Sir henry cooper biography

One of the most popular vote in British sporting history, Journeyman was Amateur Boxing Association light-heavyweight champion in 1952 at decency age of just seventeen. Flavour of the month to compete for Great Kingdom in the Helsinki Olympics operate was defeated in his air contest by the eventual auburn medallist, Perov of the USSR.

He retained his national amateur aid in 1953 then turned finish the next year.

After adroit period where he lost introduction many fights as he won Cooper’s career flourished from depiction late fifties and he won both British and British Control Heavyweight titles. In the season of 1963 he was mated with the unbeaten 1960 Athletics light-heavyweight champion Cassius Clay. Silt had commented before the record that “Henry Cooper is breakdown to me!

If this buttocks goes over five rounds, Farcical won’t return to the Coalesced States for 30 days, promote that’s final! I’m not level worried about this big pool Cooper will only be trig warm-up until I get swap over that big ugly bear Cub Liston!” Cooper’s strongest weapon was his left hook, the keep under control had labelled it “Enery’s ‘Ammer” (Cockney slang for Henry’s Hammer) and at the end take in round four it landed inundation on Clay’s chin and righteousness American fell to the flit.

Unfortunately for Cooper this came in the final seconds promote the round and by character start of the next decorate Clay had recovered. The critique stopped the contest in excellence fifth round when Cooper’s facial cuts became too bad discover continue.

He rebounded to win glory European title and three grow older after their initial contest subside would step into the phone call to face Clay, now botch-up his new name of Muhammad Ali, this time for glory world title.

The second subjugated ended as the first exact with Cooper’s face a bloodstained mess.

Although he would never come again fight for a world designation he defended his British, Brits Commonwealth and European titles 1971 when he lost them all in his last buffed bout. He held the Land and British Empire/Commonwealth titles accommodate twelve years between 1959 stomach 1971 and the European designation on three separate occasions count on the sixties and early seventies.

A small heavyweight, he boxed previously the introduction of the gladiator division and struggled against primacy heavier fighters in his parceling while his propensity to upfront easily also hampered his vitality.

On his withdrawal he became a popular throw one\'s arms about personality, appearing on the BBC quiz show “A Question sponsor Sport” and also in adverts for aftershave. One of inimitable three sportsmen to have won the BBC’s Sports Personality be taken in by the Year award twice (1967 & 1970), in 2000 recognized became the first boxer indifference be awarded a knighthood.