Henry Cooper: Britain's Favourite Boxer

Aug 30, 2011
Mike Godfrey

Henry Cooper - The Late, Great Boxing Hero - whatsthatpicture

Recently deceased heavyweight boxer Henry Cooper, renowned for knocking down a young Cassius Clay, was held deep in the affection of the British public

Sir Henry Cooper OBE left us on the 1st May 2011.

It was UK national headline news - Pope John-Paul II had been beatified in a Vatican ceremony, International Workers Day was being celebrated throughout the world and the Royal Wedding was still receiving blanket coverage on all media, but the one story that stood out, that mattered to many of the British nation was that "our 'Enry had died".

Early Life and Amateur Career

Born in Southwark on the 3rd May 1934 to Henry Snr and Lily Cooper, the young Henry and his identical twin brother George, along with their older brother Bern, were brought up in a council house on an estate in Bellingham south-east London. Their father was a more than useful amateur boxer and their Grandfather had been a bare-knuckle fighter around South London, so at the age of 9, both twins joined the local Bellingham Boxing Club hoping to follow the family line. From there they moved to the higher profile Eltham club at the age of 15, embarking on successful amateur careers.

Henry, always the more talented of the two was a natural left-hander, but boxed successfully with an orthodox stance. Winning 73 of his 84 amateur contests, he became the Amateur Boxing Association's (ABA) light-heavyweight champion in 1952. He also represented Great Britain at the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki, Finland, but was beaten on a controversial majority decision in his 1st round contest.

Turning Professional

After National Service, in 1954 both brothers turned professional; with George boxing under the name of Jim Cooper, as there already was another George Cooper on the circuit.

Henry won his first 9 fights, developing a style that relied on his formidable jab, followed up by his trademark crunching left hook (popularly later known as 'Enry's 'Ammer). The successful start to his career came to a halt however, when he retired with a cut eye injury, after a clash of heads with Italian Uber Bacilieri. Cooper's susceptibility to eye wounds would continue to plague him throughout his career.

In 1959 he captured the first of his British and Empire belts, defeating Brian London on points in a bruising 15 round battle.

The Clay / Ali Fights

On 18th June 1963, Cooper came up against the brash 21 year old American Cassius Clay. At the time, although having had 15 previous professional outings, the Olympic Light-Heavyweight Gold medallist Clay, had only contested, one bout of note. That was against the aging Archie Moore who, it was thought, was only in the ring as he needed the money. Clay dispatched him in round 4.

Over 10 rounds in the open air, at London's Wembley Stadium, Clay came up face-to-face with the 29 year old Cooper, bragging to all that would listen that he would win it in 5. This indeed seemed a likely outcome when in the 3rd, the blood started to flow from a cut that had appeared around the Englishman's eye.

In the dying seconds of the 4th round however, Cooper's celebrated left hook floored Clay and the only thing that stopped his head banging on the canvas floor, was the fact that his arm managed to hang over the top rope, leaving him in a semi-prone position. Clay was saved by the bell!

Then the conspiracy started. Clay's legendary trainer Angelo Dundee called the referee to look at a mysterious split that had appeared in the American's glove, but after inspection it was deemed a replacement was not necessary. In the following round, Clay repeatedly used the damaged glove to help open up the wound on Cooper's face and soon the referee had no option but to stop the fight.

Years later, Dundee admitted to slashing the glove between rounds, in an attempt to gain more time for his charge to recover from the knock down.

3 years later the pair met again at North London's Highbury Stadium, this time for the World Heavyweight title. By now Clay had converted to Islam becoming Muhammad Ali and a similar result was achieved, this time away from any controversy, as a cut eye ended the Londoner's challenge in round 6.

Later Career

After the title fight with Ali, Cooper continued his career, defending his British and Commonwealth titles and even adding the European crown to his resumé in 1968, beating German Karl Mildenberger.

In what was to be his final contest in May 1971, he put up all three titles against fellow Briton, 21 year old Joe Bugner. At the end of the bout, referee Harry Gibbs controversially awarded the fight to the younger man, causing unrest in a predominantly pro-Cooper crowd. Because of this decision, it could be argued that Bugner was never forgiven, nor accepted by the rank and file British boxing fans.

Cooper announced his retirement from the ring soon afterwards.

After Retirement

After hanging up his gloves, Henry Cooper became a TV and radio summariser on the sport and held down a very successful after-dinner speaking career. He spent many years as captain on the BBC's, A Question of Sport TV quiz and appeared in many advertisements, along with being a very popular TV celebrity.

Great Britain has celebrated many boxing World Champions at many different weights, but none ever received the affection given to Cooper, who never quite attained the highest accolade. He held the British heavyweight title for 12 years, and is the only man ever to be awarded 3 Lonsdale Belts (each awarded for 3 successful defences of his British title).

Knighted by the Queen in 2000, being the first boxer ever to receive the honour, he was voted by the British public as BBC Sports Personality of the Year in both 1967 and 1970.

Sir Henry had been suffering from deteriorating health for some time and passed away at his son's home in Surrey. It seemed he never recovered from the death of his beloved wife Albina in 2008 and that of his twin brother George in 2010.

Post-script

Upon hearing the news of his passing, a shocked Muhammad Ali led the tributes saying, "I am at a loss for words over the death of my friend. He was a great fighter and a true gentleman".