Henry Cooper

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by P4PNo.1, May 23, 2009.


  1. P4PNo.1

    P4PNo.1 Active Member Full Member

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    I was talking to my grandfather the other day and he thinks Cooper would be Britian's greatest boxer if he didn't cut so easily. I've not seen a great deal of so whats your opinion on him? Where does he rank alongside other heavyweights?
     
  2. Longhhorn71

    Longhhorn71 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Wasn't Tommy Farr English too?
     
  3. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    Welsh dear boy.
     
  4. teeto

    teeto Obsessed with Boxing banned

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    Beat me to it Janitor.

    Cooper not quite Britain's greatest boxer without the cuts, but still remains one of the better heavyweights/one of the best to hail from Britian. I think though that the cuts are simply part of who he was/his legacy so i'm not really a fan of doing these things.

    In terms of Britain's greatest boxer the likes of Buchannan, Fitzimmons, both Lewis', even Wilde and Calzaghe are on a different greatness level for me.

    But in terms of heavyweights he would certainly not be out of class with the likes of Bruno, and higher than the likes Cockell and London imo.
     
  5. TBooze

    TBooze Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    It is a bit of a myth about cuts costing Cooper fights. From 1957 to his retirement in 71, he only lost to Ali (Clay) on cuts (twice); he was outpointed four times, KO/TKO'd four times and Dq'd once in this period as well.
     
  6. ChrisPontius

    ChrisPontius March 8th, 1971 Full Member

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    The "if he didn't cut so easily" argument doesn't hold much water for me, at any rate. If Bruno wasn't separated from his senses so easily, he would've been one hell of a fighter too. Fact is they were.

    Still, Cooper was a pretty good heavyweight. He hurt Clay worse than anyone ever did before or after, almost miraculously, and was ranked in the ring top10 for 7 or so years.
     
  7. TheGreatA

    TheGreatA Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I think he did have problems with cuts although he actually "only" lost 3 or 4 times because of it (twice to Ali who was notoriously good at cutting up his opponents). Cooper bled in most of his fights but he learned how to fight through it.

    Cooper was probably at his best here:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-2op2gXusM
     
  8. teeto

    teeto Obsessed with Boxing banned

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    Probably one of my favourite kayos, knew what it it was before i watched it then.

    He speaks very highly of Erskine.
     
  9. Vantage_West

    Vantage_West ヒップホップ·プロデューサー Full Member

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    top 10 british heavyweight
     
  10. CANNONBALL

    CANNONBALL Well-Known Member Full Member

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    thought bugner was better to be honest
     
  11. Spunik

    Spunik Well-Known Member Full Member

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    ole lantern jaw Enry Cooper
     
  12. Longhhorn71

    Longhhorn71 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Was Cooper staying in a neutral corner after the knockdowns? Looked like he jumped on Erskine pretty quick.
     
  13. ChrisPontius

    ChrisPontius March 8th, 1971 Full Member

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    That was a sick knockout. Very impressive showing by Cooper though, never seen it before. Particularly his left hand is VERY good; jabs, hooks, uppercuts, everything.
     
  14. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    Cooper was a mean sod in the ring but very gentle out side it.Years ago,
    I was late getting to the Royal Albert Hall for a fight night and the first fight was all ready on I stood halfway up the stairs waiting to find my seat in between rounds ,so as not to block anyone's view.
    Cooper was crouched in front of me waiting to do the same ,he was doing commentary for the BBC on the main bout,Seeing him there , as the bell rang for a joke I said" come on fella out.of the way" ,"I haven't got all night", he turned quicklly round ,[he is just under 6 2in,I am 5 8 1/2in], grinned and said "sorry mate you go first",mild mannered , the term could have been invented for him.
     
  15. bigjake

    bigjake Active Member Full Member

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    i know he stayed away from george chuvalo and wouldn't give him a fight for the british empire title.he knew chuvalo was to strong and rugged for him i guess,would have been interesting fight to watch.