The 10 British title fight victories of Henry Cooper

Henry Cooper was victorious in 10 British heavyweight title fights during his career

BN Staff

The 10 British title fight victories of Henry Cooper
  1. BRIAN LONDON (JANUARY 1959)
    After being outpointed by Joe Erskine in his first attempt at winning the British heavyweight strap in September 1957, Cooper won the title in his second shot by outscoring former victim London.
  2. JOE ERSKINE (NOVEMBER 1959)
    In what was the third meeting between the pair, Cooper gained his first victory over Erskine, having lost the previous two contests. A 12th-round stoppage saw Cooper retain his belt for the first time.
  3. JOE ERSKINE (MARCH 1961)
    Cooper kept hold of his crown for the second time by forcing a bloodied Erskine to retire after five frames. The win also saw Cooper draw level at two victories apiece in his series with Erskine.
  4. JOE ERSKINE (APRIL 1962)
    The fifth and deciding fight between Cooper and Erskine went the way of Cooper, with a nasty cut on Erskine’s eyebrow leading to a ninth-round stoppage, and Cooper’s third successful defence.
  5. DICK RICHARDSON (MARCH 1963)
    Despite having to contend with cuts by both eyes, Cooper was able to maintain his status as champion for the fourth time. Just as he had done in their initial bout, Cooper defeated Richardson in the fifth.
  6. BRIAN LONDON (FEBRUARY 1964)
    London suffered his third loss at the hands of Cooper in what was a one-sided trilogy. A points triumph for Cooper marked title defence number five.
  7. JOHNNY PRESCOTT (JUNE 1965)
    One knockdown in round eight and two more in the 10th knocked the fight out of Prescott, who did not come out for the 11th. It was the sixth occasion on which Cooper retained his belt.
  8. JACK BODELL (JUNE 1967)
    Cooper’s seventh triumphant defence was also his quickest, as a collection of clumping left hooks to the head resulted in Bodell being stopped in the second session.
  9. BILLY WALKER (NOVEMBER 1967)
    Almost nine years after becoming champion, Cooper fended off yet another challenger to his throne by halting Walker in the sixth to notch his eighth successful defence.
  10. JACK BODELL (MARCH 1970)
    With Cooper having vacated the title, Bodell won the vacant championship by beating Carl Gizzi in October 1969. Cooper then became a two-time titlist by outpointing Bodell.

Read Thomas Hauser on Sir Henry Cooper here

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