Muhammad Ali vs Cleveland Williams | BLACK HISTORY MONTH FREE FIGHT | The Debut of the Ali Shuffle

As we continue our celebration of Black History Month, look back at this free fight between #MuhammadAli and Cleveland Williams from 1966. In this fight Ali debuted the #AliShuffle in this 3 rd TKO victory.
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[@albertelazar4069]

You can watch boxing for a 1,000 years, and never see another boxer fight with so much beauty, speed, and grace, like Muhammad Ali showed here!

[@mr.onehittaquitta1578]

This is jus beautiful. How Ali just prances Around so effortlessly and smooth. We’ll never see another heavyweight so smooth again

[@gatormike1434]

My favorite athlete of all time. RIP Ali.

[@maxharris4208]

My favourite human being of all time, outside of my immediate family ofc!

[@CustomizedUsername]

A heavyweight that could move his feet like a featherweight and with the hand speed of a lightweight. Conventional boxing teaches hands up, chin down, and move forward. Ali kept his hands down, chin up, and moved backwards. The first to use the”heel” approach in boxing. He would correctly predict the rounds he’d win the fight in. The legendary quotes. He transcends boxing. 🐐

[@tyrese5432]

The Greatest of All Time 👑 🐐

[@thegoat6116]

this ali would beat any heavyweight in history

[@alejandroanaya6142]

Not larry holmes lol

[@brucescott4261]

@@alejandroanaya6142 ...Yes, he would have!

[@kkaled8268]

@@alejandroanaya6142 Larry Holmes was a worse version of Ali.

[@thecomet6579]

Ali was untouchable during this time and we never got to see the Greatest in his prime because of the almost four-years exile. Shameful act by the U.S. government.

[@sdpino5229]

What ???

[@mr.onehittaquitta1578]

It’s hard to say anyone could beat this Ali…

[@ATATURKdusmanlarininAMK_NJ]

No 1 abviously

[@freddiemanueljimenez829]

I grow up watching Ali and he is the greatest heavyweight ever of all times. The one and only mahamad Ali best ever.RIP MR. Ali.

[@alover466]

thats the Greatest heavyweight of all times right there in his prime

[@bobbyd1478]

🌊 Cleveland Williams was 9 years older and couldn't train properly the entire year because he was in a hospital after a .357 magnum bullet hit him point blank in the stomach then lodged in his right hip. Williams had to undergo four operations in the next seven months. Williams right kidney 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, he also lost over 10 feet of his small intestine, and sustained nerve damage which affected his left leg above the knee and caused it to atrophy as a result. Williams hung on and survived, his weight went down to 150 lbs during his recovery stage. A shadow of himself, 10 feet of intestines and one kidney removed, limping with nerve and hip damages, he was a physical and mental wreck but needed the money. The Texans in the boxing business knew Williams had virtually no chance against Ali. But it was Williams one-shot at the title, so he took it. Ignoring any and all facts, his fans stand firm in their beliefs that Ali was Magical the night he fought Cleveland, striking him like ⚒️ THOR ⚒️ and moving around with the speed of⚡FLASH⚡. Some eyewitnesses even swore it looked as if Ali was floating on top of 🌊 WATER 🌊 . Ali was faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, Ali was Super 🦇 Man. It was a vomit inducing display of point and shoot for Mahomud, probably the low point in Ali's heavyweight run. Image if Ali had been gut-shot with .357 magnum and almost died 4 times on the operating table, and was fighting a year or so later? Replace washed-up much older half-man Williams with healthy young 25 year olds 240+ lb Super Heavyweight Prime Lennox Lewis or Riddick Bowe and we all would have witnessed the real authentic Low-Power Ali running around like a scared jackrabbit on 🔥 terrified to engage as usual.

[@alover466]

@@bobbyd1478 what about Ali liston 1 ???

[@bobbyd1478]

From the book "The Real Story Behind the Ali-Liston Fights": "During the first Liston-Ali fight at the Convention Hall in Miami Beach on February 25, 1964, Sonny had a bad left shoulder. He had gone to see Joe Louis' doctor who treated him for bursitis, but there wasn't enough time for the treatment to work. Sonny was around 45 years old at the time, which was a well kept secret. His oldest sister wrote he was born 1919 a year after the Great War (world war I). He asked the Florida Boxing Commission for a postponement of the fight. He was turned down and fought the six rounds with the damaged left shoulder, which he completely tore up during the fight.

[@bobbyd1478]

Sports Illustrated writer Tex Maule wrote that Liston's shoulder injury was legitimate. He cited medical evidence: "A team of eight doctors inspected Liston's arm at St. Francis Hospital in Miami Beach and agreed that it was too badly damaged for Liston to continue fighting. The torn tendon had bled down into the mass of the biceps, swelling and numbing the arm." Those findings were confirmed in a formal investigation immediately after the fight by Florida State Attorney Richard Gerstein, who also noted that there was little doubt that Liston went into the fight with a sore or lame shoulder.

