I think that Bob Foster's left hook would prevail. Cooper does have issues with tall rangy fellows, Muhammad Ali, May 21 1966, TKO 6. Henry is dangerous with that thudding left hook but first he has to land it, Foster will keep him at the edge of his left jab, with constant lateral movement. Bob can cut an opponent, he became the first fighter to cut Muhammad Ali on Nov 21 1972, before Ali sent him to the canvas 6 times, enroute to an 8th round TKO. Henry would be plodding forward taking leather. Bob cuts Cooper's eyes very badly forcing a stoppage in round 7, Foster beats his first heavyweight.
I have to go with Cooper here. There's always a chance his skin gives up, of course there is, but there's just as much of a chance of Foster being chinned imo. Cooper was a solid HW for a number of years who deserves more than just being known as the dance partner to Ali. From 58 to 71.he was an absolute handful for anyone and I just do not see Foster surviving.
Good fight. I can’t make too strong a case. Maybe I should go with Fosters proven metal at world level. Or maybe I should go with Fosters result against Foley? Cooper was a heavyweight of course. And he was only a small heavyweight from choice. Henry was one pound heavier in his last fight than he had been in his first fight. Not many fighters weigh the same at 36 as they had at 20 years old. He was superstitious and believed he needed to be less than 190. By design Cooper was a bigger guy. His Identical twin brother boxed as a 200 pounder with exactly the same body.
Either man could go fast with the hooks being thrown tbh. Cooper more successful obviously at Heavy but he can be cut often. But I'm pickin Enery to clobber Bob in 6.
Yes, his brother was Jim Cooper. Real name George. And he was a right handed. Consequently out of the orthodox stance jim wasn’t making the same effect with his dominant hand as Henry was. This resulted in Jim suffering more cuts and losing more fights...but he still scored some decent wins in Henry’s shadow. He knocked out Johnny Prescott and beat D!ck Richardson. My dad watched henry and his brother spar each other quite often. He said they never took it easy on each other either. Jim was in Henry’s corner. You can see him in the Bugner and Ali fights. This content is protected
Of course Foster was a much better fighter and accomplished significantly more as far as boxing history is concerned. But the heavyweight division was his kryptonite , most natural heavyweights that were good beat him. Cooper stops Foster within 6-7 rds after a rough start.
I think that the key in this fight would be Foster's jab. If he can keep Cooper at the end of it, he will probably win the fight. Foster had a punishing jab and it could do a lot of damage. If it comes to them trading left hooks, the issues Foster had with other 185 pound and up guys has to make you favor Cooper.
From the 60s onward, Cooper was only stopped on cuts in the Ali fights. His problem was being outpointed and stopped by good to excellent heavyweights, thus cuts would not be an issue. The contention for me is, is Cooper good enough that Foster's inability to beat very good and excellent Heavyweights haunts him once more? I would not put a penny on the fight, but with a gun to my head I think Cooper stops Foster in a tough fight.
