58 years ago
Muhammad Ali vs Cleveland Williams
Date: 14th November 1966
Venue: Astrodome, Houston, Texas, USATitle: WBC World Heavyweight Title
Promoter: Earl Gilliam
Referee: Harry Kessler
Tv: Closed Circuit Television
Muhammad Ali
(
26
-
0
-
0
)
Weight: 212 3/4 lbs
Cleveland Williams
(
67
-
5
-
1
)
Weight: 210 1/2 lbs
The November 14, 1966, heavyweight title defense at Houston's Astrodome marked a pivotal moment in boxing history. The event drew 35,460 spectators—a record indoor crowd at the time. Muhammad Ali, the defending champion, faced Cleveland "Big Cat" Williams in what would become one of his most technically brilliant performances.
The bout carried extra weight, given Williams' remarkable journey to the ring. Less than two years prior, he had survived a near-fatal police shooting that required multiple surgeries, including the removal of a kidney. A bullet remained lodged in his hip, affecting his mobility. Despite this, Williams had mounted an impressive comeback, winning four straight fights before challenging Ali.
The fight itself was devastatingly one-sided. Ali, a 5-1 favourite, introduced his famous "Ali Shuffle" during the contest while landing an extraordinary 62% of his power shots. Williams managed to connect with just 10 punches total. The second round proved particularly brutal, with Williams suffering three knockdowns before being saved by the bell.
The end came at 1:08 of the third round. After Williams mounted a brave but futile attack, Ali responded with precise combinations that left his opponent bloodied and turned away from the action, prompting referee Harry Kessler's intervention.
The financial details reflected boxing's growing commercial appeal: $461,290 gate revenue, with Ali receiving 50% of gate and ancillary rights while Williams earned 20% and 14%, respectively. The bout reached 125 closed-circuit locations across America and 46 international markets.
Howard Cosell would later declare it Ali's finest hour, while a young Mike Tyson cited it as his favourite Ali performance. The statistics support their assessment. CompuBox numbers reveal a masterclass in precision punching that many consider Ali's technical abilities the apex at age 24.
When the stoppage occurred, all three judges had scored the brief contest identically, 20-16 for Ali, though their scoring proved academic given the decisive nature of the champion's victory.
Muhammad Ali vs Cleveland Williams on YouTube
