Cooper was obviously a lovely man and a great ambassador for his sport and country and I am as sad as the next man at his passing.
However, some of the tributes over the last week have been grotesquely over-the-top when eveluating his actual ability.
When it's all said and done, we aren't talking about "one of the all-time great heavyweights"...
...we are talking about a fighter who lost no fewer than 14 times; someone whose manager wouldn't dream of letting him fight Sonny Liston (for fear of what would happen); and someone who - lets be honest - has made a virtual career out of of one punch landed on an inexperienced 21-year-old who would go into his next fight as a 7-1 underdog!
Not many managers would dream of letting their fighter in the same ring as Sonny Liston. Even if they did some of the fighters lay down in fear.
Clay was no inexperienced fighter. He is probably the best fighter who ever set foot in the ring. His weapons went far beyond his fists.
The only reason Cooper caught Clay was because he was over confident and clowning around too much.
If Copper did not have vulnerable eyes he might have been a much better boxer.
Comments
Clay was no inexperienced fighter. He is probably the best fighter who ever set foot in the ring. His weapons went far beyond his fists.
The only reason Cooper caught Clay was because he was over confident and clowning around too much.
If Copper did not have vulnerable eyes he might have been a much better boxer.
Kevin Keegan, Sir Terry Wogan & Des Lynam amongst a few others.