Henry Cooper

Sir Henry Cooper OBE KSG was a beloved British heavyweight boxer. Known by the nickname "Our 'Enry," Cooper had a professional boxing career that spanned over 16 years from 1954 to 1971. Born on May 3, 1934, in Lambeth, London, Cooper began his professional boxing career at the age of 20 against Harry Painter on September 14, 1954, and won via a first-round knockout (KO). Over the course of his professional boxing career, Cooper had a total of 55 fights with 40 wins, 14 losses, one draw, and no no-contests, and was a formidable opponent best remembered for his fight with the legendary Muhammad Ali.

Cooper's boxing career began with an impressive 8 fight winning streak that included 5 wins via stoppage. Like many boxers of his time, Cooper fought frequently, sometimes as many as 10 to 12 fights a year. He had his first world title fight at the age of 32 on May 21, 1966, against Muhammad Ali for the WBA, WBC, and The Ring titles, but lost to him via a 6th round TKO. However, Cooper's most memorable moment came in 1963 when he fought a young Cassius Clay, who would later become Muhammad Ali. During the fight, Cooper knocked down Clay with a left hook in the fourth round, but the fight was stopped due to a cut above Clay's eye caused by Cooper's punches.

Cooper was undefeated in British and Commonwealth heavyweight championship contests for twelve years and held the European heavyweight title for three years. He was twice voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year and is the only boxer in the UK to have been awarded a knighthood. Cooper retired from professional boxing with a record of 40-14-1, which included 27 knockout wins and eight losses via knockout.

Cooper's height and reach made him a difficult opponent. He stood at 6 ft 1+1⁄2 in (187 cm) with a reach of 75 in (191 cm) and fought in the orthodox stance. He competed in the heavyweight weight class and had a tremendous punching power, earning him 27 KO wins throughout his career.

One of Cooper's standout qualities was his determination and resilience in the face of adversity. He suffered a total of 14 losses in his professional boxing career, one of which happened during a title bout, and 13 in non-title bouts. Although he was stopped eight times, he continued to fight and win even after these setbacks. Some of his notable wins include victories over Joe Erskine, Brian London, Roy Harris, Dick Richardson, and Tony Hughes.

Although Cooper had a total of 55 fights, his fight against Muhammad Ali is the sole highlight of his boxing career. Given that he fought during the golden age of boxing, many would argue that he faced a handful of great fighters, but it was his bout with Ali that made him famous worldwide. It is almost impossible to mention Henry Cooper without mentioning his historic fight with the great Muhammad Ali. Even in his later years, Cooper was often sought out for interviews and stories about his fight with Ali. The attention he garnered from the fight helped solidify his status as one of the great British boxers of all time.

Cooper's last professional fight was a non-title bout against Hungarian boxer Joe Bugner at 36 years of age on March 16, 1971. Cooper lost the fight via a 15 round point decision. After retiring from his boxing career, Cooper remained a popular public figure and a beloved British sporting icon until his passing on May 1, 2011, at the age of 76.

In conclusion, Henry Cooper's impact on British boxing cannot be overstated. He was a hardworking and determined boxer who had a remarkable career spanning more than 16 years. Cooper gave boxing fans several memorable moments and was one of the few boxers to have gone toe-to-toe with the legendary Muhammad Ali. In addition to his contributions to the sport of boxing, Cooper's warmth and charisma made him a beloved public figure and an inspiration to many. Although he is no longer with us, his legacy remains an integral part of the British sporting landscape.

Henry Cooper Fight Record