

@yotamdude5866 4 ай бұрын

@@assassindelasaucisse.4039Lol what

@assassindelasaucisse.4039 4 ай бұрын

@@yotamdude5866 Obiculari oculi muscle. You wouldn't be able to close your eyes or blink without.

@slowjoe0485 4 ай бұрын

When people talk about the great comebacks in boxing history they usually mention Foreman and Braddock but Cleveland Willaims coming back from being shot should get spoken about more, it's still hard to believe someone could do that.

@c.galindo9639 4 ай бұрын

A .357 magnum caliber bullet didn’t even go through his body but stayed lodged in his abdomen. He definitely was built solid

@PicklezTV 4 ай бұрын

We all know the reason why it's not spoke about much... but we definitely have to keep talking about Cleveland

@slowjoe0485 4 ай бұрын

@@PicklezTV Because he was never champipn and never really got the fame and recognition on the level of those other fighters?

@noplanband3302 3 ай бұрын

Does anyone know the details on how or why the "fight" started with the patrolman?

@slowjoe0485 3 ай бұрын

@@noplanband3302 The cop claims he pulled him over for speeding also believing Willaims was DUI. Presumably Williams wasn't too happy about it and a scuffle ensued with the officer and he was shot. Williams did have priors, he was arrested in 1959 for domestic violence after attacking his girlfriend with a meat cleaver, she was hospitalised but didn't press charges so he never served time in jail. Because of it being the early 60s in the deep south as well as the conflicting accounts of Williams and the cop, it's been speculated that the incident was racially motivated but we don't really know either way. Years later the officer actually wished Williams good luck before his fight with Ali and they both said they had no hard feelings towards each other, so I personally think the racial angle is unlikely.

@Charismaniac 4 ай бұрын

I'm glad that the truth about Cleveland Williams finally came out. This is a very good video. People don't know what Williams went through before his fight with Ali.

@surrealistidealist 4 ай бұрын

Williams was the Earnie Shavers of the 1960s.

@bigbear990 4 ай бұрын

Thank you... Hes one of the most (KNOWN) underrated boxers of all time. The guy does not get any recognition, and is always overlooked in fantasy-match ups. He would in fact dominate any Heavyweight era.

@c.galindo9639 4 ай бұрын

That is to be noted before his gunshot injury

@crabb9966 4 ай бұрын

Ali fought more hardest hitters than any other boxer ever. Cleveland Williams, Sonny Liston, George Foreman, Earnie Shavers, Mac Foster, Ron Lyle, Joe Frazier and Archie Moore. Cleveland Williams was named by Foreman and Liston as the hardest puncher.

@crabb9966 4 ай бұрын

It's no wonder Ali got sick after such a career

@stevenstubby8632 4 ай бұрын

Yeah but you couldn't land a punch on a pre-ban Ali. I believe the Earnie Shavers fight gave Ali his illness. Shavers landed some thunderous shots in that fight. You could hear the thuds on those old camera mics. Imagine the sound ring side.

@milojanis4901 4 ай бұрын

@stevenstubby8632 Henry Cooper sure did. If it werent for Dundee and smelling salts, Ali woulda lost that fight. Ali himself said it was the greatest punch he ever received. This was in 1963......

@c.galindo9639 4 ай бұрын

Did you even watch the video. Cleveland Williams when facing Ali came back from a gunshot which drastically took away a lot of his strength, speed, and athleticism

@crabb9966 4 ай бұрын

@@c.galindo9639 yes, I know but Foreman didn't spar with him prior to the gunshot, he was still a hard puncher

@filiprichtr3419 4 ай бұрын

Now I am amazed to see anyone talk about The Big Cat Cleveland Williams. Thank you for making this video. I would like to see a video,even if it would be a shorter one, about Sandy Saddler.

@RainyDayBoxing 4 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it! Saddler is definitely on the to do list 🥊

@brendasorto7973 3 ай бұрын

@@RainyDayBoxingCAN YOU PLEASE DO HENRY ARMSTRONG!!? I WANNA MAKE AN EDIT PLSS?

@MrGG1959 4 ай бұрын

Cleveland Williams record prior to getting shot was 65-5-2 with 56 KO's. He had been stopped three times, but one of the KO losses to Bob Satterfield was on only 24 hours notice.

@psychrubus4503 4 ай бұрын

Damn, do you still think if not for the gunshot he could’ve beaten prime Ali?

@MrGG1959 4 ай бұрын

@@psychrubus4503 I didn't say that, but it would have a more competitive fight.

