View source for Henry Cooper

{{Short description|British boxer (1934–2011)}}
{{Other people}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox boxer
| honorific_prefix = [[Knight Bachelor|Sir]]
| name = Henry Cooper
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|OBE|KSG|size=100%}}
| image = Henry Cooper 1969.jpg
| caption = Cooper {{circa|1969}}
| nickname = Our 'Enry
| weight = [[Heavyweight]]
| height = 6 ft 1+1/2 in
| reach = 75 in
| nationality = English
|birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1934|5|3}}
| birth_place = [[Lambeth, London]], England
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2011|5|1|1934|5|3}}
| death_place = [[Limpsfield]], [[Surrey]], England
| style = [[Orthodox stance|Orthodox]]
| total = 55
| wins = 40
| KO = 27
| losses = 14
| draws = 1
| no contests = 
| medaltemplates = 
{{MedalSport| Men's [[amateur boxing]] }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[ABA Championships|English National Championships]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[ABA Championships#Super Heavyweight (-81kg)|1952 London]] | [[England Boxing National Amateur Championships Light-Heavyweight Champions|Light-heavyweight]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[ABA Championships#Super Heavyweight (-81kg)|1953 London]] | [[England Boxing National Amateur Championships Light-Heavyweight Champions|Light-heavyweight]]}}
}}

'''Sir Henry Cooper''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|OBE|KSG}} (3 May 1934{{spaced ndash}}1 May 2011)<ref name=BBCDeath>{{cite news|title=British boxing legend Sir Henry Cooper dies aged 76|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/13256045.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|date=2 May 2011|access-date=2 May 2011}}</ref> was a British [[heavyweight]] [[boxing|boxer]]. He was undefeated in [[List of British heavyweight boxing champions|British]] and [[List of Commonwealth Boxing Council Champions|Commonwealth]] heavyweight championship contests for twelve years and held the [[List of European Boxing Union heavyweight champions|European]] heavyweight title for three years. In a [[Muhammad Ali vs. Henry Cooper|1963 fight]] against a young [[Cassius Clay]] (later known as Muhammad Ali), he knocked Clay down in Round 4, before the fight was stopped in Round 5 because of a cut to Cooper's eye. 

In 1966 he fought Ali for a second time.  Ali was then [[List of heavyweight boxing champions|world heavyweight champion]].  However, Cooper again lost due to an eye injury. Cooper was twice voted [[BBC Sports Personality of the Year]] and, after retiring in 1971 following a controversial loss to [[Joe Bugner]], remained a popular public figure. He is the only British boxer to have been awarded a knighthood.

==Early life==
[[File:Henry Cooper's house on Farmstead Road.jpg|thumb|left|Plaque showing former home of heavyweight boxing champion Henry Cooper at 120 Farmstead Road, Bellingham, London Borough of Lewisham]]
Cooper was born on Thursday, 3 May 1934 in [[Lambeth]], London<ref name="Tel obit George"/><ref name="G obit"/> to Henry Snr and Lily Cooper. With identical twin brother, George (1934–2010),<ref name="Tel obit George">{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/sport-obituaries/7604279/George-Cooper.html |title=George Cooper |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=18 April 2010}}</ref> and elder brother Bern,<ref name="G obit"/> he grew up in a council house on Farmstead Road on the [[Bellingham, London|Bellingham]] Estate in [[South East (London sub region)|South East London]]. During the [[Second World War]] they were [[Evacuations of civilians in Britain during World War II|evacuated]] to [[Lancing, West Sussex|Lancing]] on the [[Sussex coast]].<ref name="G obit"/>

Life was tough in the latter years of the [[Second World War]], and London life especially brought many dangers during the [[blackout (wartime)|blackout]]. Cooper took up many jobs, including a paper round before school, and made money out of recycling golf balls to the clubhouse on the [[Beckenham]] course. All three of the Cooper brothers excelled in sport, with George and Henry exercising talents particularly in [[association football|football]] and also [[cricket]].<ref>
{{cite book
 | last = Edwards
 | first = Robert
 | title = Henry Cooper: The Authorised Biography of Britain's Greatest Boxing Hero
 | year = 2002
 | publisher = Helter Skelter
 | isbn = 0-563-48831-X
 | pages = 51–58
 }}</ref> Cooper started his boxing career in 1949, as an amateur with the Bellingham Boxing Club based at Athelney St School in Bellingham which was run and founded by Albert Colley and won seventy-three of eighty-four contests. At the age of seventeen, he won the first of two ABA light-heavyweight titles before [[National Service]] in the [[Royal Army Ordnance Corps]] as Private Service Number 22486464.<ref>Interview with Henry Cooper, '[[Lads' Army]]' television show, Series 1 (2001)</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title='How I knuckled down to National Service': Sir Henry Cooper |url=http://www.legion-magazine.co.uk/features/interviews/sirhenrycooper/ |journal=Legion |publisher=[[Royal British Legion]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725040906/http://www.legion-magazine.co.uk/features/interviews/sirhenrycooper/ |archive-date=25 July 2011}}</ref>

