How did Jean Pierre Coopman get his title shot vs Ali?

Coopman was unranked, but he actually was one of the top heavyweights in Europe. He was scheduled to fight Richard Dunn for the vacant European title, but blew that off to take the shot at Ali instead (much to the EBU's annoyance). Bernd August - who had lost to Coopman a year earlier - got the European title fight in his place.

 

Ali had a pattern in his second title reign of pacing soft touches between tougher opponents .. Wepner, Cooperman, Dunn and Evangelista .. and Spinks ... in many ways his second reign was on coast mode but at the same time he fought a terrific list of challengers ; Bugner, Lyle, Frazier, Young, Shavers, Norton .. he rarely seemed in top shape or super motivated and fought more and more in his rope a dope conserving energy to the pint of often making bouts a bore (Bugner, Lyle, Young) but he was Ali and his charisma allowed him to get away with so much others never would be able to ...