@ClevelandWilliamsBoxing 4 ай бұрын

2 losses to Sonny Liston, 1 lost to bob satterfield, and another from Ernie Terrell which I believe that fight was a robbery, and he lost his 0 to Sylvester Jones.

@psychrubus4503 4 ай бұрын

@@MrGG1959 I was just asking yeah I agree. Would’ve loved to see that. If Ali put on the same performance he did against Williams I still don’t think anyone could’ve beaten him that night. He fought so good it kinda made big cat infamous for the wrong reason.

@ExP2DsT 3 ай бұрын

Lets all remember satterfield was one nasty hitting boxer he was a light heavyweight knocking out heavyweights

@domenickparris7650 4 ай бұрын

I knew about Cleveland Williams from highlights of when he fought Ali, then known as Cassius Clay. The praise he received from an in his prime Sonny Liston validates him, in my opinion, as a top tier heavyweight for the ages. Very sad what happened to him on that police stop. His career and potential to be a Champion were stolen from him that night. RIP Big Cat.

@syourke3 4 ай бұрын

Cleveland Williams looks like a top rate body builder. Incredible physique. I’ve watched his two fights with Liston and I knew he gave Liston a bloody nose but I didn’t know he broke Liston’s rib. How did Liston fight on and KO Williams with a broken rib? That’s pretty impressive. Sonny must’ve been in a lot of pain.

@iAintSayDat 4 ай бұрын

Cleveland Williams career, besides having to make a huge comeback, kinda reminds me of a guy like David Tua. In many eras Williams is a champ but his time was so stacked someone had to be left out.

@MrGG1959 4 ай бұрын

Williams would have been Champion, but was avoided like the plague by Floyd Patterson.

@AXL664 4 ай бұрын

@@MrGG1959Cus d amato not Floyd Patterson

@MrGG1959 4 ай бұрын

@@AXL664 I know it was Cus calling the shots. Patterson would likely have fought a prime Folley, Machen and Williams if he had a say, and that is likely why he cut ties with him in later years.

@iAintSayDat 4 ай бұрын

@@MrGG1959 Being ducked sadly is part of boxing if your a big puncher 😔

@rakin7250 4 ай бұрын

One of the best boxing channels out here.

@RainyDayBoxing 4 ай бұрын

Thank you! Appreciate the support 🥊

@TheEonAtrocious 4 ай бұрын

One of my favorite fighters of the 50s and 60s era, The Big Cat with fists as strong as the Bengal Tiger Bites.

@alanhodgson660 4 ай бұрын

yes your right.what a true force of nature he was.a great man amongst great men sadly gone but never forgotten in the sport of boxing

@TonyqTNT 4 ай бұрын

Wow!!! Observing Cleveland Williams boxing is like watching a natural heavyweight boxing like Roy Jones Junior in his prime!!!

@Riles3152 4 ай бұрын

When we talk about different era’s, there’s always the biggest names that defined that era, and then there are those guys who for whatever reason, we’re forgotten over time, whom all things considered, could have and maybe even were right there with the biggest names. Cleveland was that fighter during a time where the heavyweight division of boxing was figuratively and literally the biggest thing going in the sport.

@MrAshyb87 4 ай бұрын

Ayyyyyeeeeeeeeeeeee Rainy Day Boxing, the best documentaries in Boxing..........thanks mate.

@RainyDayBoxing 4 ай бұрын

Thank you for the love!! 🥊

@MrAshyb87 4 ай бұрын

@@RainyDayBoxing Thanks you for the informative doco's on past legends. I wouldn't have even got as far as Sonny Liston if it wasn't for you. That Sonny Liston documentary actually rocked me, I had no idea about any great fighters even existing before Ali, Tyson, Foreman. The quality of these, I'd expect to see them on TV.

@roderickstockdale1678 3 ай бұрын

@@MrAshyb87are you young?

@battlevain Ай бұрын

Great video. Very few people know about Cleveland Williams and when big George Foreman and Sonny Liston say you hit hard, then you know that Williams has thunder in both hands. He died 3 times on the operating table and still returned to box at an elite level. A true testament of the man's strength, courage and endurance.

@frankshuffitt3925 4 ай бұрын

This man is an uncrowned champion.

@BruceAChristie 4 ай бұрын

Great video, especially exposing his power against Sonny Liston. Interesting how George Foreman recognized Williams’s power, even in the late 60s. Notice that Cleveland Williams and Mike Tyson were both born June 30th ( fun trivia).