===1952 Olympics===
Cooper represented Great Britain as a light heavyweight boxer at the [[1952 Helsinki Olympics]].  His results were: Round of 32-bye, Round of 16-lost to Anatoly Perov (Soviet Union) by decision, 1–2.

==Professional boxing career==

===Style===
Although Cooper was left-handed, he used the "orthodox" stance, with his strongest (left) hand and foot forward, rather than the reversed "southpaw" stance more usually adopted by a left-handed boxer. Opponents were thus hit hardest with punches which Cooper could throw from his front hand, closest to the opponent. At its most effective, his hook - dubbed "Enry's 'Ammer" ("Henry's hammer") - had an upward uppercut-like trajectory. A formidable left jab, from which he could hook quickly, completed his offensive repertoire.<ref name="G obit">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/global/2011/may/01/sir-henry-cooper-obituary |title=Sir Henry Cooper obituary |first=John |last=Samuel |work=The Guardian |date=1 May 2011 |access-date=3 May 2011}}</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite book
 | last = Edwards
 | first = Robert
 | title = Henry Cooper: The Authorised Biography of Britain's Greatest Boxing Hero
 | year = 2002
 | publisher = Helter Skelter
 | isbn = 0-563-48831-X}}</ref> While cut-prone and no great defensive technician, Cooper compensated by forcing the action in his bouts. After developing a left shoulder problem in the latter half of his career, he adjusted to put more stress on right-handed punches.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

===Early bouts===
Henry and his identical twin brother, George (boxing under the name Jim) turned professional together under the management of Jim Wicks.<ref name="G obit"/> Wicks had a reputation for not overmatching his boxers and looking out for their interests; however, the very cut-prone Cooper was slow to fulfil his potential and early title challenges were unsuccessful, with losses to West Indian [[Joe Bygraves]] for the Commonwealth belt (KO 9), [[Ingemar Johansson]] for the European belt (KO 5), and the undersized but highly skilled [[Joe Erskine (Welsh boxer)|Joe Erskine]] (PTS 15) for the British and Commonwealth. An impressive points win over top American heavyweight [[Zora Folley]] was followed by a second-round KO loss to Folley.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/boxingandmma/2331377/Harrison-out-to-prove-his-manager-wrong.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120918120721/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/boxingandmma/2331377/Harrison-out-to-prove-his-manager-wrong.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 September 2012 |title=Harrison out to prove his manager wrong |work=The Daily Telegraph |first=Mike |last=Lewis |date=29 January 2006}}</ref>

===British and Commonwealth Champion===
For Cooper 1959 was a banner year: he took the British and Commonwealth titles from [[Brian London]] in 15 rounds and received the last 9-carat gold [[Lonsdale Belt]] after successful defences against [[Dick Richardson (boxer)|Dick Richardson]] (KO 5), Joe Erskine (TKO 5 and TKO 12), and Johnny Prescott (TKO 10). Another points win over London brought an offer to fight [[Floyd Patterson]] for his world heavyweight title, but this was turned down by Cooper (or Wicks).<ref name="G obit"/>

===Muhammad Ali===
[[File:Muhammad Ali and Henry Cooper following their fight on June 18, 1963.jpg|thumb|Muhammad Ali and Henry Cooper following their fight on 18 June 1963]]
In 1963 [[Muhammad Ali]] (then known as Cassius Clay and a contender for the world heavyweight title) created a great deal of ticket-selling publicity before his London bout with Cooper, who many British fans hoped would be able to humble the brash young American. In the boxing world, however, Ali was considered a future world champion and Cooper the underdog. The contest took place at Wembley Stadium, Wembley Park. According to the official weigh-in, Ali outweighed Cooper by 21 pounds, Cooper said he wore weighted clothing and was near the light heavyweight limit.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> Cooper had devised his own training regimen and felt that though lighter he was in the best condition of his career.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

