Search

Henry Cooper is best remembered for the night he nearly changed boxing history - 19 July 1963. Fighting an up-and-coming boxer by the name of Cassius Clay, later to become Muhammad Ali, his famous left hook (known as'Henry's Hammer') sent Clay crashing onto the canvas. Arguable Britain's greatest ever heavyweight fighter, Cooper won 40 of his 55 professional bouts, beating most of the true boxing greats along the way. His story is littered with famous names - Rocky Marciano, Floyd Patterson, Sonny Liston, Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson, and, of course, Ali. But Cooper's retirement from the sport did not spell then end of his time in the public eye, as he embarked on a successful media career. Disaster struck in the 1990s, however, when his innocent involvement in a scandal surrouding insuracne giants Lloyds of London led to him having to sell his unique collection of three Lonsdale belts topay his bills. He was knighted in the millennium New Year's honours list for his services to boxing, and his death in May 2011 sparkd a huge outpouring of tributes from the sporting community. This is the biography of an intriguing character, a great fighter and a true sporting legend.

The story of Britain's greatest boxing hero and his famous left hook Henry Cooper is best remembered for the night when he nearly changed the course of boxing history. On July 19, 1963, he fought the up-and-coming Cassius Clay, later to become Muhammad Ali, and his famous left hook,'Henry's Hammer,'dumped Clay on the canvas, raising'the biggest cheer in boxing history.'Henry went on to record many notable victories. Arguably Britain's greatest ever heavyweight fighter, he won 40 of his 55 professional fights, beating most of the true boxing greats. His story also includes the legendary names of boxing: Rocky Marciano, Floyd Patterson, Sonny Liston, Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson, and, of course, Ali. Boxing was not the end of Henry's time in the public eye. He was the ideal elder statesman of the sport, and a successful media career followed his retirement in 1971. Disaster hit, however, when his innocent involvement in the scandal of the Lloyd's Names meant that he lost heavily, and had to sell off his unique collection of three Lonsdale belts to pay his bills. This is the biography of a fascinating man, but even more, an insight into an age now lost to us.