Rethinking Henry Cooper

I think Clay would still have won the fight.

But if Cooper had won, it wouldn't have changed the heavyweight scene all that much.

Cooper did not want to go anywhere near Liston.

So I think that if Clay lost to Cooper it would have delayed his title challenge for a year or so and he would have become the world champion in 1965 instead.

 

Actually, Henry himself would have. I am glad he didn’t. It was Jim Wicks who turned down Sonny. Not Henry. I heard him explain this. “I always fancied myself against those big heavier guys because I could move around them, but I respected Jim. If that’s what he thought it wasn’t going to happen”

 

I knew Wicks didn't want the fight but I thought Cooper didn't either.

But judging by that quote, Wicks did Cooper a massive favour.

Liston would have annihilated him.

 

Agreed. Sonny was too good a fighter. Henry was referring to that size of fighter like Dick Richardson who were bigger slower guys that he didn’t have a problem with. Around the time the fight could have happened less was known in the UK about Sonny. He was simply another rated fighter from America that could be brought to London to meet the British champion. Wicks selected Foley (a higher rated contender as it happened) rather than Liston on that occasion. And was wise to do so. When the European manager of a champion of his home country is given a list of contenders willing to travel to fight on his turf they get to chose which one. Home fans are paying to see his champion not the travelling contender.

It was the same situation when Ali came to London the first time. It could have easily been another contender that was selected. As the home fighter, It was in the interest of Coopers terms who came to London. And not the other way around.

There is a massive misinterpretation that Cooper was this journeyman. He was the attraction when he fought in London. There was no money in him campaigning in America.

 

Cooper in his autobiography stated he was glad Wicks did not want the Liston fight.

 

Cleveland Big Cat Williams vs Henry Cooper would have been good before Williams was shot in 1964.

 

Williams did come over to the UK to face Richardson, but the disgrace of the big Cat not turning up for the arranged rematch meant Williams could never fight there again. Apparently He heard voices in his head.

 

We'll never know if Clay would have still managed to win the fight. It's very debatable considering Henry had him well and truly on shaky legs. One more Hammer blow from Cooper and it would have been game over I think.

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I don't think it would have changed Clays career trajectory overall though, or Coopers if I'm honest. But Cooper would have had a very unique claim to fame had he managed to stop Clay in that fight.

 

Enery's Ammer"

 

Choklab, I read somewhere that Williams had reoccurring nightmare of fighting Richardson, hitting him and Richardson just laying on the canvas dead. Williams said that he was afraid that he might kill Richardson. I do think Williams facing either Patterson or Cooper would have been good fights to see. Don't you?

 

I heard a quote once that they didn't even want Cooper in the same city as Liston let alone the same ring.

Or words to that effect anyway.

 

... except George Chuvalo. Chuvalo claimed Sir 'Enery ducked him when George sought a shot at the Empire heavyweight championship. Chuvalo would have been a logical choice to be gvien a shot at that title at least once in his life, don'cha think? And it would have drawn quite a gate. I may be sticking my neck way out here about something I've not researched beyond what Chuvalo claimed, but those of you fellows who are experts in British boxing history can surely set me straight if I'm wrong.

 

Certainly, once he stepped into the ring.

 

seems like it was the one that got away. Check the timeline.

Chuvalo vs Cooper was looking like it was set to happen in 1966. It was a logical defence for Cooper. So winter 1965 Chuvalo came to London and fought twice so that he would catch on as a challenger with the London fans.

Chuvalo won his first in fight on points against Joe Bygraves. The second fight in London Chuvalo even fought on Henry’s undercard when Cooper beat Hubert Hilton. Unfortunately that night the fans saw Cooper win and Chuvalo lose to Edgardo Corletti. So that kind of killed the match.

The thought was if he can’t beat Corletti, he’s not beating Cooper.

However, Off the back of that loss, Chuvalo got the late call to replace Ernie Terrell in his hometown in fight for the World title against world champion Muhammad Ali. He forgot all about Cooper right there.

After this, 1966, Cooper was looking for a rematch with Ali himself. From this point on Chuvalo was campaigning in America. So There was no more call for this fight. Especially Once Cooper was beat by Patterson right after losing to Ali.

Coopers future ambitions were then entirely domestic. It signalled an end to an international career. Chuvalo and Cooper were then just two veterans fighting on different continents.