Ali's size, mobility, fast reflexes, and unorthodox defensive tactic of pulling back from punches made him a frustratingly elusive opponent, and Cooper was later accused by Ali's camp of hitting on the break. A stiff connection by Ali split open the face of Cooper in the middle of round three, beginning a gush of blood into his left eye. Ali, sensing the fight would be stopped because of the cut, began abandoning attempts of offense and instead began teasing and taunting Cooper, lowering his guard and leaving his jaw exposed to the Brit.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> Despite Ali's taunts and his bloody left eye, Cooper connected with a solitary left hook to the body; in the fourth's final seconds, Cooper felled Ali with an upward angled version of his trademark left [[hook (boxing)|hook]] to the jaw, "Enry's 'Ammer".<ref name="ReferenceA"/> Ali partly landed on the ropes, preventing his head hitting the canvas covered boards, but though up at the count of 3 he seemed hurt.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

In the corner Dundee was angry and slapped Ali's legs. Ali misunderstood and tried to get off the stool. It has been claimed{{by whom|date=September 2023}} that Dundee may have used smelling salts to revive Ali. This has never been confirmed and the film is unclear if this happened. The use of smelling salts was prohibited in British boxing, and their use would have led to Ali losing by disqualification if the offence was proved. Dundee later said that he put his finger in a small tear in one of Ali's [[Boxing glove|gloves]] to demonstrate to the referee and told the referee that his fighter needed replacements, but none were available. Cooper insisted that resulted in a delay of a minute or more in addition to the regulation time between rounds, and denied him a chance to finish off Ali while he was still dazed. A tape of the fight showed an interval extension of only an extra six seconds.

Cooper was the only person present who recalled a longer delay and because the surviving BBC tape of the bout is only of what was actually broadcast, it has been claimed a longer delay may have been edited out for transmission. Study of the tape shows no break and the commentary is also unbroken so the 6 second interval extension is correct.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> Ali started the 5th round aggressively, attempting to make good his prediction of a 5th-round knockout and opened a severe cut under Cooper's eye. Ali hit Cooper with a succession of hard rights knocking out his gumshield and Cooper's corner threw in the towel. Referee Tommy Little stopped the fight, and thus Ali defeated Cooper by [[technical knockout]].<ref>{{cite ODNB|author=Matthew Taylor|title=Cooper, Sir Henry (1934–2011)|date= January 2015|id=103746|url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/public/dnb/103746.html}}</ref> Subsequently, a spare pair of gloves was always required at ringside.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=6346&more=1 |title=Clay v Cooper – The Final Word on the Torn Glove Story |publisher=East Side Boxing |date=17 March 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080320014109/http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=6346&more=1 |archive-date=20 March 2008}}</ref> On the 40th anniversary of the fight, Ali telephoned Cooper to reminisce.{{citation needed|date=September 2023}}

In 1966 Cooper fought Ali for the heavyweight championship, for a second time at [[Arsenal Stadium|Arsenal Stadium, Highbury]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/cooper-and-ali-s-world-title-fight |title=Cooper and Ali's world title fight |publisher=Arsenal F.C. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111020124801/http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/cooper-and-ali-s-world-title-fight |archive-date=20 October 2011}}</ref> However, Ali was now alert to the danger posed by Cooper's left and more cautious than he had been in the previous contest; he held Cooper in a vice-like grip during clinches, and when told to break leapt backward several feet.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> Accumulated scar tissue around Cooper's eyes made him more vulnerable than in the previous meeting and a serious cut was opened by Ali, which led to the fight being stopped, Cooper again losing to Ali via technical knockout.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

===Later fights===
After a fourth-round knockout loss to former world heavyweight champion [[Floyd Patterson]] in 1966, Cooper went undefeated until the final contest of his career. The successful defences of his British and Commonwealth titles against the likes of uniquely awkward [[Jack Bodell]] (TKO 2 and PTS 15) and media-savvy [[Billy Walker (boxer)|Billy Walker]] (TKO 6) made Cooper the only man to win three [[Lonsdale Belt]]s. With a win over [[Karl Mildenberger]] in 1968 Cooper added the European crown and made two successful defences.

