When Cleveland “Big Cat” Williams passed away a few years back, it ended the final chapter of a story about three gifted heavyweights from the 50’s and 60’s. Williams joined Eddie Machen and Zora Folley to form a trio of hard luck boxers who met tragic deaths after a career of frustration.
Machen lost a decision to Ernie Terrell in a 1965 W.B.A. title bout. Later Eddie suffered some mental problems and eventually committed suicide. Folley who was stopped in seven by Muhammad Ali in 1967 died of injuries suffered in a poolside accident. Machen and Folley passed on several years ago. Williams lived to be 66 before being struck down by a moving vehicle. All three would finally receive their title shots long after their prime. One wonder how they would have made out if they got their chance five years earlier against Floyd Patterson. To Floyd’s credit he did win a twelve round decision over Machen in 1964, two years after he lost his crown to Sonny Liston.
Williams began his career in 1951 and won his first 27 fights, 23 by knockout. In 1954, he suffered a knockout loss to Bob Satterfield. Cleveland did not box in 1955 because he was in the Army. When he resumed his career he ran off 12 straight wins leading him to a match with the feared Sonny Liston. The two traded bombs until Sonny put over the sleeper in round two. Eleven months later they met again in another war with Sonny winning in round three.
In Cleveland’s next 22 fights he went 20-1-1 with 13 kayos. He lost a decision to Terrell and he drew with Machen. He scored victories over
Terrell, Wayne Bethea, Alex Miteff, Billy Daniels, and Tod Herring. This led to a title bout with Muhammad Ali in November of 1966. In 1965, Williams was badly injured when a patrolman shot him during a traffic stop argument. The bullet entered his stomach doing severe damage. That he was even able to fight again, is a testimony to his will and courage. The Williams that entered the ring against Ali was just a shell of his former
self. In what many feel was Ali’s best career performance, the champion dominated his aging rival. The bout was mercifully stopped in the third
round. Cleveland would never again be a major factor in the division. He lost to Bob Cleroux and and Mac Foster and served as an opponent for
upcoming fighters looking for a name on their record.
I had the opportunity to see Williams box a decent heavy weight named Ted Gullick at the old Cleveland Arena. Gullick would meet George Foreman, Earnie Shavers, and Duane Bobick during his career, but he was no match for Williams this night. Using a ramrod jab and a solid body attack, Cleveland out boxed his upstart foe to win a ten rounder. The consummate professional at work. That is how I’ll remember Cleveland Williams
I also was saddened to hear of the death of Cleveland Williams,one of the true great contenders of the 50,s and 60,s..Along with Zora Folley and Eddie Machen
I truly beleive that if Williams had been given a shot at Patterson for the title,he would have knocked Patterson out..He was too powerful and would have destroyed.him in afew rounds..Patterson was made for Williams.as was Patterson for Liston..
As jon Temple said,the Williams who fought Ali in 1966 was only a shell of the great fighter he was,,and the Ali who fought Williams showed that night that he was indeed the greatest..
They are gone now but all three,,Williams Foley and Machen have left a rich and wonderful legacy in the history of Heavyweight boxing
Mr Temple go to the archives of this site and you will see Jims article on George Chuvalo or go to FIGHTWIRE MAGAZINE and you will find an artickle in Chuvalo,,I am in Perth and just recently got the dvd on Chuvalo called THE LAST ROUND..It is truly the most wonderful documentary and it had me in tears to see his courage that would have most men giving up….I would recommend this dvd to anybody (not just Boxing fans)..rosco
I am greatly saddened about Eddie Machen. Machen was an undersized heavyweight who fought them all and was always in the fight. He was just one step under being at the top. Machen is one of those fighters who I think would have done well with a Cruiser Weight division, like there is now.
Cleveland Williams was another one of the supurb contenders that would take all comers. Unfortunately for Cleveland, what I remember about him is the fight he had with Ali, where Ali probably was at the very peak of his skills. The pre-layoff Ali to me was unbeatable and the greatest of all time.
Foley was also a fighter for the cruiserweight division. Always a contender who took on all comers, but just didn’t have the size to make it as the heavyweight champ.
Great article, I do think of Foley, Williams and Machen as a “Pro’s Pro”. Gave it all and fought them all, and were one notch below being the champ.
I am greatly saddened by the tragedies in their lives.
Another fighter who gave it his all, is alive and has the most unbelievable personal family tragedies is George Chuvalo. What a remarkable man. If there was an article about Chuvalo, I hope it gets re-printed.
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