8 Muhammad Ali Opponents Who Suffered Tragic Fates

In a sport full of icons, no name looms larger than that of Louisville, Kentucky native Muhammad Ali.

Ali’s accomplishments in the boxing ring, combined with his political activism, made him both a popular and controversial figure during his lifetime.

Moreover, his wins over boxing legends like George Foreman, Sonny Liston, and his bitter rival Joe Frazier are why he is considered to be among the greatest boxers of all-time.

While Ali went on to become a sporting icon; many of the men he shared the ring with were not so fortunate. In fact, a number of Ali’s opponent would go on to suffer terrible hardships during, as well as after their boxing careers had ended.

It may be difficult to imagine, but men who competed against one of the most famous athletes ever went on to perish in relative obscurity or even disappeared altogether.

These pugilists suffered some of the most horrible fates that any professional athlete has ever had to endure.

The following tales serve as a reminder that fame can be fleeting and tragedy can strike at any moment.

Cleveland “Big Cat” Williams was a 6-foot-3 power puncher who was thought to be a future heavyweight title holder during his prime in the 1950s. The former champion Sonny Liston claimed that Williams was the hardest puncher he had ever been in the ring with.

Tragedy struck Williams even before his bout with Ali, when he was shot by a police officer after being pulled over for speeding in 1964. The officer claimed that he was resisting arrest. Following the incident, Williams underwent numerous operations to repair both his colon and right kidney; nearly dying on the operating table on more than one occasion.

The heavyweight contender was able to make a full recovery and returned to boxing in February of 1966. He was even able to win 4 consecutive fights and earn himself a shot at Muhammad Ali’s World Heavyweight Championship.

The bout between Muhammad Ali and Cleveland Williams took place on November 14, 1966, at the Houston Astrodome. Ali thoroughly dominated the fight knocking Williams down 4 times, before ultimately winning the contest via TKO early in the 3rd round.

The cash-strapped “Big Cat” would go on to box for another 6 years; though he never fought for the world title again. When he arrived in Denver, Colorado for his final bout in October of 1972, he was carrying his gear in a cardboard suitcase which was held together by an electrical cord.

In the years following his retirement, Williams struggled with kidney issues which resulted in regular hospital visited. Following one of his visits, he was involved in a hit and run accident while crossing the street in 1999. Sadly, the injuries he suffered from the impact proved to be fatal.

Cleveland Williams was 66 years of age when he tragically perished.