Henry Cooper

Sir Henry Cooper was a British heavyweight boxer, best remembered for a 1963 fight with a young Muhammad Ali, which Cooper, who at times looked on the verge of winning, lost when the fight was called off due to a cut. Cooper was undefeated in British and Commonwealth heavyweight championship contests for twelve years, and held the European heavyweight title for three years. In 1966 he fought Ali, by then world heavyweight champion, a second time and was again stopped on cuts without being off his feet. Cooper twice was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year, and after retiring in 1971 following a controversial loss remained a popular public figure. He is the only boxer to have been awarded a knighthood.