LONDON, May 1 (Reuters) - Former British and European heavyweight boxing champion Henry Cooper, one of his country's most popular sportsmen, has died two days short of his 77th birthday, the BBC reported on Sunday.
Cooper was at his peak during the 1960s and is best remembered for a defeat by Cassius Clay, later Muhammad Ali, in a non-title fight at Wembley in 1963.
He famously sent Clay to the canvas with his trademark left hook, known as "'Enry's 'Ammer", only for the American to earn more recovery time when trainer Angelo Dundee said Clay's glove was split. The incident is still a favourite topic of discussion for boxing fans to this day.
Cooper lost when the referee stopped the fight because of his cuts in the fifth round and he lost to Clay again in a world title fight at Arsenal's Highbury Stadium in London in 1966.
After a 55-fight professional career that brought 40 wins, 14 losses and one draw, Cooper retired from boxing in 1971.
He soon became a regular on TV panel shows as well as one of the faces of Brut after-shave in their TV advertisements. He was knighted in 2000.
Cooper was at his peak during the 1960s and is best remembered for a defeat by Cassius Clay, later Muhammad Ali, in a non-title fight at Wembley in 1963.
He famously sent Clay to the canvas with his trademark left hook, known as "'Enry's 'Ammer", only for the American to earn more recovery time when trainer Angelo Dundee said Clay's glove was split. The incident is still a favourite topic of discussion for boxing fans to this day.
Cooper lost when the referee stopped the fight because of his cuts in the fifth round and he lost to Clay again in a world title fight at Arsenal's Highbury Stadium in London in 1966.
After a 55-fight professional career that brought 40 wins, 14 losses and one draw, Cooper retired from boxing in 1971.
He soon became a regular on TV panel shows as well as one of the faces of Brut after-shave in their TV advertisements. He was knighted in 2000.
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