Another great book about Henry Cooper, Henry Cooper: A Boxing Knight, by Ralph Oates. Henry Cooper was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in the 2000 New Year Honours for his services to boxing and charity work. He became the first-ever British boxer to receive a knighthood and the title of "Sir".
"European heavyweight champion Henry Cooper, 189, showed how he towers above his European rivals Thursday night by scoring a 5th round knockout over Italian challenger Piero Tomasoni. It was more of a brawl than a boxing match. Cooper went down twice. Tomasoni, 189 1/2, also went down twice. And both men crashed to the canvas in the 4th round. A crowd of 7,000 jeered, cheered and heaved fruit and bread rolls into the ring in the 4th when the 31 year old Tomasoni was cautioned for hitting low. Referee Ben Brill of the Netherlands was forced to delay action for a few moments to clean up the ring. Cooper, 34, said all three shots that hurt him were low. The blow that ended Tomasoni's third bid for the European title was a short left jab to the jaw. Cooper threw it in the first minute of the 5th round, and Tomasoni went down like a man clubbed. He rolled onto his side as Brill counted him out. At the end, Cooper was ahead slightly on points, but with Tomasoni throwing wild haymakers anything was possible." -United Press International
That left hook was no joke, one of the most devastating in the history of the business, it was indeed a hammer. Henry Cooper knocked out Joe Erskine in the 12th round of their November 17, 1959, British and Commonwealth heavyweight title fight at Earls Court Arena using "Enry's Hammer". Cooper landed a massive, powerful left hook (and a subsequent left uppercut/hook combination) in the 12th round that left Erskine completely unconscious or "out to the world" before he even hit the canvas. The impact catapulted Erskine backward through the ropes, leaving him draped or arched backwards over the bottom rope like a giant violin bow with his head resting on the ring apron.
All due respect to Bruno, Hatton and AJ but Henry Cooper is Britain’s most-loved boxer and new statue is perfect salute
By: Colin Hart
Published: 22:30, 15 Aug 2019
THE corner of Randlesdown Road and Bromley Road in Bellingham can’t exactly be described as a fashionable London address.
Yet that particular nondescript location in Lewisham is about to become the home to one of British boxing’s most symbolic landmarks.
Sir Henry Cooper is the only fighter ever to have a received a knighthood.
He was the first to floor Muhammad Ali.
Henry Cooper’s statue will be unveiled in Bellingham in October
Because the long-awaited statue of Sir Henry Cooper — the only fighter ever to have received a knighthood — will be unveiled there on October 12.
And John Conteh, former world light-heavyweight champion and one of Cooper’s best pals, will have the honour of unveiling it.
Cooper, who grew up in that area of ‘Sarf London’, reigned as British heavyweight champion from 1959 to 1971 and won three Lonsdale Belts outright.
They are records that will never be broken.
Known as Our ’Enery, there hasn’t been anyone who laced on a pair of gloves held in more affection by the British public.
With all due respect to men like Frank Bruno, Ricky Hatton and now Anthony Joshua, Cooper — who had his last fight 48 years ago — remains a national institution and he’s been dead since 2011.
He never allowed his fame to go to his head and he was just as popular with men, women and children who never even saw him fight.
Warm-hearted outside the ropes, he possessed down-to-earth Cockney charm, great integrity, and his priorities were his family and raising money for charity.
Cooper, who died aged 76, was for a long time Europe’s best heavyweight.
His greatest moment came when his feared left hook — ’Enery’s ’Ammer — exploded on loudmouth Cassius Clay’s chin and dumped him on the canvas.
That punch landed 56 years ago at Wembley Stadium but Henry’s army of fans have never forgotten the moment that nearly changed the course of boxing history.
Clay survived, became Muhammad Ali and won the world title eight months later. That was the beginning of a remarkable friendship between Cooper and Ali, born out of mutual respect.
Whenever I bumped into Ali afterwards he always asked me: “How’s Henry Cooper doing?”
Carl Payne, the award-winning sculptor, has done Henry proud.
He allowed me a preview of Henry’s statue before it was cast in bronze. It’s nearly 8ft tall, weighs more than 30 stone and the likeness to Cooper is uncanny.