@KINGSTON_G 4 ай бұрын

I swear, even returning to boxing after such surviving is a modern miracle by itself. No matter how stupid it sounds, but nobody can tell me that people back then were the same material as us. Like the difference between steel and hardened steel. Still the same, yet so different.

@Nimvar 4 ай бұрын

Tough times , tough people

@trimotomann653 4 ай бұрын

Thank you so much rainyday boxing today jan 20 is my birthday and i turn 19 thank you for this gift as i see it

@RainyDayBoxing 4 ай бұрын

Happy birthday Nico! 🥳 I hope the vid made your special day a little bit better! I hope I did justice to Cleveland's story in the eyes of his biggest fan. Thank you for all your help making material of him accessible to the world! 🥊

@trimotomann653 4 ай бұрын

@@RainyDayBoxingthanks it really did man i apreciate it the story is plenty of good enough for all the viewers 🙏🙏🙏

@sonracky8500 4 ай бұрын

Finally,a video for one of my favourite boxers!thank you!🤝🤝🤝🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏👏👏

@martinh5402 4 ай бұрын

Awesome RDB! love your work, thanks for bringing Big Cat alive for us. That shot of Ali & Cleveland comparing fists that's nuts!!

@RainyDayBoxing 4 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed my take on Cleveland's story!

@officialidolking 3 ай бұрын

Thx for creating this. Mad respect for Cleveland Williams

@jamesdean1143 4 ай бұрын

The surgeon who operated on Williams, after his gunshot wound, said that he had never seen a finer human physical specimen. Can‘t remember the exact dimensions, but Williams had something like 2.5 inch abdominal wall, whereas the average man would have an eight of an inch. It was that abdominal wall of steel which saved his life.

@GianlucRangel 4 ай бұрын

Great video! Definitely recommend seeing his short documentary on KZfaq, really opened my eyes on his story

@Kal-El207 3 ай бұрын

Best Boxing Channel around. Bringing us straight classics!

@brentfoxx5385 3 ай бұрын

Definitely an under appreciated fighter. Thanks @Rainy Day Boxing for bringing Cleveland Williams to light.

@Cdroh 4 ай бұрын

Another great video from the best fighting Channel on KZfaq

@RainyDayBoxing 4 ай бұрын

You're too kind 🙏 thank you for saying that!

@dpt3232 3 ай бұрын

Great JOB!!! Thank you for this!!!

@peterparsons7141 4 ай бұрын

Holy crap , Did you see what he was doing to Sonny Liston , wow ! Excellent video, and I appreciate that these men get acknowledged. Of the far too many tragic boxer stories the Cleveland Williams story is one of the saddest. It is a story that needs to be told.

@rickshannet8647 3 ай бұрын

Great video, thank you! Williams was definitely underrated.

@therocksolide 3 ай бұрын

I love your voice the perfect voice for a boxing channel ❤👊

@marquismorris1548 4 ай бұрын

Cleveland Williams is always well respected by purists and part of Boxing folklore.

@BigBoysBoxing 4 ай бұрын

Great content I have already shared this around my community keep it up

@RainyDayBoxing 4 ай бұрын

Thank you for the kind words 🙏 and thank you so much for sharing it, it really means a lot!

@Michael-nj1um 4 ай бұрын

Big Cat was a badddd man!! The left hook combo reminds me of Roy Jones. In the end, he was another star croased man who deserved better. RDB, youre the best! ✌👊

@RainyDayBoxing 4 ай бұрын

Thank you for the support Michael my friend!🙏 I'm happy to bring you another story of an obscure legend 🥊

@Razah. Ай бұрын

What a great tribute to Cleveland “Big Cat” Williams ❤️

@stephonmiller6422 4 ай бұрын

Never heard of this gentleman but even Liston and Ali respected him. It’s a shame that fear can destroy someone else or there life

@garyhope3731 4 ай бұрын

Brilliant vlog .

@c.galindo9639 4 ай бұрын

With how he threw and moved he definitely built himself a cut above the rest. It took a .357 magnum to weaken his strength but still he was a good fighter with that setback. A remarkable boxer

@user-ok5 3 ай бұрын

The best channel for collecting rare information about boxers❤❤❤

@RainyDayBoxing 3 ай бұрын

Thank you for saying that! I really appreciate the support 🥊

@user-ok5 3 ай бұрын

@@RainyDayBoxing Really, man, this is the truth. It is a great effort to obtain this information

@leroiduchateau9476 27 күн бұрын

Great video as usual bro! Do you think you could make a short documentary on Roberto Duran or ? (A lower weight class fighter) please. Keep up the good work 👊🏾

@sergioartenie5604 6 күн бұрын

Cleveland Williams deserved this homage so much. Gracias, señor RDB.

