The Mad Monkey Posted May 2, 2011 Share Posted May 2, 2011 Boxing legend Sir Henry Cooper has died at the age of 76, at his son's house in Surrey. Cooper, who famously fought Muhammad Ali during an illustrious career inside the ring, was a former English, Commonwealth and European heavyweight champion, although he never took a world title belt. Known for a stunning left hook, he did put the famed American on the canvas during their 1963 meeting, although Ali - then known as Cassius Clay - would go on to win both that contest and a subsequent rematch three years later. Ali later noted that Cooper "had hit him so hard that his ancestors in Africa felt it", while the man himself always said he would continue to fight only as long as he felt welcomed by the crowd. "While they stand up and clap I'll keep doing it," he once said. "When they boo, I'll pack it in." Cooper was knighted in 2000, after winning the prestigious Sports Personality of the Year award twice - the first person to do so - during his professional boxing career, which included 55 fights (40 wins, 27 knockouts) before his retirement in 1971. Outside the ring, he maintained his popularity with the British public due to various appearances on British panel shows and his dedication to numerous charities. He turned professional at the age of 20 alongside his twin brother George, whose death last year was believed to have greatly affected the man affectionately known by the public as 'Sir 'Enry'. The tributes to Cooper have already begun pouring in, with current heavyweight world champion David Haye, former super-middleweight world champion Joe Calzaghe and Manchester United footballer Wayne Rooney among the first to post their condolences on Twitter. http://www.espn.co.uk/boxing/sport/story/88363.html Another great British legend gone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beast Posted May 2, 2011 Share Posted May 2, 2011 R.I.P Henry Cooper, a brilliant legend! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramar Posted May 2, 2011 Share Posted May 2, 2011 RIP. Boxing legend and an Arsenal man. (Did post yesterday in the bad stuff thread here). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayseven Posted May 3, 2011 Share Posted May 3, 2011 Just saw this thread - saddened by the lack of response. Always thought the guy was a quintessential brit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramar Posted May 3, 2011 Share Posted May 3, 2011 Just saw this thread - saddened by the lack of response. Always thought the guy was a quintessential brit. Yeah it's shocking how few replies this topic has got. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S.C.G Posted May 3, 2011 Share Posted May 3, 2011 R.I.P Henry Cooper... :/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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