In May 1971, a 36-year-old Cooper faced 21-year-old [[Joe Bugner]], one of the biggest heavyweights in the world for the British, European, and Commonwealth belts. Referee [[Harry Gibbs (referee)|Harry Gibbs]] awarded the fight to Bugner by a quarter of a point score (which was subsequently abolished partly because of the controversy that followed). An audience mainly composed of Cooper fans did not appreciate the innately cautious Bugner, and the decision was booed with commentator [[Harry Carpenter]] asking, "And how, in the world, can you take away the man's three titles, like that?"<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.boxing-monthly.co.uk/content/9908/two.htm |title=He Didn't Do So Bad |journal=Boxing Monthly |date=August 1999 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120620182922/http://www.boxing-monthly.co.uk/content/9908/two.htm |archive-date=20 June 2012 }}</ref> Cooper announced his retirement shortly afterwards. Cooper refused to speak to Gibbs for many years, but eventually agreed to shake his hand while they were at a charity event.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/sports_talk/forum/1686772.stm | publisher=BBC Sport | title=Henry hits back | date=1 December 2001 | access-date=4 May 2011}}</ref>

===Opinion on modern boxers===
In Cooper's later years, he retired from commentary on the sport as he became "disillusioned with boxing", wanting "straight, hard and fast boxing that he was used to from his times."<ref name="tributes">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/13256051.stm |title=BBC Sport – Tributes pour in for British boxer Henry Cooper |work=BBC News |date=2 May 2011 |access-date=2 May 2011}}</ref> While acknowledging that he was from a different era and would not be fighting as a heavyweight today, Cooper was nonetheless critical of the trend for heavyweights to bulk up as he thought it made for one-paced and less entertaining contests.<ref name="Brian Viner on Henry Cooper">{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/brian-viner-on-henry-cooper-ali-still-had-that-cheek-he-said-i-was-getting-old-2278080.html |title=Brian Viner on Henry Cooper |work=The Independent |date=3 May 2011 |access-date=4 May 2011}}</ref> In his final year, he said that he did not think boxing was "as good as it was", naming [[Joe Calzaghe]], [[Ricky Hatton]], and [[Amir Khan (British boxer)|Amir Khan]] as "the best of their era", but asserting that "if you match them up with the champions of thirty or forty years ago I don't think they're as good".<ref name="oldie">{{cite journal |first=John |last=McEntee |title=Still With Us – Henry Cooper |journal=The Oldie |date=June 2011}}</ref>

==Life outside boxing==
In the 1960s Cooper appeared in several public information films concerning road safety, promoting the use of [[zebra crossing]]s: such as "The Story of Elsie Billing".<ref>The Story of Elsie Billing, rebroadcast, Talking Pictures TV 20 May 2020</ref> After his retirement from boxing, he maintained a public profile with appearances in the BBC [[quiz show]] ''[[A Question of Sport]]'' and various advertisements, most famously in those for [[Brut (cologne)|Brut aftershave]].<ref name="Brian Viner on Henry Cooper"/> He was also a frequent guest speaker for charity fund-raising events.<ref name="telegraph.co.uk">{{cite news |first=Des |last=Lynam |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/boxingandmma/8488204/Des-Lynam-My-friend-Sir-Henry-Cooper-was-modest-to-a-fault.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110506041520/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/boxingandmma/8488204/Des-Lynam-My-friend-Sir-Henry-Cooper-was-modest-to-a-fault.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 May 2011 |title=Des Lynam: My friend Sir Henry Cooper was modest to a fault |work=The Daily Telegraph|date=5 May 2011}}</ref> He appeared as boxer [[John Gully]] in the 1975 film ''[[Royal Flash (film)|Royal Flash]]'' and in his latter years featured in a series of UK [[public service announcements]] urging vulnerable groups to go to their doctors for vaccination against [[influenza]] called ''Get your Jab in First!''<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/934530.stm |title=Henry Cooper launches flu offensive |work=BBC News |date=21 September 2000}}</ref>

Cooper became a "Name" at [[Lloyd's of London]], which was a supposedly safe investment, but in the 1990s he was reportedly one of those who suffered enormous personal losses because of the unlimited liability which a "Name" was then responsible for, being forced to sell his Lonsdale belts.<ref name="Brian Viner on Henry Cooper"/> Subsequently, Cooper's popularity as an after dinner speaker provided a source of income, and he was in most respects a picture of contentment although becoming more subdued in the years following his wife's sudden death aged 71.<ref name="Brian Viner on Henry Cooper"/><ref name="telegraph.co.uk"/>

Considering his long career, Cooper had suffered relatively little boxing-related damage to his health, and apart from "a bit of [[arthritis]]" remained an imposing figure: in the words of one journalist, "the living manifestation of an age of [[tuxedo]]s in ringside seats, Harry Carpenter commentaries, sponge buckets and 'seconds out'".<ref name="oldie"/> He lived in [[Hildenborough]], [[Kent]], where he was the president of Nizels Golf Club.<ref name=BBCDeath/><ref name="Brian Viner on Henry Cooper"/>

