Henry Cooper (boxer)

Sir Henry Cooper OBE, (born May 3 1934), was a British heavyweight boxer.

Related Topics:
OBE - May 3 - 1934 - British - Heavyweight - Boxer

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Cooper is often regarded as the most popular of all British boxers, and is known to Britons as "Our 'Enry". He was at one time the British, European and Commonwealth heavyweight champion. Cooper fought Muhammad Ali twice, firstly in a non-title fight in 1963 at Wembley Stadium, when Cooper knocked Ali (then Cassius Clay) down in the fourth round with his trademark left hook, "Enry's 'Ammer". The bell rang before Cooper could complete a knockout, and Ali was so dazed that his trainer, Angelo Dundee, cut his glove: another had to fetched, giving the future champion time to recover (1). After this fight a spare pair of gloves was always required ringside. Ali was obviously impressed by the knockdown and on the 40th anniversary telephoned Cooper to reminisce. The second time they met, in 1966 was in a world title fight. Cooper succumbed again to his weakness, a tendency to cut, and Ali went on to be "The Greatest". The most notable of his other fights was arguably his 15-round loss to Joe Bugner in the final fight of his career; this result so disappointed British fans that Bugner did not receive wide support thereafter.

Related Topics:
Europe - Commonwealth - 1963 - Wembley Stadium - Hook - Angelo Dundee - Glove - 1966 - Joe Bugner

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Alongside figures such as Frank Bruno, Bob Fitzsimmons, Joe Bugner, Tommy Farr and Lennox Lewis, Cooper is regarded as one of the all-time best British heavyweights.

Related Topics:
Frank Bruno - Bob Fitzsimmons - Tommy Farr - Lennox Lewis

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After his boxing career, Cooper famously advertised Brut aftershave and was very active in charity work. He was knighted in 2000, the first boxer to receive the honour. He lives in Hildenborough, in Kent.

Related Topics:
Charity - 2000 - Hildenborough - Kent

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Henry Cooper has an identical twin brother, George.

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Career: 1954-1971, 40 wins (27 knockouts), 14 defeats, 1 draw

Related Topics:
1954 - 1971 - Knockout

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(1) The British boxing newspaper 'Boxing News' conducted an investigation into the 'split glove' incident in 2003. Using the original television and radio broadcasts to determine length of time between rounds 4 and 5 it was discovered that Cassius Clay only gained 5 seconds extra and not the mythical 3-5 minutes. The gloves were never changed.

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