Henry Cooper dead?
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/13256045.stm
Boxing legend Sir Henry Cooper dies aged 76
Page last updated at 20:07 GMT, Sunday, 1 May 2011 21:07 UK
E-mail this to a friendPrintable version Cooper fought Muhammad Ali twice Boxing legend Sir Henry Cooper has passed away at the age of 76 at his son's house in Oxted, Surrey.
The former English, Commonwealth and European heavyweight champion fought 55 times and is revered for his knockdown of Muhammad Ali in 1963.
London-born Cooper, who won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year twice, was knighted in 2000.
Alongside Frank Bruno, Tommy Farr and Lennox Lewis, Cooper is considered one of the best all-time British boxers.
Despite enjoying a hugely successful career, he never won a world title and retired in 1971 after losing to Joe Bugner.
Sir Henry is best remembered though for his two famous clashes with Ali in the 1960s.
He floored Ali in the fourth round with 'Enry's Ammer' - his trademark left hook - but Ali eventually won the 1963 non-title fight at Wembley.
Ali later said on British television, that Cooper "had hit him so hard that his ancestors in Africa felt it".
Ali triumphed again when they boxed three years later but Cooper remained a favourite with the British public.
Boxing legend Sir Henry Cooper dies aged 76
Page last updated at 20:07 GMT, Sunday, 1 May 2011 21:07 UK
E-mail this to a friendPrintable version Cooper fought Muhammad Ali twice Boxing legend Sir Henry Cooper has passed away at the age of 76 at his son's house in Oxted, Surrey.
The former English, Commonwealth and European heavyweight champion fought 55 times and is revered for his knockdown of Muhammad Ali in 1963.
London-born Cooper, who won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year twice, was knighted in 2000.
Alongside Frank Bruno, Tommy Farr and Lennox Lewis, Cooper is considered one of the best all-time British boxers.
Despite enjoying a hugely successful career, he never won a world title and retired in 1971 after losing to Joe Bugner.
Sir Henry is best remembered though for his two famous clashes with Ali in the 1960s.
He floored Ali in the fourth round with 'Enry's Ammer' - his trademark left hook - but Ali eventually won the 1963 non-title fight at Wembley.
Ali later said on British television, that Cooper "had hit him so hard that his ancestors in Africa felt it".
Ali triumphed again when they boxed three years later but Cooper remained a favourite with the British public.
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Sad news, a truly great Englishman. The Daily Fail has a particularly good page on him:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/othersports/article-1382545/Sir-Henry-Cooper-dies-aged-76.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/othersports/article-1382545/Sir-Henry-Cooper-dies-aged-76.html
Henry Cooper turned pro in 1954, winning his debut with a first round knockout of Harry Painter on September 14th at the Harringay Arena, it was scheduled for six rounds.
My grandad was his debut fight. Was on this is your life when it was Sir Henry's show.
My Grandad shed a tear this evening when I told him.
rotters
My grandad was his debut fight. Was on this is your life when it was Sir Henry's show.
My Grandad shed a tear this evening when I told him.
rotters
Man of Honour
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Very sad to hear this. What an absolute gent.
I was lucky enough to meet Henry Cooper in the 1980s when I was a kid and was in awe of him in a way.
If only his left hook had smashed into Cassius Clay's jaw 10 seconds earlier in 1963.
True gent, true legend and one of only 4 people to dump Ali on his backside. He may have also been WBA champ had the BBBC not played politics and stopped him fighting Jimmy Ellis.
RIP Sir Henry.
I was lucky enough to meet Henry Cooper in the 1980s when I was a kid and was in awe of him in a way.
If only his left hook had smashed into Cassius Clay's jaw 10 seconds earlier in 1963.
True gent, true legend and one of only 4 people to dump Ali on his backside. He may have also been WBA champ had the BBBC not played politics and stopped him fighting Jimmy Ellis.
RIP Sir Henry.
Soldato
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Damn, just heard about this. A great boxer in his day.
Soldato
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A true Englisman, real gentleman and the passing of real icon of 20th century sport.
RIP Our 'Enery
Cassius Clay said:
RIP Our 'Enery
Soldato
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not really a boxing fan , but he seemed a great person , RIP Henry