Reply to: RIP Henry Cooper

[Doggy Styles]

No I never knew any of that, was just wondering why he was so famous. I suppose for knocking down Ali.

And for controversially losing to Joe Bugner. He never spoke to the ref after that, who used to be his friend.

He was famous for being a great British character and for lasting about 15 years as a pro boxer.

He was European champion on and off, but too small to beat the world's best heavyweights. The one time he might have, his weakness for eye cuts let him down.

[Clever Hans]

When I wor a little lad our village shop won a 'Best Shop' competition, and the prize was Henry Cooper.

I mean, he just stood there, chatting to anybody who wanted to, giving autographs and such. All day. Most of the kids were a bit nervous, but I went up and shook his hand and chatted to him for quite a while, craning my neck. Giant of a man he seemed.

Very nice though, quiet and polite. Boring story, I know, but I felt a bit sad when I heard the news, he came across as one of those sportsmen who are really likeable human beings, which seems to be a bit out of fashion these days.

[russell]

No, UK, Commonwealth and European Champion, but I assume you already know this as this is supposed to be a dig at mourning "a failure"

No I never knew any of that, was just wondering why he was so famous. I suppose for knocking down Ali.

[SimonMac]

Was he world champion?

No, UK, Commonwealth and European Champion, but I assume you already know this as this is supposed to be a dig at mourning "a failure"

[thunderlizard]

I hope you realise that a spirit is not allowed to rest in peace until it's read all the individual "Rest In Peace" tributes to it on the internet. New heaven rules.

[russell]

Was he world champion?

[Doggy Styles]

Bit of a coincidence that Our 'Enery died on the same day as Osama Bin Laden.

Come to think of it, has anyone ever seen them at the same time?

[SimonMac]

With 'Enry's death it only leaves Thatcher alive from the "Your boys took a hell of a beating" rant from Bjørge Lillelien.

RIP

[ChrisPackit]

Remember the classic Brut ads at Christmas... "Brut 66, on the 25th"

and didn't he do the Daddies sauce ads too?

I was always in the "Hai Karate" camp though...

[Doggy Styles]

RIP 'Enry - true British boxing legend and a gentlemen.

Let us also remember the Brut adverts with Kevin Keegan

Brut was horrible. But Our 'Enery done a good advert.

PS I remember an April Fools Day BBC broadcast 25 years ago about the new over-50s heavyweight boxing division. Henry was in on it, along with Muhummad Ali and a few others. Then a few years later along came the likes of Foreman and Holyfield and it almost became fact.

[BA to the Stars]

RIP 'Enry - true British boxing legend and a gentlemen.

Let us also remember the Brut adverts with Kevin Keegan

[Old Greg]

Less well known was his long-standing opposition to British fascist parties.

[wobbegong]

He will be missed.

WNS. R.I.P. Henry.

[minestrone]

He will be missed.

That is not what Muhammad Ali said.

[norrahe]

I remember 'Enry's 'Ammer.

Perhaps a bit too small to become a world heavyweight champion, but he was a good boxer, and he gave Clay a fright before Clay was world champion.

RIP, great character.

He will be missed.