Cooper was married to Albina Genepri from 1960 until 2008 (her death).<ref name="G obit"/><ref name=Telegraphobit/> He converted to her Catholic faith and described Albina, who "hated" his sport, as "an ideal wife for a boxer", never grumbling about his long absences before big fights and inviting journalists in for tea while they waited for Cooper to get out of bed the morning after bouts.<ref name="oldie"/> Cooper died on May 1, 2011, 2 days before his 77th birthday. He was survived by their sons and two grandchildren.<ref name="G obit"/><ref name="oldie"/>

Cooper was a lifelong Arsenal supporter.<ref>Tom Dare, [https://www.islingtongazette.co.uk/news/21235794.arsenal-veteran-ken-recalls-alis-highbury-fight-50-years/ 'Arsenal veteran Ken recalls Ali's Highbury fight 50 years on']. ''Islington Gazette'', 15 June 2016, retrieved 13 March 2023</ref>

==Awards and honours==

Cooper was the first to win the [[BBC Sports Personality of the Year]] award twice, in 1967 for going unbeaten and in 1970, when Cooper had become the British, Commonwealth, and European heavyweight champion. He is the only British boxer to win three [[Lonsdale Belt]]s outright.

Cooper was appointed an [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire]] (OBE) in the [[1969 New Year Honours]] for services to boxing,<ref>United Kingdom list: {{London Gazette |issue=44740 |date=20 December 1968 |pages=11   |supp=y}}</ref> awarded a [[Order of St Gregory the Great|Papal Knighthood]] in 1978, and was [[Knight Bachelor|knighted]] in the [[2000 New Year Honours]], again for services to boxing.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=55710 |date=30 December 1999 |page=1  |supp=y}}</ref> He is also celebrated as one of the great Londoners in the "London Song" by [[Ray Davies]] on his 1998 album ''[[The Storyteller (TV series)|The Storyteller]]''.<ref name=Telegraphobit>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/8487333/Sir-Henry-Cooper.html |title=Sir Henry Cooper |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=3 May 2011 |access-date=3 May 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/55710/supplements/1 |issue=55710 |title=New Years Honours List – United Kingdom |page=1 |journal=[[The London Gazette]] |date=30 December 1999}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/583942.stm | publisher=BBC Sport | title=People's champions knighted | date=31 December 1999| access-date=4 May 2010}}</ref> He was the subject of ''[[This Is Your Life (British TV series)|This Is Your Life]]'' in 1970 when he was surprised by [[Eamonn Andrews]] at Thames Television's Euston Road Studios.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/sports-personality/38358869|title=BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2016: Andy Murray wins for a record third time|work=BBC Sport|date=18 December 2016}}</ref>

