Everyone In The 1950's Was Afraid of This Boxer

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]

He had muscles on his eye lids. - Sonny Liston

[@SurendranNambiath]

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]

Everybody has.

[@yotamdude5866]

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

[@yotamdude5866]

​@@assassindelasaucisse.4039Lol what

[@assassindelasaucisse.4039]

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

[@slowjoe0485]

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]

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

[@PicklezTV]

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

[@slowjoe0485]

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

[@noplanband3302]

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

[@slowjoe0485]

@@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]

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]

Williams was the Earnie Shavers of the 1960s.

[@bigbear990]

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]

That is to be noted before his gunshot injury

[@filiprichtr3419]

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]

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

[@brendasorto7973]

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

[@MrGG1959]

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]

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

[@MrGG1959]

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

[@ClevelandWilliamsBoxing]

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]

@@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]

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

[@crabb9966]

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]

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

[@stevenstubby8632]

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]

​@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]

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]

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

[@domenickparris7650]

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.

[@iAintSayDat]

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]

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

[@AXL664]

@@MrGG1959Cus d amato not Floyd Patterson

[@MrGG1959]

@@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]

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

[@syourke3]

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.

[@rakin7250]

One of the best boxing channels out here.

[@RainyDayBoxing]

Thank you! Appreciate the support 🥊

[@TheEonAtrocious]

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

[@alanhodgson660]

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

[@Riles3152]

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.

[@TonyqTNT]

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

[@MrAshyb87]

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

[@RainyDayBoxing]

Thank you for the love!! 🥊

[@MrAshyb87]

@@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]

@@MrAshyb87are you young?

[@battlevain]

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]

This man is an uncrowned champion.

[@KINGSTON_G]

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]

Tough times , tough people

[@BruceAChristie]

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).

[@sonracky8500]

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

[@martinh5402]

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

[@RainyDayBoxing]

Glad you enjoyed my take on Cleveland's story!

[@trimotomann653]

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]

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]

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

[@GianlucRangel]

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

[@officialidolking]

Thx for creating this. Mad respect for Cleveland Williams

[@Kal-El207]

Best Boxing Channel around. Bringing us straight classics!

[@Cdroh]

Another great video from the best fighting Channel on KZbin

[@RainyDayBoxing]

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

[@brentfoxx5385]

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

[@jamesdean1143]

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.

[@peterparsons7141]

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.

[@dpt3232]

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

[@marquismorris1548]

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

[@Razah.]

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

[@rickshannet8647]

Great video, thank you! Williams was definitely underrated.

[@Michael-nj1um]

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]

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

[@MrAshyb87]

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]

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

[@BigBoysBoxing]

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

[@RainyDayBoxing]

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

[@stephonmiller6422]

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

[@therocksolide]

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

[@user-ok5]

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

[@RainyDayBoxing]

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

[@user-ok5]

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

[@purpgotdatwork3992]

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

[@sergioartenie5604]

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

[@RainyDayBoxing]

Glad you enjoyed my take on Cleveland's story!

[@franciscogonzalez346]

Thanks for this gem. This is boxing.

[@trimotomann653]

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

[@b17bomber]

great video!

[@gfjgcgfhcbb7483]

Real boxing Chanel

[@garyhope3731]

Brilliant vlog .

[@christofferthorsson607]

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.

[@leroiduchateau9476]

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 👊🏾

[@TheGreatestBoxing7]

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

[@RainyDayBoxing]

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!

[@Zheugma]

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

[@OldSchoolBoxing1]

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]

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

[@georgemendes6844]

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

[@c.galindo9639]

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

[@anthonygrizzly6924]

He was actually bigger than Sonny Liston. Scary AF

[@asheru9254]

Happy New Year Champ🥊

[@saspyelric791]

Welcome back! Do more boxing legends stuff

[@svp2010]

Excellent

[@travgang]

I absolutely love these videos They bring great history back

[@RainyDayBoxing]

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

[@merveilmeok2416]

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 KZbin 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.

[@solidmercury1]

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

[@erwinvalijan]

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

[@chuchu.chuchu.chuchu.chuch5577]

God bless you guys

[@DonaldG-qq4ol]

Cleveland Williams did an amazing comeback and return to boxing.

[@runningsuperska]

Cheers RDB

[@michaelciarla3836]

I love this stuff!! 👍👍👍

[@pandamonium7801]

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

[@d.b.1858]

RIP Cleveland, 'Big Cat', Williams.

[@Uptown59]

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

[@daveramses8236]

Never knew. Thanks

[@efraindario3059]

Love this Channel 🥰

[@bretonbruiser9610]

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

[@patmartin4411]

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

[@ClevelandWilliamsBoxing]

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

[@satchycollins3985]

Thanks

[@KingJachai]

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

[@kmyattjr]

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

[@billyray332]

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

[@k-uno7895]

I wanna see Jersey Joe Walcott next

[@ScorpioIsland]

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

[@jasonroberts9264]

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.

[@fredpierce6097]

Never knew the shooting story. Thanks.

[@DRUNKIRISHMAN-THE-TAVERN]

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

[@BlackDynamite-kt5uz]

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

[@claydavis8093]

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

[@RainyDayBoxing]

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

[@josephschuster7181]

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

[@hosvet_animation]

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

[@trentphillip1701]

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

[@njoguszn]

W vid as always

[@thegoat6116]

Ali made him look like a bum but he was actually a great fighter✨🥊 R.I.P Cleveland williams🙏🏾🕊

[@yotamdude5866]

Why mentioning it though? Ali should not receive any tiny credit for this specific fight

[@thegoat6116]

@@yotamdude5866 yeah because most people don't know the story behind William's injury and him getting shot at etc

[@yotamdude5866]

@@thegoat6116 Yeah I mean I would not even say it that way because he got shot

[@thegoat6116]

@@yotamdude5866 exactly

[@chuckcollins2349]

Prime Ali made everyone look bad.

[@JamesGriffin-cl4cu]

He would give Heavyweights today major problems.

[@shadicalplayz8932]

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

[@beasts5850]

I have to say, no boxing channel on KZbin could surpass RainyDayBoxing. In my opinion the two best boxing channels on KZbin 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]

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]

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

[@asheru9254]

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.

[@TheTimurBaldanov]

what kind of music is on 2:06 ?

[@julianlavalley7454]

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

[@HerculesFit]

Easy to see where Tyson got his style from.

[@beans3158]

Would love to see smaller videos on other fighters like this more often

[@huladancer9682]

In the beginning of the video, anyone notice Sonny's hands? Oh my those are huge hammers!!!!

[@oldmanstrong-ish]

Excellent and interesting. Thank you for sharing 💎

[@cedricliggins7528]

Marciano would have had his hands full with Cleveland Williams

[@ClevelandWilliamsBoxing]

Yeah, especially that the Williams that got shot went toe to toe with George Chuvalo for 10 rounds

[@user-rw5ss8sq5u]

About time one of the unknown greats gets some love most people only know clev cause he got beat by Ali.....after he was shoot he came bk but he was not the same rip champ.