It has cost more than £100,000 and — if it was not for Carl’s philanthropy plus the generosity and dedication of members of London’s Ex-Boxers Association — this project would never have got off the ground.
Cooper’s statue deserves to be a special attraction in one of central London’s parks or squares. But the bureaucrats at City Hall and Westminster didn’t want to know. So beautiful down-town Bellingham it is.
If Our ’Enery had been asked, he probably would have wanted to stand among his own — as he didn’t want to make a fuss.
Isiah "Ike" Williams is up next, one of the greatest lightweights in history. Known by the nickname "Trenton Tornado", he won the NBA World Lightweight Championship in April 1945 by knocking out Juan Zurita and became the undisputed world lightweight champion in August 1947 after knocking out Bob Montgomery. Ike Williams was a complete, technically brilliant boxer-puncher. I'll let Manassa from boxingforum24.com explain just what kind of fighter Ike Williams was, this is brilliantly written, the kind of stuff that gets me off.
"Williams' knockout record is very deceptive; it's not that he wasn't much of a puncher, but that he was a very good boxer. He didn't always need to knock his opponents out.
But he always hurt them, particularly to the body, and he was a feared fighter during his time. Williams could turn suddenly like a rabid wolf and tear his foe to shreds. His punching ability was awesome when in full flight; his knockout of the swarming Jose Gatica is perhaps the best finish I've ever seen. It was a classic case of the veteran champion putting the over-eager challenger in his place - on his arse.
Williams was mean. He didn't ever not look for the knockout, but he didn't always chase it either; he was a clever fighter, you see, and wouldn't over-exert himself to induce concussion. But when the opportunity arose, there was no escape.
"That Ike Williams was a destroyer. He will destroy you" - Beau Jack.
Williams was such a well rounded performer; he was like a lighter, more nimble and explosive version of Joe Louis. The jab was versatile; it could be either pawing or thudding. The right hand was slashing and the left hook was a grenade. The uppercuts contained full pivot and lift, and most evil of all were Williams' rib shots. He didn't dedicate himself to the body like a Joe Frazier, but his sharpshooting downstairs was every bit as damaging.
"Ike Williams hit harder than Ray Robinson. He was lifting me off the floor with some of those shots" - Carmen Basilio.
I've also seen Johnny Bratton, an accomplished welterweight, have his jaw smashed by the lightweight Williams and become totally overwhelmed by the latter's assault. Williams carried his power with him as he fought the heavier fighters.
But that's just the punching. Williams was a top boxer on the retreat as well, or he could pressure his man and outpoint him that way, as seen in the second Enrique Bolanos fight. Williams stalked, pressured, took his time and outjabbed the jabber. He slipped punches, always hit solidly and cut off the ring. Williams was solid as well - when Bolanos hit him, it was like shooting at a tank with a 9mm handgun."
We'll start off with my favorite Ike Williams card, the 1947-66 Exhibit Supply Company - Ike Williams. This card has two different variations, the Ike Williams variation and the Slug (Williams) variation.
I actually own the original type 1 photo for the 1947-66 Exhibit Supply Company - Ike Williams, Slug (Williams) card. I ran across it on eBay one day and said "holy crap, that's the photo that was used for the image on my favorite Ike Williams card", and I was all over it like ants on a picnic.
"Ike Williams hit harder than Ray Robinson. He was lifting me off the floor with some of those shots" - Carmen Basilio.
That iconic quote from hall-of-famer Carmen Basilio, is the ultimate testament to the terrifying power of Ike Williams.
What makes this statement so incredible is that Sugar Ray Robinson is widely considered the greatest pound-for-pound fighter in boxing history, possessing legendary, concussive power himself. Yet, Basilio—one of the toughest, most iron-jawed fighters to ever step into the ring—felt that Williams' leverage and body punching were uniquely devastating. Basilio shared the ring with both men during the golden era of boxing. Ike Williams also knocked down the iron-jawed Kid Gavilan in 1948. During their first meeting on February 27, 1948, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, Williams dropped Kid Gavilan with a right cross to the jaw in the 8th round just before the bell rang, and Gavilan got up at the count of eight before Williams went on to win by a unanimous decision. Gavilan was only knocked down twice in his 143-fight career, the other knockdown was at the hands of one Carmen Basilio.