[@bobbyd1478]

Sonny Liston 1965-05-25 215 lbs World Heavyweight title From the book "The Real Story Behind the Ali-Liston Fights" "In the second fight at St. Dominic’s Hall in Lewiston, Maine, on May 25, 1965 a really bizarre situation developed. According to Gallender, Malcolm X's people had a hit out on Ali (Ali sided with the rival Elijah Muhammad). Elijah's Black Muslims kidnapped Liston's wife and son. Sonny was told to lose the fight to Ali or he would never see his family again! The fight lasted one round with Liston going down from the famous 'Phantom Punch'." Argh. This incompetent SOB of a referee. Worst decision of all time. Obviously Liston's age (20+ years older than Ali) wasn't enough to secure Ali a win. Liston's kids had to be kidnapped by Ali's friends (Nation of Islam) and the referee had to be bribed so that Ali can keep his title. Lowest crowd in history (2000) of all heavyweight title fights. This era is disgusting. Ali won both Liston fights. It's just nice to understand why and how they were predetermined illegitimate wins. Additionally Foreman knows Ali's trainer definitely manipulated (loosened) the ropes and claims he was poisoned: "I almost spit it out … [I told my trainer] 'Man, I know this water has medicine in it'" "I climbed into the ring with that medicinal taste still lingering in my mouth" "It was years before I got my health back together" -- George Foreman

[@iknowimright4037]

The Honorable Muhammad Ali!!!! 💯

[@thejay3804]

🙌🙌🙌

[@ausgepicht]

What made Ali so great was his technical flexibility. He trapped Williams in his own rigid style. Williams couldn't adapt and his style was to come forward and smash. Instead of realizing that he needed a different tactic or approach he stubbornly clinged to it. He couldn't adapt, change, learn on the fly. Ali could and could do it effortlessly.

[@rickgladden4320]

Yes indeed!

[@skeptic2525]

Ali keeps circling left, which is the opposite of what is usually taught because you're moving right into an orthodox fighter's power. The one time Ali circles right, he gets caught with a left hook. Doesn't do it again.

[@evnstvn58]

Big, Strong, Fast, Agility, Ability, of hand and foot...Gracefulness, Snap, Crackle and Pop for a Heavyweight...Haven't seen it since!

[@albertogordodoblajes2355]

El mejor de todos los tiempos en su mejor momento aquí Ali era invencible

[@theartoffighting879]

Masterpiece..

[@spencerantoniomarlen-starr3069]

I came here to say the same thing! I was gonna say a Virtuoso Performance, but this is close enough for me

[@wainerollins2587]

The best the world ever saw Ali. Just imagine how much better he would have become had he been allowed to fight from 1967 - 1970? PS: He did his shuffle in the 1960 Olympics, so this fight was not its debut.

[@felicecancellara4524]

This was the best boxer ever, and Williams was not a joke

[@natedoggg2002]

This was Muhammad Ali at his Greatest! 🔥

[@thejay3804]

And Ali hadn't even reached his full prime yet.

[@tom11zz884]

Williams was a tremendous puncher too, and Ali made it look easy

[@Ken-Oh.]

No heavyweight in history can defeat prime Ali, no one. i think, the one who it would have more chances to defeat him, it would be prime Liston (remember that Ali fought a past prime Liston, probably almost 40 years old).

[@onlyrog5]

Easy to say since he missed 3 years of his career 🙄

[@richardalexander4300]

@@onlyrog5 I agree !! He was ROBBED!! He was a great fighter in more ways than one !!!!

[@billthestinker]

Agree, Ali had unnatural speed and reflexes, unfortunately after his forced layoff of 3.5 years he was not the same fighter

[@douglaswalters2670]

185 lbs Cooper would have beat him if not for his corner cheating. Stop spreading bs myth.

[@Ken-Oh.]

@@douglaswalters2670 it was a good shot, but Ali was dazed, do you really think is knockout? he got up almost instantly even if the round dont finish. 185 lbs? yes sure, because 1,5 kilos of difference is too much, stop saying stupidities

[@Blackplumber333]

Ali's power is beautiful 😍

[@jamessanders9697]

That is one of the top fights I have ever seen. Top 5

[@jamalmohamed3400]

No boxer can entertain like Ali.....

[@JetseTurner]

Right On!✊🏿

[@BOXEATTITUDE]

La légende incontestable !

[@Mike20216]

Ali at his supreme best was a glorious sight

[@mrgonzalez4583]

Beautiful first round for Ali 🐐

[@FcxSoccer]

Legendary 👊👊

[@yorimayotv6574]

UN GRANDE ENTRE LOS GRANDES !!

