Monday 2 May 2011

Former boxing champion Henry Cooper dies





Sir Henry Cooper born on 3 May 1934 was a heavy weight boxer known for a particularly effective left hook and his knockdown of Muhammad Ali (then known as Cassius Clay). He held the British and European heavyweight boxing titles, and, once he retired from the sport, he continued his career as a television personality.

He had been keeping unwell for some time and died at his son's house in Surrey on 1st May 2011, two days before his 77th birthday.

The first boxer to be knighted and receive the title ''Sir'' from a British monarch. Cooper’s position in the heart of British sports fans was out of all proportion to his success in the ring in a 55-fight professional career that featured 14 defeats. Twice voted British sports personality of the year, he was awarded an OBE in 1969 and knighted in 2000.

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