Muhammad Ali knocks out Cleveland Williams, 1966
A dramatic overhead shot by Neil Leifer, generally regarded as one of the greatest sporting images of all time, features the prostrate form of Cleveland Williams while Muhammad Ali strikes a victory pose during a knockdown in their 1966 title fight.
As Neil Leifer’s all-time favorite photograph, this amazing shot was captured from a camera hung on a rig 80 feet (24 meters) above the ring at the Houston Astrodome.
He correctly estimated the increased likelihood of capturing a shot of the ring from that height. With equally good fortune, he activated a remote-control camera at the right moment.
It has been said that it’s the only photo Neil Leifer took himself that is hanging in his house, also he regards this as his favorite photograph from a 40-year professional career.
This angle and that this was taken at that exact moment, makes this an amazing picture. There were probably many photos taken in the several minutes leading up to that moment, increasing the odds of achieving such a shot.
Professional photography takes a lot of planning and while happy accidents do happen, a shot like this shouldn’t blow you away with the timing but with the preparation.
This was probably a matter of getting up in the perch, getting ready for your exposure, and just waiting for Ali to do what Ali did best. Timing this shot was probably the least involved thing the photographer did.
Williams had been inactive the entire year of 1965 while recovering from gunshot wounds he suffered at the hands of a police officer arising out of a traffic stop.
Boxing reporter Jerry Izenberg adds “…shot for no apparent reason”. Williams was shot with a .357 Magnum in the abdomen, barely survived, and suffered permanent kidney damage, a loss of over ten feet of his small intestine, and nerve damage from the bullet which affected his left leg above the knee, causing it to atrophy as a result.
Williams didn’t however bear the policeman any malice. Some thought he had resisted arrest on suspected drunk driving.
It was in the above greatly diminished physical condition that Williams fought for the heavyweight championship against Muhammad Ali on November 14, 1966 and was stopped in the third round.
Williams retired from boxing after the Ali bout, but later made a comeback. Although able to defeat journeymen fighters, he suffered several knockout losses before retiring for good in 1972.
Williams finished his career with a record of 78 wins (58 KOs), 13 losses, and 1 draw. In 2003, he was ranked 49th in Ring Magazine’s list of 100 greatest punchers of all time.
Ring Magazine in the 1980s reported he drove a forklift truck later for a while as a job. In 1999, Cleveland Williams was killed in a hit-and-run accident.
Other Historical Photos of Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali dodges a punch from Joe Frazier at the “Fight of the Century”March 8, 1971.
On 15 September 1978 Ali defeats Leon Spinks at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans to win the world heavyweight boxing title for the third time in his career, the first fighter ever to do so. Following his victory, Ali retired from boxing, only to make a brief comeback two years later.
A quick and homespun bit of showmanship which made for a striking photograph, 1963. Ali had been accused of being a loud-mouth for always predicting when he would beat his opponents. He needed no words and just two props to fashion a comic response to such criticism.
February 01, 1964. Black Muslim leader Malcolm X standing behind tux-clad Cassius Clay (now Muhammad Ali), who is surrounded by jubilant fans after he beat Sonny Liston for the heavyweight championship of the world.
September 05, 1960. The winners of the 1960 Olympic medals for light heavyweight boxing on the winners’ podium at Rome: Cassius Clay (now Muhammad Ali).
This image of Ali and George Foreman, taken before Ali’s second fight with Jerry Quarry in 1970.
Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) spars with challenger Floyd Patterson during the World Heavyweight Championship fight. Clay won the fight with a technical knockout in the 12th round. 25th November 1965.
Challenger Muhammad Ali watches as defending world champion George Foreman goes down to the canvas in the eighth round of their WBA/WBC championship match in Kinshasa, Zaire, which is now known as the Republic of Congo, Oct. 30, 1974.
Muhammad Ali sitting on a Million Dollars, 1963. Photograph: Howard Bingham.
Multiple exposure portrait of Muhammad Ali demonstrating “Ali Double-Clutch Shuffle” during a photo shoot at Life Studios. New York, New York. December 30, 1966. Photograph: Neil Leifer.
Muhammad Ali sits in the back seart of a car with an unidentified man and holds up eight fingers for the camera, Louisville, Kentucky, 1963. Photograph: James Drake.
February 25, 1964. Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali) jumps for joy after winning the world heavyweight boxing title from fellow American Sonny Liston at Miami Beach, Florida. Liston retired at the start of the seventh round of the scheduled fifteen round contest. Ali rushes around the ring, screaming ‘I am the greatest!’.
Sammy Davis Jr gets some pointers from Muhammad Ali in January 1965, in Manhattan, New York, after the comedian had performed a show.
Heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali stands over fallen challenger Sonny Liston, shouting and gesturing shortly after dropping Liston with a short hard right to the jaw on May 25, 1965, in Lewiston, Maine.