1955: Fantomen Comic - Masters of the Ring - Ike Williams. I'm not saying it is for sure, but this could be the photo that was used for the art on this card. On the back of the card, it talks about Ike Williams losing his lightweight title to Jimmy Carter in 1951 and the art on the card looks like he just suffered a loss. This is a photo of Ike Williams in his dressing room after the loss to Carter.
Let's get some photos of the great Ike Williams in here. He was a genuinely frightening puncher when he wanted to be, or should I say when he was allowed to be. He was controlled by the mob, Philadelphia mobster Blinky Palermo was his manager. He was often told to go easy on his opponents or outright lose for the sake of mob gambling profits. Here is a photo of Ike Williams with Blinky Palermo (far right) after a fight.
But like I said, Ike Williams was a genuinely frightening puncher, one of the most feared ever, the combination of speed, power, and ferociousness. Like Manassa pointed out in my earlier post, he could change on a dime to a rabid animal and tear his opponent apart. Case in point, his fight with Beau Jack in 1948. Watch him go off on Jack at the end of the video, a chilling display of offensive firepower.
Here are a few photos from that fight in the video above, which took place on July 12, 1948 at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. This photo shows Ike Williams driving his left hand into Beau Jack's head.
This is a photo of Ike Williams dropping the iron-chinned Kid Gavilan in 1948, the first time Gavilan had ever been knocked down, the first of only two knockdowns in Gavilan's 143-fight career. Epic photos of a very rare site.
Lightweight champion Ike Williams almost sends challenger Jesse Flores to the canvas multiple times in their 1948 fight at Yankee Stadium, won by Williams on a 10th round TKO.
Ike Williams KO's Jose Gatica in Trenton, New Jersey, in 1951. Williams dropped Gatica three times in the opening round for counts of three, six, and the final time when referee Ray Miller stopped the fight.
Ike Williams stands over Ronnie James after flooring him in the 8th round of their bout st Ninian Park, Cardiff, in 1946. James was KO'd in the 9th. This was the first knockout of James's career and came after he had taken no fewer than 6 counts before the final decisive 10 seconds.
Ike Williams was one of the most dangerous lightweights in boxing history, a relentless puncher whose aggressive style made him feared throughout the 1940s and early 1950s. Known as the Trenton Tornado, Williams fought professionally from 1940 to 1955 and built a remarkable career defined by power, endurance, and a willingness to face anyone placed in front of him.
The Trenton Tornado stood as a symbol of toughness, courage, and raw punching power, a champion who fought through the toughest era of boxing and left a mark that still commands respect today.
He was born Isiah Williams on August 2, 1923 in Brunswick, Georgia, and later moved to Trenton, New Jersey where his toughness began to take shape. According to boxing lore, he first learned to fight while working as a newsboy, defending his corner from anyone who tried to take his spot. Those early battles helped form the hard edge that would define his career.
Williams turned professional in 1940 and quickly gained a reputation as a heavy hitter with a crushing right hand. Standing five feet nine inches tall with a sixty eight inch reach, he fought from an orthodox stance and brought constant pressure in the ring. Over the course of his career he compiled 127 wins against 24 losses and 5 draws, scoring 61 knockouts in 157 bouts when newspaper decisions are included.
His greatest success came in the lightweight division. In April 1945 he knocked out Juan Zurita in Mexico City to win the world lightweight championship. Williams went on to defend the title eight times against six different challengers and held the crown until 1951, one of the longest reigns in the division during that era.
Among his most important victories were wins over top fighters of the time including Bob Montgomery, Beau Jack, and Kid Gavilan.
His 1947 knockout victory over Montgomery in Philadelphia made him the undisputed lightweight champion and avenged an earlier loss. Williams also defended his title in memorable fights against Jesse Flores, Enrique Bolanos, and Freddie Dawson, proving again and again that his punching power could change a fight at any moment.
In 1948 he was recognized as the best fighter in the sport, earning Fighter of the Year honors from both The Ring magazine and the Boxing Writers Association of America. He was also later named to The Ring list of the greatest punchers of all time, a tribute to the explosive right hand that carried him to so many victories.
Williams lost the lightweight title in May 1951 when he was stopped in the fourteenth round by Jimmy Carter at Madison Square Garden. He believed problems making weight weakened him for the fight, but he continued boxing for several more years before retiring in 1955.