==Professional boxing record==
{{BoxingRecordSummary
|draws=1
|nc=
|ko-wins=25
|ko-losses=7
|dec-wins=13
|dec-losses=6
|dq-wins=2
|dq-losses=1
}}
{{clear}}
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!{{abbr|No.|Number}}
!Result
!Record
!Opponent
!Type
!Round, time
!Date
!Location
!Notes
|-
|55
|{{no2}}Loss
|40–14–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Joe Bugner]]
|PTS
|15
|16 Mar 1971
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|Empire Pool, London, England}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Lost British, Commonwealth, and European heavyweight titles}}
|-
|54
|{{yes2}}Win
|40–13–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|SPA}} Jose Manuel Urtain
|TKO
|9 (15)
|10 Nov 1970 
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|Empire Pool, London, England}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained European heavyweight title}}
|-
|53
|{{yes2}}Win
|39–13–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} [[Jack Bodell]]
|PTS
|15
|24 Mar 1970
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|Empire Pool, London, England}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles}}
|-
|52
|{{yes2}}Win
|38–13–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|ITA}} Piero Tomasoni
|KO
|5 (15)
|13 Mar 1969
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|ITA}} {{small|[[Palazzetto dello Sport]], [[Rome]], Italy}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained European heavyweight title}}
|-
|51
|{{yes2}}Win
|37–13–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|GER}} [[Karl Mildenberger]]
|DQ
|8 (15)
|18 Sep 1968
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|Empire Pool, London, England}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Won European heavyweight title}}
|-
|50
|{{yes2}}Win
|36–13–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} [[Billy Walker (boxer)|Billy Walker]]
|KO
|6 (15)
|7 Nov 1967
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|Empire Pool, London, England}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles}}
|-
|49
|{{yes2}}Win
|35–13–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} [[Jack Bodell]]
|TKO
|2 (15), {{small|2:18}}
|13 Jun 1967
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|[[Molineux Stadium]], Wolverhampton, England}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles}}
|-
|48
|{{yes2}}Win
|34–13–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} Boston Jacobs
|PTS
|10
|17 Apr 1967
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|[[De Montfort Hall]], [[Leicester]], England}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|47
|{{no2}}Loss
|33–13–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Floyd Patterson]]
|KO
|4 (10), {{small|2:10}}
|20 Sep 1966
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|Empire Pool, London, England}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|46
|{{no2}}Loss
|33–12–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Muhammad Ali]]
|TKO
|6 (15), {{small|1:38}}
|[[Muhammad Ali vs. Henry Cooper|21 May 1966]]
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|[[Arsenal Stadium]], London, England}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|For [[list of WBA world champions#Heavyweight|WBA]], [[list of WBC world champions#Heavyweight|WBC]], ''[[list of The Ring world champions#Heavyweight|The Ring]]'', and [[Lineal championship|lineal]] heavyweight titles}}
|-
|45
|{{yes2}}Win
|33–11–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} Jefferson Davis
|KO
|1 (10), {{small|1:40}}
|16 Feb 1966
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|Wolverhampton Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, England}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|44
|{{yes2}}Win
|32–11–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} Hubert Hilton
|TKO
|2 (10), {{small|1:20}}
|25 Jan 1966
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|[[London Olympia]], London, England}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|43
|{{no2}}Loss
|31–11–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} Amos Johnson
|PTS
|10
|19 Oct 1965
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|Empire Pool, London, England}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|42
|{{yes2}}Win
|31–10–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} Johnny Prescott
|RTD
|10 (15), {{small|2:34}}
|15 Jun 1965
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|[[St Andrew's (stadium)|St Andrew's]], [[Birmingham]], England}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles}}
|-
|41
|{{yes2}}Win
|30–10–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} Matthew Johnson
|KO
|1 (10), {{small|2:34}}
|20 Apr 1965
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|[[Wolverhampton Civic Hall]], [[Wolverhampton]], England}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|40
|{{yes2}}Win
|29–10–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} Dick Wipperman
|TKO
|5 (10)
|12 Jan 1965
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|Royal Albert Hall, London, England}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|39
|{{no2}}Loss
|28–10–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} Roger Rischer
|PTS
|10
|16 Nov 1964
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|Royal Albert Hall, London, England}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|38
|{{yes2}}Win
|28–9–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} [[Brian London]]
|PTS
|15
|24 Feb 1964
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|King's Hall, Manchester, England}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles;<br>Won vacant European heavyweight title}}
|-
|37
|{{no2}}Loss
|27–9–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Muhammad Ali]]
|TKO
|5 (10), {{small|2:15}}
|[[Muhammad Ali vs. Henry Cooper|18 June 1963]]
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|[[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]], London, England}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|36
|{{yes2}}Win
|27–8–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} [[Dick Richardson (boxer)|Dick Richardson]]
|KO
|5 (15)
|26 Mar 1963
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|Empire Pool, London, England}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles}}
|-
|35
|{{yes2}}Win
|26–8–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} [[Joe Erskine (Welsh boxer)|Joe Erskine]]
|TKO
|9 (15)
|2 Apr 1962
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|Nottingham Ice Stadium, Nottingham, England}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles}}
|-
|34
|{{yes2}}Win
|25–8–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} Wayne Bethea
|PTS
|10
|26 Feb 1962
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|[[Belle Vue Zoological Gardens|King's Hall]], Manchester, England}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|33
|{{yes2}}Win
|24–8–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} Tony Hughes
|RTD
|5 (10)
|23 Jan 1962
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|Empire Pool, London, England}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|32
|{{no2}}Loss
|23–8–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Zora Folley]]
|KO
|2 (10), {{small|1:06}}
|5 Dec 1961
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|Empire Pool, London, England}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|31
|{{yes2}}Win
|23–7–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} [[Joe Erskine (Welsh boxer)|Joe Erskine]]
|TKO
|5 (15)
|21 Mar 1961
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|Empire Pool, London, England}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles}}
|-
|30
|{{yes2}}Win
|22–7–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|ARG}} Alex Miteff
|PTS
|10
|6 Dec 1960
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|Empire Pool, London, England}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|29
|{{yes2}}Win
|21–7–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Roy Harris (boxer)|Roy Harris]]
|PTS
|10
|13 Sep 1960
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|Empire Pool, London, England}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|28
|{{yes2}}Win
|20–7–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} [[Joe Erskine (Welsh boxer)|Joe Erskine]]
