SIR HENRY COOPER: 1934-2011
BRITISH boxing great Sir Henry Cooper, or Our ‘Enry as he was affectionately known, would have turned 77 today. Following his passing on Sunday, we look back at the defining moments in the career of the Westminster-born heavyweight.
His finest hour came in 1963 when he became the first man to knock down Muhammad Ali, or Cassius Clay as he was then known, at Wembley in a fight he would ultimately lose.
He called time on his career in 1971 after losing his British, European and Commonwealth heavyweight titles to Joe Bugner by a quarter of a point in a controversial decision.
Cooper, who retired with 40 wins from 55 bouts, may never have won a world title but was twice BBC Sports Personality and in 2000 became the first boxer to be knighted.
Cooper was a promising amateur boxer who represented Great Britain at the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, before turning professional two years later.