His career also reflected the difficult realities of boxing during that era. Williams spoke openly about unfair management practices and testified before Congress about corruption in the sport, saying that fighters were often pressured to accept unfair deals or even to throw fights. Despite the hardships, he insisted he never took money to lose, explaining that too many people depended on him.
Williams finished his career with one of the most impressive records ever posted by a lightweight champion. He defeated numerous world class opponents and proved himself against several former champions including Sammy Angott, Johnny Bratton, and many others across more than a decade in the ring.
Honors followed after his retirement. He was inducted into The Ring Boxing Hall of Fame and later became a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. Historians and writers have consistently ranked him among the greatest lightweights of the twentieth century and one of the hardest punchers the sport has ever seen.
Man, I just finished watching that Kentucky vs South Carolina game, how about Kentucky head coach Will Stein going for Two and the win in overtime? He's got some stones.
Awesome image of Ike Williams landing a brutal uppercut to the chin of "The Clutch" Sammy Angott in the mid 1940s. Two all-time great fighters. They fought twice and split the series.
Comments
That photo was actually used for the cover of the authorized biography on Henry Cooper.
Another great book about Henry Cooper, Henry Cooper: A Boxing Knight, by Ralph Oates. Henry Cooper was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in the 2000 New Year Honours for his services to boxing and charity work. He became the first-ever British boxer to receive a knighthood and the title of "Sir".
This another one of my favorite images, Henry Cooper shadow boxing with the No Smoking sign in view.
This one was action-packed.
"European heavyweight champion Henry Cooper, 189, showed how he towers above his European rivals Thursday night by scoring a 5th round knockout over Italian challenger Piero Tomasoni. It was more of a brawl than a boxing match. Cooper went down twice. Tomasoni, 189 1/2, also went down twice. And both men crashed to the canvas in the 4th round. A crowd of 7,000 jeered, cheered and heaved fruit and bread rolls into the ring in the 4th when the 31 year old Tomasoni was cautioned for hitting low. Referee Ben Brill of the Netherlands was forced to delay action for a few moments to clean up the ring. Cooper, 34, said all three shots that hurt him were low. The blow that ended Tomasoni's third bid for the European title was a short left jab to the jaw. Cooper threw it in the first minute of the 5th round, and Tomasoni went down like a man clubbed. He rolled onto his side as Brill counted him out. At the end, Cooper was ahead slightly on points, but with Tomasoni throwing wild haymakers anything was possible." -United Press International
Another great image of Sir Henry.
The blood, sweat, and tears that go into being successful in this line of work.
That left hook was no joke, one of the most devastating in the history of the business, it was indeed a hammer. Henry Cooper knocked out Joe Erskine in the 12th round of their November 17, 1959, British and Commonwealth heavyweight title fight at Earls Court Arena using "Enry's Hammer". Cooper landed a massive, powerful left hook (and a subsequent left uppercut/hook combination) in the 12th round that left Erskine completely unconscious or "out to the world" before he even hit the canvas. The impact catapulted Erskine backward through the ropes, leaving him draped or arched backwards over the bottom rope like a giant violin bow with his head resting on the ring apron.
How could this not be my favorite photo of Sir Henry Cooper?
The Sun
SIMPLY THE BUST
All due respect to Bruno, Hatton and AJ but Henry Cooper is Britain’s most-loved boxer and new statue is perfect salute
By: Colin Hart
Published: 22:30, 15 Aug 2019
THE corner of Randlesdown Road and Bromley Road in Bellingham can’t exactly be described as a fashionable London address.
Yet that particular nondescript location in Lewisham is about to become the home to one of British boxing’s most symbolic landmarks.
Sir Henry Cooper is the only fighter ever to have a received a knighthood.
He was the first to floor Muhammad Ali.
Henry Cooper’s statue will be unveiled in Bellingham in October
Because the long-awaited statue of Sir Henry Cooper — the only fighter ever to have received a knighthood — will be unveiled there on October 12.
And John Conteh, former world light-heavyweight champion and one of Cooper’s best pals, will have the honour of unveiling it.
Cooper, who grew up in that area of ‘Sarf London’, reigned as British heavyweight champion from 1959 to 1971 and won three Lonsdale Belts outright.
They are records that will never be broken.