[@HeartsPT]

THE GREATEST!!!!

[@marcusgarvin7919]

Ali power is underrated

[@victorygaming4960]

Hands down the most complete heavyweight ever 66-67 ALI the best boxer ever

[@miguelsilveira4904]

estas si eran peleas

[@brucescott4261]

ALI WAS NOT IN HIS PRIME. IT WAS ILLEGALLY TAKEN AWAY FROM HIM ON APRIL 28TH, 1967.

[@howieloso6241]

Wasn't this fight in 66 so that'd be in his prime

[@brucescott4261]

@howieloso6241 ...Ali's prime years occurred when he was in exile (1967-1970).​

[@dregothandsss5805]

🐐

[@yourroyalhighness7662]

An incredible display by Ali in his absolute prime. If only THIS version could have faced the great Joe Frazier and the game Ken Norton. I think this was Ali’s greatest (no pun intended)fight. Cleveland Williams was a shell of his former self. He had even been shot by a cop who used a .357 on him if my memory is correct. Still, Mr. Williams was corageous as hell.

[@brucescott4261]

Your Royal Highness ...Ali was not in his prime. It was illegally taken away from him on April 28th, 1967.

[@howieloso6241]

He had some atrophy of the muscle below the hip above the knee due to the bullet wound and some of the bullet remain there

[@lionjmh]

WoW👍

[@steadfasttherenowned2460]

I love how the old-school referees tended to be plump and stocky back in the days before my existence.

[@tvatika5841]

الاسطورة محمد علي كلاي💯

[@ismaelabdulah232]

Salam to all, only Mohammad Ali a heavy weight boxer can move like a flyweight. Sukran

[@spencerantoniomarlen-starr3069]

Joe Rogan sent me here, said this was Ali's best performance and Jesus Christ was he right!

[@shadicalplayz8932]

8:32 - 8:55 - 9:14 - 10:44

[@shadicalplayz8932]

8:30 - 8:50 - 9:12 - 10:37

[@agustinmorales5419]

imagine Tyson Fury vs this Ali , Fury wouldn't do shit.

[@biff408]

Poor Cleveland - only got a title opportunity after he was shot by a deputy sheriff resulting in near death and a removal of a kidney - was only a shell of himself which was the reason they did the fight - to show Ali in the best possible light.

[@jessejordache1869]

Huh. Why did George Foreman fight him, then?

[@howieloso6241]

I think it was 33 at this fight so he was passed his prime certainly and I'm sure certain All the troubles he had with that bullet definitely taken away from his ability

[@Treebot1]

he beat his ass unmerciful

[@rickallen8158]

For those who will say I'm an Ali basher after reading this, let me say I was for Ali in every fight he had starting with the 1st Liston fight; he was a great fighter, maybe the greatest, that would have been better proven if we had seen him in his best years but we didn't due to his exile from the ring for 3 years and 7 months. So for this fight only, and for those who think this was Ali at his best, let's look at the facts and take a look at who the opponent was: At the very end of '64 (Nov. 29th) Big Cat Williams was shot by a Texas Hi-Way Patrolman, the .357 bullet went through his stomach and lodged in his right hip. Doctors could never extract the bullet, which was still in him when he had this fight with Ali. The bullet had broken his right hip joint and caused partial paralysis of some of the hip's muscles. Williams underwent four operations over the subsequent seven months to address injuries to his colon and right kidney, Ultimately, the right kidney had to be removed in June 1965 and 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. Still think fighting this opponent is a measuring stick of Ali's greatness?

[@evnstvn58]

After round 1, the announcer said Ali was born on January 17,1941...WRONG... he was born on January 17, 1942.

[@bobbytheblade2550]

What a mauling!

[@DreDaDon16]

Alil adnitted that this wasn't the Cleveland Williams he was before taking that bullrt in the stomach

[@tyronefrye4706]

Bruh Ali was bad man but seein dis can't help but wonder how he do wit Tyson u seen him gus dimatto seen like his style works would of love to c him live woulda been incredible da champ is here no cap lol stay safe RIP Bob Saget Betty White Sidney Poitier BLM God bless stop all dis hate checkout The Main Squeeze 🙏

[@alover466]

watch Ali vs floyd patterson 1 He also used peek a boo style coz he was trained by Cus Damoto

[@douglaswalters2670]

Tyson would have Ali on a stretcher within 4 rounds. See what 185 lbs Cooper did to him with a left hook.

[@alover466]

@@douglaswalters2670 😂 sure buddy 😂 in ur dreams or should i say imagination

[@douglaswalters2670]

@@alover466 You are the epitome of a casual lol

[@alover466]

@@douglaswalters2670 lol ok buddy

[@warrendavis3492]

He is just the best to do it ever Lenox lewis Mike Tyson who ever u know what iam saying

[@robertogodoy4779]

Is that Don King behind Ali at 15 minutes?