@RainyDayBoxing 5 күн бұрын

Glad you enjoyed my take on Cleveland's story!

@asheru9254 4 ай бұрын

Happy New Year Champ🥊

@b17bomber 3 ай бұрын

great video!

@trimotomann653 4 ай бұрын

It should also ne noted guys that he fought professionaly at 14 and got banned once the commision found out

@gfjgcgfhcbb7483 4 ай бұрын

Real boxing Chanel

@purpgotdatwork3992 2 ай бұрын

When Sonny Liston say you hit hard, you hit hard.

@christofferthorsson607 4 ай бұрын

I've heard of cleveland williams before, though only as a passing remark in the history of ali. all I knew was that williams was a shadow of his former self after being shot. Seeing that footage of him I see what they meant.

@MrAshyb87 4 ай бұрын

Actually crazy how jealous people would get, so much so, that a cop would shoot the bloke. Same happened to Liston, suffered police harassment, though he probably gave cause.

@milojanis4901 3 ай бұрын

Jealous?? Maybe racist, but why would a cop be jealous of Cleveland Williams

@georgemendes6844 4 ай бұрын

0:19 Holy Sh*t! The size of Sonny Liston's hands! 🤯

@runningsuperska 4 ай бұрын

Cheers RDB

@OldSchoolBoxing1 4 ай бұрын

Another great video mate 👊🏻. Williams was a beast, gave a prime Liston two short but tough fights and had him hurt in both fights. Very underrated fighter, thats Listons best ever wins imo. Would love to see a Tommy Morrison, Larry Holmes, Klitchko brothers and a Jim Jeffries video in the future buddy 👌🏻.

@RainyDayBoxing 4 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed this one mate! 🙏 All of those legendary fighters are definitely on the to do list 🥊

@svp2010 9 күн бұрын

Excellent

@franciscogonzalez346 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for this gem. This is boxing.

@TheGreatestBoxing7 4 ай бұрын

Thank you so much!!!!!!!!! RDB is the goat

@RainyDayBoxing 4 ай бұрын

Happy to be able to finally share my take of Cleveland's story with you! Sorry it took a while. Thank you for the support and motivation to get it done!

@chuchu.chuchu.chuchu.chuch5577 2 ай бұрын

God bless you guys

@saspyelric791 4 ай бұрын

Welcome back! Do more boxing legends stuff

@michaelciarla3836 4 ай бұрын

I love this stuff!! 👍👍👍

@daveramses8236 4 ай бұрын

Never knew. Thanks

@Zheugma 28 күн бұрын

Great fighter, raw power ! Man, we aint making people like this no more... sad

@satchycollins3985 3 ай бұрын

Thanks

@solidmercury1 4 ай бұрын

Look at Sonny Liston Hands 🙌 & arms. He is still has the longest reach in Boxing 🥊 history.

@DonaldG-qq4ol 4 ай бұрын

Cleveland Williams did an amazing comeback and return to boxing.

@KingJachai 4 ай бұрын

Jesus.. 1:25 look how big his fist is compared to Ali’s.

@merveilmeok2416 4 ай бұрын

Great video and thank you. It is annoying that Cleveland Williams’ name wasn’t mentioned on your video while you are giving tribute to this boxer. This video would disappear in a year on KZfaq search engine in the future. Sometimes I don’t understand how people work hard to create a great video and post post it and the video disappears quickly because of the way they labeled and indexed the athlete.

@travgang 4 ай бұрын

I absolutely love these videos They bring great history back

@RainyDayBoxing 4 ай бұрын

Thank you for saying that! Glad you're enjoying them!

@anthonygrizzly6924 4 ай бұрын

He was actually bigger than Sonny Liston. Scary AF

@pandamonium7801 3 ай бұрын

Can you reupload the prime Tyson video? I love rewatching your videos during camp. That was one of my favorites

@kmyattjr 4 ай бұрын

Big cat Williams was a phenom. Shame he got hurt and had to retire prematurely

@efraindario3059 4 ай бұрын

Love this Channel 🥰

@jasonroberts9264 4 ай бұрын

So sad…. Thanks for making this video. I love all of em! Course I had heard of Cleveland Williams, and now I recall the story of him being shot, but I didn’t realize how close he was to be a world champion! He had modern day muscles! Looked like he was on steroids without steroids! Now I’d like to know more why a struggle ensued with that police officer. I can only assume he was giving Cleveland a hard time. There was a time in my life where I was 205 pounds and dropped to 154 pounds. You feel as weak as a kitten. And I wasn’t shot with a 357 magnum! What a tragedy.