|TKO
|12 (15)
|17 Nov 1959
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|Earls Court Arena, London, England}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles}}
|-
|27
|{{yes2}}Win
|19–7–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|SA}} Gawie de Klerk
|TKO
|5 (15)
|26 Aug 1959
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|Coney Beach Pleasure Park, Bridgend, Wales}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained Commonwealth heavyweight title}}
|-
|26
|{{yes2}}Win
|18–7–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} [[Brian London]]
|PTS
|15
|12 Jan 1959
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|Earls Court Arena, London, England}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Won British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles}}
|-
|25
|{{yes2}}Win
|17–7–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Zora Folley]]
|PTS
|10
|14 Oct 1958
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|Empire Pool, London, England}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|24
|{{yes2}}Win
|16–7–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} [[Dick Richardson (boxer)|Dick Richardson]]
|TKO
|5 (10)
|3 Sep 1958
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|[[Coney Beach Pleasure Park]], [[Bridgend]], Wales}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|23
|{{no2}}Loss
|15–7–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|GER}} Erich Schoppner
|DQ
|6 (10)
|19 Apr 1958
| style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|GER}} {{small|[[Festhalle Frankfurt]], [[Frankfurt]], Germany}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|22
|{{draw}}Draw
|15–6–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|GER}} Heinz Neuhaus
|PTS
|10
|11 Jan 1958
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|GER}} {{small|Westfalenhallen, Dortmund, Germany}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|21
|{{yes2}}Win
|15–6
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|GER}} Hans Kalbfell
|PTS
|10
|16 Nov 1957	
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|GER}} {{small|[[Westfalenhallen]], [[Dortmund]], Germany}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|20
|{{no2}}Loss
|14–6
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} [[Joe Erskine (Welsh boxer)|Joe Erskine]]
|PTS
|15
|17 Sep 1957
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|Harringay Arena, London, England}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|For [[list of British heavyweight boxing champions|British]] and Commonwealth heavyweight titles}}
|-
|19
|{{no2}}Loss
|14–5
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Ingemar Johansson]]
|KO
|5 (15), {{small|2:57}}
|19 May 1957
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|SWE}} {{small|[[Johanneshovs Isstadion]], [[Stockholm]], Sweden}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|For [[List of European Boxing Union champions#Heavyweight|European heavyweight title]]}}
|-
|18
|{{no2}}Loss
|14–4
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} [[Joe Bygraves]]
|KO
|9 (15)
|19 Feb 1957	
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|Earls Court Arena, London, England}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|For [[list of Commonwealth Boxing Council champions#Heavyweight|Commonwealth heavyweight title]]}}
|-
|17
|{{no2}}Loss
|14–3
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} Peter Bates
|TKO
|5 (10), {{small|1:01}}
|7 Sep 1956
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|[[Belle Vue Zoological Gardens]], [[Manchester]], England}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|16
|{{yes2}}Win
|14–2
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|ITA}} Giannino Orlando Luise
|TKO
|7 (10)
|26 Jun 1956
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|[[Empire Pool (Wembley)|Empire Pool]], London, England}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|15
|{{yes2}}Win
|13–2
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} [[Brian London]]
|TKO
|1 (10)
|1 May 1956
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|[[Empress Hall, Earl's Court]], London, England}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|14
|{{yes2}}Win
|12–2
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|FRA}} Maurice Mols
|TKO
|4 (10)
|28 Feb 1956	
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|Royal Albert Hall, London, England}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|13
|{{no2}}Loss
|11–2
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} [[Joe Erskine (Welsh boxer)|Joe Erskine]]
|PTS
|10
|15 Nov 1955
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|Harringay Arena, London, England}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|12
|{{yes2}}Win
|11–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|ITA}} Uber Bacilieri
|KO
|7 (10)
|13 Sep 1955
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|[[White City Stadium]], London, England}}
|
|-
|11
|{{yes2}}Win
|10–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} Ron Harman
|TKO
|7 (8)
|6 Jun 1955
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|[[Nottingham Ice Stadium]], [[Nottingham]], England}}
|
|-
|10
|{{no2}}Loss
|9–1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|ITA}} Uber Bacilieri
|TKO
|5 (8)
|26 Apr 1955
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|Harringay Arena, London, England}}
|
|-
|9
|{{yes2}}Win
|9–0
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} [[Joe Bygraves]]
|PTS
|8
|18 Apr 1955
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|Manor Place Baths, London, England}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|8
|{{yes2}}Win
|8–0
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} Joe Crickmar
|TKO
|5 (8)
|29 Mar 1955
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|Earls Court Arena, London, England}}
|
|-
|7
|{{yes2}}Win
|7–0
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} Hugh Ferns
|DQ
|2 (6)
|8 Mar 1955
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|[[Earls Court Arena]], London, England}}
|
|-
|6
|{{yes2}}Win
|6–0
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} Cliff Purnell
|PTS
|6
|8 Feb 1955
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|Harringay Arena, London, England}}
|
|-
|5
|{{yes2}}Win
|5–0
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|SA}} Colin Strauch
|TKO
|1 (6)
|27 Jan 1955
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|[[Royal Albert Hall]], London, England}}
|
|-
|4
|{{yes2}}Win
|4–0
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} Denny Ball
|KO
|3 (6)
|7 Dec 1954
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|Harringay Arena, London, England}}
|
|-
|3
|{{yes2}}Win
|3–0
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} Eddie Keith
|TKO
|1 (6)
|23 Nov 1954
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|[[Manor Place Baths]], London, England}}
|
|-
|2
|{{yes2}}Win
|2–0
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} Dinny Powell
|{{abbr|TKO|Technical knockout}}
|4 (6)
|19 Oct 1954
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|Harringay Arena, London, England}}
|
|-
|1
|{{yes2}}Win
|1–0
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} Harry Painter
|{{abbr|KO|Knockout}}
|1 (6)
|14 Sep 1954
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|[[Harringay Arena]], [[London]], England}}
|
|}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20031217142054/http://www.eastsideboxing.com/boxing-news/day1411.php Remembering Clay v Cooper] East Side Boxing, 14 November 2006
* {{boxrec|id=9379|name=Henry Cooper}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-ach|ach}}
{{s-bef | before=[[Brian London]]}}
{{s-ttl | title=[[Commonwealth Boxing Council|Commonwealth]] [[Commonwealth Boxing Council#Heavyweight|Heavyweight Champion]]|years=12 January 1959&nbsp;– 13 March 1971}}
{{s-aft | rows=3 | after=[[Joe Bugner]]}}
|-
{{S-bef | before=[[Jack Bodell]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[BBBofC|British]] [[List of British heavyweight boxing champions|Heavyweight Champion]]|years=24 March 1970&nbsp;– 13 March 1971}}
|-
{{s-bef | before=Jose Manuel Urtain}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of European Boxing Union heavyweight champions|European Heavyweight Champion]]|years=10 November 1970&nbsp;– 13 March 1971}}

