Henry Cooper - Thoughts On the man?

He and Gibbs were reconciled at a charity event.

 

It was very close and Mickey Duff had Bugner the winner.

 

I met him at the fights a couple of times,modest ,polite,unassuming man.

 

Well I guess that’s good. Too bad it got to that point in the first place though.

 

I scored the fight RBR last year for me it was a clear win for Cooper in a competitive fight.

Cooper won mostly all the rounds after the 9th round where he it took to Bugner, infact uncharacteristically Bugner fought aggressively in the last round with an air of desperation sensing he was losing the fight.

 

As Gibbs name mentioned, as an aside Gibbs of course was due to be a judge for the Hagler vs Leonard fight but Goody Petronelli, Hagler’s co-manager, had vetoed Gibbs, so Jo Jo Guerra became the replacement judge and come fight night scored it 118-110, in favour of Leonard,

Gibbs at home stated he scored the fight 115-113 in favour of Hagler.

So Mr Petronelli did Hagler no favours there, Marvellous Marvin would have remained champ if Gibbs had scored like that at ringside.

 

Henry Cooper, a very talented fighter, good work ethic, a dedicated family man and a good human being.

 

If Gibbs scored the fight based on what he saw on telly it just proves the point of at ringside you can’t see what a judge on the other side of ring sees. I thought Hagler won. But I wasn’t ringside. Gibbs scored it for Bugner. He was in the bloody ring with them. Still doesn’t make him right or wrong. It’s Cooper’s bad sportsmanship that bugs me. And the fact that he could have at least come to Joe’s defence against the media. Joe was no angel himself but reverse the roles. Henry seriously failed as a spokesperson at the end of his career.

 

I remember thinking Cooper had just got there ,but it was too close to call it a robbery,imo.

 

Exactly why I think Henry acted like a *****. Not nice losing his British/European/Commonwealth titles on a close decision but he showed what a lovely sportsman he could be when winning but a classless act when the decision went against him.

 

This is Boxing, Investment supersedes & insures talent, not always talent in & of itself.

as great Contender as any.

 

I believe he is the only outright winner of three Lonsdale belts — earned by, iirc, defending the BBBofC title three times (for each belt).

Quite an accomplishment. He was the quintessential name associated with British boxing for a long, long time.

He had a corking left hook and was as game as they come. Alas, was also a bleeder of renown, which cost him in some big fights.

On my trip to England in the early 1990s, I happened upon a bin in a bookstore and there was a ‘how to box’ book by Mr. Cooper. I snatched it up. I had it for many years but it must have gotten lost in a move along the way, alas.

History should hold him as a stalwart on the UK scene and a credit to the game.

Ere’s to Our Enery!!!

 

Agreed. He was gentleman. Good sportsman. And a very tough man

 

Hard hitting but a bleeder and his chin was questionable. Exciting fighter who had a very good career