Known as Our ’Enery, there hasn’t been anyone who laced on a pair of gloves held in more affection by the British public.
With all due respect to men like Frank Bruno, Ricky Hatton and now Anthony Joshua, Cooper — who had his last fight 48 years ago — remains a national institution and he’s been dead since 2011.
He never allowed his fame to go to his head and he was just as popular with men, women and children who never even saw him fight.
Warm-hearted outside the ropes, he possessed down-to-earth Cockney charm, great integrity, and his priorities were his family and raising money for charity.
Cooper, who died aged 76, was for a long time Europe’s best heavyweight.
His greatest moment came when his feared left hook — ’Enery’s ’Ammer — exploded on loudmouth Cassius Clay’s chin and dumped him on the canvas.
That punch landed 56 years ago at Wembley Stadium but Henry’s army of fans have never forgotten the moment that nearly changed the course of boxing history.
Clay survived, became Muhammad Ali and won the world title eight months later. That was the beginning of a remarkable friendship between Cooper and Ali, born out of mutual respect.
Whenever I bumped into Ali afterwards he always asked me: “How’s Henry Cooper doing?”
Carl Payne, the award-winning sculptor, has done Henry proud.
He allowed me a preview of Henry’s statue before it was cast in bronze. It’s nearly 8ft tall, weighs more than 30 stone and the likeness to Cooper is uncanny.
It has cost more than £100,000 and — if it was not for Carl’s philanthropy plus the generosity and dedication of members of London’s Ex-Boxers Association — this project would never have got off the ground.
Cooper’s statue deserves to be a special attraction in one of central London’s parks or squares. But the bureaucrats at City Hall and Westminster didn’t want to know. So beautiful down-town Bellingham it is.
If Our ’Enery had been asked, he probably would have wanted to stand among his own — as he didn’t want to make a fuss.
The legendary Sir Henry Cooper.
Isiah "Ike" Williams is up next, one of the greatest lightweights in history. Known by the nickname "Trenton Tornado", he won the NBA World Lightweight Championship in April 1945 by knocking out Juan Zurita and became the undisputed world lightweight champion in August 1947 after knocking out Bob Montgomery. Ike Williams was a complete, technically brilliant boxer-puncher. I'll let Manassa from boxingforum24.com explain just what kind of fighter Ike Williams was, this is brilliantly written, the kind of stuff that gets me off.
"Williams' knockout record is very deceptive; it's not that he wasn't much of a puncher, but that he was a very good boxer. He didn't always need to knock his opponents out.
But he always hurt them, particularly to the body, and he was a feared fighter during his time. Williams could turn suddenly like a rabid wolf and tear his foe to shreds. His punching ability was awesome when in full flight; his knockout of the swarming Jose Gatica is perhaps the best finish I've ever seen. It was a classic case of the veteran champion putting the over-eager challenger in his place - on his arse.
Williams was mean. He didn't ever not look for the knockout, but he didn't always chase it either; he was a clever fighter, you see, and wouldn't over-exert himself to induce concussion. But when the opportunity arose, there was no escape.
"That Ike Williams was a destroyer. He will destroy you" - Beau Jack.
Williams was such a well rounded performer; he was like a lighter, more nimble and explosive version of Joe Louis. The jab was versatile; it could be either pawing or thudding. The right hand was slashing and the left hook was a grenade. The uppercuts contained full pivot and lift, and most evil of all were Williams' rib shots. He didn't dedicate himself to the body like a Joe Frazier, but his sharpshooting downstairs was every bit as damaging.
"Ike Williams hit harder than Ray Robinson. He was lifting me off the floor with some of those shots" - Carmen Basilio.
I've also seen Johnny Bratton, an accomplished welterweight, have his jaw smashed by the lightweight Williams and become totally overwhelmed by the latter's assault. Williams carried his power with him as he fought the heavier fighters.
But that's just the punching. Williams was a top boxer on the retreat as well, or he could pressure his man and outpoint him that way, as seen in the second Enrique Bolanos fight. Williams stalked, pressured, took his time and outjabbed the jabber. He slipped punches, always hit solidly and cut off the ring. Williams was solid as well - when Bolanos hit him, it was like shooting at a tank with a 9mm handgun."