{{s-ach|aw}}
{{succession box|title=[[BBC Sports Personality of the Year]]|before=[[Bobby Moore]] |after=[[David Hemery]]|years=1967}}
{{succession box|title=[[BBC Sports Personality of the Year]]|before=[[Ann Haydon-Jones|Ann Jones]] |after=[[Anne, Princess Royal|The Princess Anne]]|years=1970}}
{{s-end}}

{{BBC Sports Personality of the Year winners}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cooper, Henry}}
[[Category:1934 births]]
[[Category:2011 deaths]]
[[Category:Military personnel from the London Borough of Lambeth]]
[[Category:Military personnel from the London Borough of Lewisham]]
[[Category:20th-century British Army personnel]]
[[Category:BBC Sports Personality of the Year winners]]
[[Category:Boxers at the 1952 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Contestants on British game shows]]
[[Category:Converts to Roman Catholicism]]
[[Category:English identical twins]]
[[Category:English male boxers]]
[[Category:English Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Heavyweight boxers]]
[[Category:Knights Bachelor]]
[[Category:Knights of St. Gregory the Great]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Olympic boxers for Great Britain]]
[[Category:People from Catford]]
[[Category:Boxers from the London Borough of Lambeth]]
[[Category:People from Hildenborough]]
[[Category:Royal Army Ordnance Corps soldiers]]
[[Category:Sportspeople awarded knighthoods]]
[[Category:European Boxing Union champions]]
[[Category:People from Lambeth]]
[[Category:Boxers from the London Borough of Lewisham]]