[@brucescott4261]

Roberto Godoy ...No.

[@Ghost_Lap]

Ali at his peak was artistry in motion.

[@mrgonzalez4583]

They picked that foo up after being knocked out at the end round 2

[@david.amuiki]

How tf Terrence Crawford isnt in this if shakur is wtf??

[@douglaswalters2670]

Because Crawford is a dumbass who stuffed up his own career and is now suing a j*w for money lol

[@theonewhoisbetterthanyou3570]

*L E G E N D*

[@zelimborziev1212]

Ноги быстрые

[@matthew-jy5jp]

I love how people show this fight and brag how good are Lee looked against someone who literally had bullets still in his body from being shot by the police, what a way to support Black History Month. So remember when you tell your tale of Muhammad Ali just remember to tell everyone that the fight he looks so good in was against a man who was almost killed by the police

[@clevelandwilliams5922]

No off course no mention of what took place to Williams only Ali because he became famous obtained titles and so on. Williams was a footnote and was meant to remain in that place forever because his story and struggles are never mentioned.

[@ALLCITY73]

Ref should've stopped this fight at the end of the 2nd round

[@class1sportzers337]

to be fair to Williams he was way past his prime and had an injured back.

[@chrisperry9460]

Cleveland Williams fought like sissy Sox he made Ali look like he was on soul train

[@saneldelic211]

Why so much booing

[@iessataha8095]

هذه الضربات السريعه مثل ضربات الامام علي في معرك النبي الاعظم ضد الكفار

[@seandafny]

Hooking off the jab to the body and pivoting out all in one motion and people think he could be beat lol this not even his real prime . Nah bra

[@cheezesmoker8851]

Top rank making it about race 🤡

[@Fmancillaz]

Always the same crap.

[@ssminowjohnson9687]

Oh you a snowflake ❄️ 😂.

[@ssminowjohnson9687]

@@Fmancillaz cry or don't watch it insecure clown 🤡 😢😂

[@scottfree2929]

These guys are fighting for money.

[@bateristajuly2161]

Lo hizo cagada😅

[@reoscorpio]

All of the critics like to look at this PRIME performance of ALI's and say "yeah, but Cleveland Williams was damaged goods".. Ok, true that.. But.. i just focus on the skills ALI displayed.. & no matter WHO he was fighting.. those skills that you see are Supreme and Hella'fied .. How many times do you see someone with that combination of footwork, ring IG, speed and coordination, knocking someone down while moving BACKWARDS.. ??? & i also would like to add (no disrespect).. BUT ALI did not shoot Cleveland Williams.. & ALI did not tell Cleveland Williams to come back into the ring after getting damaged. So you deal with whats there.. Because if ALI didn't deal with him, then it would have made it easier for Cleveland Williams to deal with ALI.. Just like Larry Holmes did when ALI came back when he shouldn't have..

[@class1sportzers337]

I love Ali but I think anyone would've looked this good against a washed up Williams fighting because he really needed the money. Now Ali did put up a similar performance against against a prime Ken Norton in their second match. That was much more spectacular since prime Ken Norton really was no joke.

[@reoscorpio]

@@class1sportzers337 again, i'm talking about the Skill set ALI showed.. regardless of who he was fighting. Not how "good" he looked against Williams. After ALI it took 2 years and 7 fights before anyone else beat Cleveland Williams.. So Williams wasn't as dead as everyone likes to suggest.. & ALI vs Norton 2.. is not comparable.. ALI didn't knock Norton out. That fight was more competitive and went to the wire. Up until the 12 round it was a toss up.. Where either one could have gotten the decision

[@ascendediam]

@@reoscorpio lunatic

[@ascendediam]

@@reoscorpio follower

[@douglaswalters2670]

The most overrated HW of all time beating on an old man that had half his intestine removed 6 months earlier due to a gun wound.

[@brucescott4261]

Douglas Walters ...According to you!

[@cross6490]

Ali overrated? 😂😂 Casual

[@douglaswalters2670]

@@cross6490 Says the casual 🙈 185 lbs Cooper knocked Ali on his ass.

[@class1sportzers337]

The most underrated keyboard warrior of all time hating on a dead man who that can't defend himself.

[@douglaswalters2670]

@@class1sportzers337 Lmao fanboy framing “truth” as “hate”… Keep coping!

[@maddawg7134]

Make sure we get LOMA for white history month.. From all those who call him the great "white" hope.. Can't be a hype job they gotta throw white in there

[@atheistleopard6081]

im not impressed. i have excellent speed. i'd have put him away in the first minute.

[@robcarter55]

Wanted to watch the right but "black history month" give me a break . So racist

[@gabbyh0tgirl-c0me0verlve4]

El mejor de todos los tiempos en su mejor momento aquí Ali era invencible