Video Hype: Remembering Sir Henry Cooper (1934-2011)
by Scott Christ on May 1, 2011 5:56 PM EDT
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PrintSir Henry Cooper passed away today at the age of 76, but the popular legend will not soon be forgotten. In 2009, Cooper reunited with old rival Muhammad Ali:
Boxing personalities remember Cooper as a "gentle giant" and a "role model" this afternoon via Twitter.
Joe Calzaghe: "To the great HENRY COOPER R.I.P x"
Tony Dodson: "thoughts go out to all his family and friends at this sad time one of Britains finest"
Joe Gallagher: "Rip Henry cooper gave me my first amateur boxing trophy big gentle giant"
David Haye: "One of Britain's greatest sports man Sir Henry Cooper passed away today. A true warrior and great human being. Rest in Peace."
Eddie Hearn: "R.I.P Henry cooper a true British boxing legend and lovely man. Thoughts with his family at this time."
Amir Khan: "Sorry to hear the loss of some1 so special who will never be forgotten Our heartfelt condolences go out to the champ and his family"
Lennox Lewis: "R.I.P. Sir Henry Cooper. Former British, Commonwealth and European Champion. My deepest condolences to the Cooper family."
Wayne McCullough: "Sorry to hear that former heavyweight boxer Henry Cooper has passed away. He was a gentleman and a role model."
Ashley Sexton: "R.I.P Sir Henry Cooper!"
Adam Smith: "Tragic news tonight that Henry Cooper has passed away. Legend."
Paul Smith: "Shitty news today, Ted Lowe now Henry Cooper. Proper fighter from a proper hard era. God bless him x"
After the jump: Footage from the 1963 weigh-in for the first battle between Ali and Cooper and more as we remember Sir Henry Cooper.
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If that’s the original British commentary on Ali v Cooper 1,i love it.
About 15-20 seconds before Henry put Ali down Harry Carpenter was saying how Ali was treating Cooper with contempt and that Cooper might “nail him”.
Great punch and what a great hooker Cooper was.He had some serious power,especially to say he wasn’t that big for a heavy,even in those days.
Ali was out on his feet.
I can’t recall Ali being hit & hurt at such a young age. He really was poleaxed there.
by Phill on May 1, 2011 7:11 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
RIP Sir Henry.
He did have a great left hook. Being half Brit, I’m fully aware what an icon he was……..a Lonsdale HW champion was a big deal back then……….I don’t even know who the champion of GB is today.
A truly great man. My grandfather’s often told me the story of how Cooper was at the same hotel where my uncle’s barmitzvah was taking place and, on seeing the celebrations, Cooper introduced himself to all, took photos with the entire party and then signed a glove for my uncle. A very special person who shall be missed dearly.
"Occasionally, there is a boxing match that, in its demonstration of skill, courage, intelligence, hope, seems to redeem the sport - almost. Perhaps boxing has always been a sport in crisis, a sport of crisis."
by Oli Goldstein on May 2, 2011 6:05 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
I don’t mean to make light of a sad situation but i don’t think Henry would mind.
Trust Adam “Le Douche” Smith to choose that much overused word (usually by football fans) “Legend”.
Sir Henry was a great man but Smith is typically overstating his ranking as a boxer.
He was a good,solid fighter but not exactly a legend.
I’m sure the man himself would have admitted as much.
It seems to me that calling Sir Henry a “legend” in this case is more about his standing as an all-around memorable personality. At least that’s how I take it. I could be wrong.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
by Scott Christ on May 2, 2011 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions
It could well be yeah
and i nearly didn’t post what i did but the word just gets used too much over here and every good sportsman is suddenly a “legend”.
Someone of Ali’s standing is the kind who deserves to be called legend as far as i’m concerned but it’s probably meant as you said,which is fair enough i suppose.
I just can’t stand Adam Smith or football fans in general.
or football fans in general.
I should say cliche spouting football fanatics (not all fans) who for some misguided reason think England have a chance to win the World Cup every time it comes around and forget how crap we are.
The types who say “legend” too much and don’t instead look at better countries and ways in which they can improve.
Anyone from the UK who doesn’t like football and all the crap that comes with it might know where i’m coming from,but…….I digress. :)
Sorry for the rant Sir Henry.
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