By James Slater: In very sad news, it was announced yesterday that British boxing legend Sir Henry Cooper died at age 76. Suffering from a long illness, the former British, Commonwealth and European king had kept the illness to himself. A hugely popular fight in England, “Our “Enery” won the prestigious Sports Personality Of The Year on a number of occasions and he was of course knighted for his services to boxing.
It is, however, for his two fights with the great Muhammad Ali, the first, non-title clash in particular, that Cooper is best known globally. Back in June of 1963, the then Cassius Clay met Cooper on his run towards the world title – in the 4th-round Cooper almost derailed the “Louisville Lip’s” crack at Sonny Liston when he decked the future legend with his trademark left hook to the chin.
Ever since, due to the way trainer Angelo Dundee “tore Ali’s glove,” the 5th-round cuts stoppage Ali earned has been the subject of huge controversy. Cooper was dripping blood, but some people claim Ali was given extra seconds in the corner so as to recover from the hellish blow he was felled by just as the bell came to end the 4th. The fight will forever live in folklore.
The two met again, this time with the world title at stake (Cooper’s one and only shot at the crown), and the 1966 meeting also saw Henry go down fighting, losing once more on cuts.
Ali, himself very ill these days, paid tribute to the man he fought twice.
“I am at a loss for words over the death of my friend, Henry Cooper,” Ali said in a statement last night. “I was not aware he was ill. I visited him two summers ago at a brief visit to Windsor. He was in good humour and looked quite fit. Henry always had a smile for me; a warm and embracing smile. It was always a pleasure being in Henry’s company. I will miss my ole friend. He was agreat fighter and a gentleman.”
Cooper turned pro in September of 1954 and he romped to a straight nine wins, 7 by KO. Meeting a who’s who of big names from the domestic, European and world stage, Henry met such luminaries as Joe Erskine, Ingemar Johansson, , Brian London, Zora Folley, Ali, Floyd Patterson and, in his final fight, Joe Bugner.
The Buger loss, in 1971, also became known as a highly controversial fight. Thought by just about everybody watching to have done enough to get the 15-round points decision, the 37-year-old Cooper instead saw referee Harry Gibbs lift the hand of the 21-year-old Bugner. Henry, not one for holding a grudge, did not speak to Gibbs for decades.
By the time of his final fight, though, Cooper had earned a special place in the hearts of fight fans. Retiring with a record of 40-14-1(27), Cooper enjoyed life as a celebrity and personality. Today, Ali and countless other boxers are paying tribute to the man who had one of the best left hooks in the heavyweight division.
Henry Cooper: 1934 to 2011.