@claydavis8093 4 ай бұрын

Another great video, thanks rainy day. Glad to have you back!

@RainyDayBoxing 4 ай бұрын

Thank you! Happy you enjoyed it and glad to be back 🥊

@billyray332 3 ай бұрын

Love it, we been showing #1 ManHood since the beginning of Time..

@patmartin4411 3 ай бұрын

If ole Clev were fighting today, he would undoubtedly be heavyweight champion of the world.

@ClevelandWilliamsBoxing 2 ай бұрын

Of course, tyson fury and Anthony Joshua and most fighters today can’t take a punch. While back then they fought till death

@Uptown59 3 ай бұрын

Thanks for this. It's disgusting how a person's life can be taken.

@BlackDynamite-kt5uz 4 ай бұрын

Even if Cleveland Williams never got shot, he still wouldn't have beaten Prime Ali, The Ali before he was banned was unbeatable.

@fredpierce6097 4 ай бұрын

Never knew the shooting story. Thanks.

@JamesGriffin-cl4cu 3 ай бұрын

He would give Heavyweights today major problems.

@josephschuster7181 4 ай бұрын

First time I ever heard of this great boxer. Tragic!

@DRUNKIRISHMAN-THE-TAVERN 12 күн бұрын

0:19 those are the biggest hands i ever seen 😱😱😱

@erwinvalijan 4 ай бұрын

Where can I find this soundtracks. Specifically looking for the one in Joe Louis’ video

@d.b.1858 14 күн бұрын

RIP Cleveland, 'Big Cat', Williams.

@trentphillip1701 4 ай бұрын

Cleveland Williams...comeback story Johnathan Majors... comeback story Thumbnail resemblance.... 🤔

@ScorpioIsland 4 ай бұрын

Wow, great show. Based on the title, I thought it was gonna be Sonny. Nice to see another lion given his due

@bretonbruiser9610 3 ай бұрын

Where do you get all the training footage of boxers like hagler frazier marciano and so on

@shadicalplayz8932 4 ай бұрын

2:02 The First Muhammad Ali to Throw A Combination on Sonny Liston

@HerculesFit 4 ай бұрын

Easy to see where Tyson got his style from.

@vibes1652 4 ай бұрын

Great video, should do one on the man of steel tony zale

@RainyDayBoxing 4 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it! I'll add Zale to the to do list 🥊

@Shades-of-76 4 ай бұрын

Great content, thanks & subbed 😎

@k-uno7895 3 ай бұрын

I wanna see Jersey Joe Walcott next

@Shades-of-76 4 ай бұрын

3:50 … No doubts Ali respected/feared many of his opponents but he would talk the talk about them too. I know it’s only a short clip and I could be taking out of context, but no joking around from Ali here. Respectful and seems genuinely wary of Big Cat’s threat.

@jaycostewart8 4 ай бұрын

Nicely done. Your narrative is on point too. Respect for the upload.💯👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾🔥🔥

@RainyDayBoxing 4 ай бұрын

Thank you for the kind supportive words! Much appreciated 🥊

@hosvet_animation 3 ай бұрын

It's interesting that Sonny Liston gets used as the measuring stick so often.

@beasts5850 4 ай бұрын

I have to say, no boxing channel on KZfaq could surpass RainyDayBoxing. In my opinion the two best boxing channels on KZfaq are RainyDayBoxing and Joseph Vincent. Keep up the great work! You guys will reach that 1million subs in no time. Just waiting for Muhammad Ali's documentary and a reupload or a redo Mike Tyson's.

@RainyDayBoxing 4 ай бұрын

Thank you for the very kind words, I really appreciate the support! I plan right now is for an Ali doc to be the finale of the heavyweight series 🥊 I hope to redo the Mike Tyson doc one day too, It was such a large doc though so it'll take a while!

@beasts5850 4 ай бұрын

@@RainyDayBoxing Take all the time you need. I know the wait will be worth it.

@asheru9254 4 ай бұрын

We in the boxing community appreciate these goats but there's also another channel by the name Rich The Fighting historian, there's so much gem in there, give him your attention.

@njoguszn 4 ай бұрын

W vid as always

@julianlavalley7454 4 ай бұрын

Nice short biography of his career if only we knew more about him

@burtonaka... 4 ай бұрын

Returning to boxing after that incident. At this point in time, seeing the world for what it is and especially sport in general-it is something more akin to heartbreak. It's awful.