We'll start off with my favorite Ike Williams card, the 1947-66 Exhibit Supply Company - Ike Williams. This card has two different variations, the Ike Williams variation and the Slug (Williams) variation.
I actually own the original type 1 photo for the 1947-66 Exhibit Supply Company - Ike Williams, Slug (Williams) card. I ran across it on eBay one day and said "holy crap, that's the photo that was used for the image on my favorite Ike Williams card", and I was all over it like ants on a picnic.
"Ike Williams hit harder than Ray Robinson. He was lifting me off the floor with some of those shots" - Carmen Basilio.
That iconic quote from hall-of-famer Carmen Basilio, is the ultimate testament to the terrifying power of Ike Williams.
What makes this statement so incredible is that Sugar Ray Robinson is widely considered the greatest pound-for-pound fighter in boxing history, possessing legendary, concussive power himself. Yet, Basilio—one of the toughest, most iron-jawed fighters to ever step into the ring—felt that Williams' leverage and body punching were uniquely devastating. Basilio shared the ring with both men during the golden era of boxing. Ike Williams also knocked down the iron-jawed Kid Gavilan in 1948. During their first meeting on February 27, 1948, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, Williams dropped Kid Gavilan with a right cross to the jaw in the 8th round just before the bell rang, and Gavilan got up at the count of eight before Williams went on to win by a unanimous decision. Gavilan was only knocked down twice in his 143-fight career, the other knockdown was at the hands of one Carmen Basilio.
1948 Topps Magic Photos - Boxing Champions - Number on Side - Ike Williams.
1951 Berk Ross - Hit Parade of Champions - Ike Williams.
1940-70 Boxing News Photos - Ike Williams.
1955: Fantomen Comic - Masters of the Ring - Ike Williams. I'm not saying it is for sure, but this could be the photo that was used for the art on this card. On the back of the card, it talks about Ike Williams losing his lightweight title to Jimmy Carter in 1951 and the art on the card looks like he just suffered a loss. This is a photo of Ike Williams in his dressing room after the loss to Carter.
2004 Rockwell Publishing - Mighty Atoms - Ike Williams.
1991 All World - Ike Williams.
1947-66 Exhibit Supply Company - Ike Williams. I can't find the photo any clearer for this one.
Let's get some photos of the great Ike Williams in here. He was a genuinely frightening puncher when he wanted to be, or should I say when he was allowed to be. He was controlled by the mob, Philadelphia mobster Blinky Palermo was his manager. He was often told to go easy on his opponents or outright lose for the sake of mob gambling profits. Here is a photo of Ike Williams with Blinky Palermo (far right) after a fight.
But like I said, Ike Williams was a genuinely frightening puncher, one of the most feared ever, the combination of speed, power, and ferociousness. Like Manassa pointed out in my earlier post, he could change on a dime to a rabid animal and tear his opponent apart. Case in point, his fight with Beau Jack in 1948. Watch him go off on Jack at the end of the video, a chilling display of offensive firepower.
Here are a few photos from that fight in the video above, which took place on July 12, 1948 at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. This photo shows Ike Williams driving his left hand into Beau Jack's head.
This is a photo of Beau Jack trapped in the corner as Ike Williams unleashes hell, taken moments before the stoppage.
This is a photo of Ike Williams dropping the iron-chinned Kid Gavilan in 1948, the first time Gavilan had ever been knocked down, the first of only two knockdowns in Gavilan's 143-fight career. Epic photos of a very rare site.
Lightweight champion Ike Williams almost sends challenger Jesse Flores to the canvas multiple times in their 1948 fight at Yankee Stadium, won by Williams on a 10th round TKO.
Ike Williams KO's Jose Gatica in Trenton, New Jersey, in 1951. Williams dropped Gatica three times in the opening round for counts of three, six, and the final time when referee Ray Miller stopped the fight.
Ike Williams KO's Bob Montgomery in 1947 to become the undisputed world Lightweight champion.
Ike Williams floors Lester Felton in 1950.
Ike Williams KO's Cleo Shans at Madison Square Garden in 1944.
Ike Williams bloodies and drops Fritzie Pruden in 1951 en route to a unanimous decision win.
Ike Williams sends Enrique Bolanos to the canvas at Wrigley Field in 1949, the first of multiple trips. Williams won via TKO in the 4th.
