What Should Have Been But Never Was : Cuevas -vs- Palomino.
What Should Have Been But Never Was : Cuevas -vs- Palomino.
What Should Have Been But Never Was : Cuevas -vs- Palomino.
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Henry Cooper: <strong>What</strong> British Boxing is all About<br />
By Jim Amato<br />
He came from a fighting family and by the time his boxing career ended in 1971, he was the most beloved British<br />
boxer of all time. Only once did he challenge for the world's title, but he dominated the British heavyweight scene for<br />
more than fifteen years. His popularity soared even more after retirement and the Queen of England knighted him. Sir<br />
Henry Cooper was more than just a British fighter. He was a fine example of what British boxing is all about. Henry's<br />
professional career started in September of 1954 and he won his first nine fights, including an eight round points win<br />
over Joe Bygraves. In Henry's tenth bout, against Uber Bacilleri, he lost the first of many bouts due to an eye cut. He<br />
would later avenge that loss.<br />
The roller coaster career of Henry Cooper had now begun. He would drop a ten-rounder to Joe Erskine and stop Brian<br />
London in one round, only to lose in five to Peter Bates. 1955 was a rough year for Henry as Bygraves kayoed<br />
him for the British Empire title. Future world champion Ingemar Johansson then bombed him out. Joe Erskine then<br />
outscored him for the British title.<br />
Henry began to turn things around late in 1958 with a stoppage over Dick Richardson and points win over respected<br />
American Zora Folley. He finally won the British and Empire titles by decision over Brian London in 1959. He halted<br />
Gawie de Klerk in an Empire defense and defended both titles by a fifth round stoppage of Joe Erskine. In 1960<br />
Henry scored important decision victories of Roy Harris and Alex Mitiff. He again defended his titles by a fifth round<br />
stoppage of Erskine in March of 1961.<br />
On December 5, 1961, Henry suffered a major setback when Folley kayoed him in the second round of their rematch.<br />
He came back to again stop Erskine in 1962 and Dick Richardson in 1963, setting the stage for a match with the undefeated<br />
Olympian Cassius Clay. The facts of Cooper's first bout with Clay have been well-documented. His left<br />
hook knocked Clay down at the end of round four. A torn glove gave Clay time to recover. Cassius then came back<br />
to cut and stop Henry in round five.<br />
Cooper beat Brian London again, winning the vacant European title in the process. Six months later he was stripped<br />
of that title due to an injury. Henry would win five of his next seven bouts, setting up a title shot and rematch against<br />
Clay (Muhammad Ali).<br />
The rematch was anti-climatic. Henry tried hard but Ali's punches again ripped the tender skin above Cooper's eye<br />
forcing a stoppage. Four months later, ex title holder Floyd Patterson felled Henry. It was again time to rebuild. Henry<br />
went back to retaining his British and Empire titles by defeating Jack Bodell and Billy Walker. He then regained<br />
the European title winning on a disqualification from Karl Mildenberger.<br />
In 1969 Henry was to be matched with World Boxing Association champion Jimmy Ellis. The fight fell through because<br />
the British Boxing Board refused to recognize it as a world title fight. In a huff, Henry gave up the British and<br />
Empire titles. Later Henry relinquished the European crown due to an injury.<br />
Again in 1970 the Amazing E'nry came back to regain the British and Empire titles from Jack Bodell. Later he regained<br />
the European crown by stopping Jose Urtain.<br />
On March 16, 1971, Henry met upcoming Joe Bugner with all three titles at stake. After fifteen well-contested<br />
rounds, Bugner was awarded a very close and controversial decision much to the dismay of Henry. Cooper never<br />
boxed again.<br />
I hope that Sir Henry is slated to be a guest at the Boxing Hall of Fame this year. His popularity has crossed the Atlantic.<br />
A tribute to this fine fighter and even finer gentleman.