Ike Williams KO's James Rafferty in 1947 at Philadelphia's Convention Hall.
Ike Williams stands over Ronnie James after flooring him in the 8th round of their bout st Ninian Park, Cardiff, in 1946. James was KO'd in the 9th. This was the first knockout of James's career and came after he had taken no fewer than 6 counts before the final decisive 10 seconds.
Brunch Boxing Remembers: Ike Williams
Writer: Matthew Brow
02/27/2026
Ike Williams was one of the most dangerous lightweights in boxing history, a relentless puncher whose aggressive style made him feared throughout the 1940s and early 1950s. Known as the Trenton Tornado, Williams fought professionally from 1940 to 1955 and built a remarkable career defined by power, endurance, and a willingness to face anyone placed in front of him.
The Trenton Tornado stood as a symbol of toughness, courage, and raw punching power, a champion who fought through the toughest era of boxing and left a mark that still commands respect today.
He was born Isiah Williams on August 2, 1923 in Brunswick, Georgia, and later moved to Trenton, New Jersey where his toughness began to take shape. According to boxing lore, he first learned to fight while working as a newsboy, defending his corner from anyone who tried to take his spot. Those early battles helped form the hard edge that would define his career.
Williams turned professional in 1940 and quickly gained a reputation as a heavy hitter with a crushing right hand. Standing five feet nine inches tall with a sixty eight inch reach, he fought from an orthodox stance and brought constant pressure in the ring. Over the course of his career he compiled 127 wins against 24 losses and 5 draws, scoring 61 knockouts in 157 bouts when newspaper decisions are included.
His greatest success came in the lightweight division. In April 1945 he knocked out Juan Zurita in Mexico City to win the world lightweight championship. Williams went on to defend the title eight times against six different challengers and held the crown until 1951, one of the longest reigns in the division during that era.
Among his most important victories were wins over top fighters of the time including Bob Montgomery, Beau Jack, and Kid Gavilan.
His 1947 knockout victory over Montgomery in Philadelphia made him the undisputed lightweight champion and avenged an earlier loss. Williams also defended his title in memorable fights against Jesse Flores, Enrique Bolanos, and Freddie Dawson, proving again and again that his punching power could change a fight at any moment.
In 1948 he was recognized as the best fighter in the sport, earning Fighter of the Year honors from both The Ring magazine and the Boxing Writers Association of America. He was also later named to The Ring list of the greatest punchers of all time, a tribute to the explosive right hand that carried him to so many victories.
Williams lost the lightweight title in May 1951 when he was stopped in the fourteenth round by Jimmy Carter at Madison Square Garden. He believed problems making weight weakened him for the fight, but he continued boxing for several more years before retiring in 1955.
His career also reflected the difficult realities of boxing during that era. Williams spoke openly about unfair management practices and testified before Congress about corruption in the sport, saying that fighters were often pressured to accept unfair deals or even to throw fights. Despite the hardships, he insisted he never took money to lose, explaining that too many people depended on him.
Williams finished his career with one of the most impressive records ever posted by a lightweight champion. He defeated numerous world class opponents and proved himself against several former champions including Sammy Angott, Johnny Bratton, and many others across more than a decade in the ring.
Honors followed after his retirement. He was inducted into The Ring Boxing Hall of Fame and later became a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. Historians and writers have consistently ranked him among the greatest lightweights of the twentieth century and one of the hardest punchers the sport has ever seen.
Man, I just finished watching that Kentucky vs South Carolina game, how about Kentucky head coach Will Stein going for Two and the win in overtime? He's got some stones.
One of the most feared punchers in the history of our sport. Ike Williams, Crushing Combinations.
Let's get a few photos of Ike Williams in here. This is a bada$$ image of the "Trenton Tornado" preparing his weapons for battle in 1949.
Awesome image of Ike Williams landing a brutal uppercut to the chin of "The Clutch" Sammy Angott in the mid 1940s. Two all-time great fighters. They fought twice and split the series.
This is a famous photo of Ike Williams in his later years, dressed in all black, posing next to a tool of his former trade.
Ike Williams in a fight pose with the shadow behind him.
Really cool collectors item here, a printers proof for the September 1947 issue of The Ring magazine with Ike Williams on the cover.