Muhammad Ali vs Henry Cooper in a heavyweight world title final eliminator

Date: June 18, 1963

Venue: Wembley Stadium, London

Ali stance: orthodox

Cooper stance: orthodox

Muhammad Ali won a gold medal at the 1960 Olympics in Rome, boxing as a light heavyweight. He turned pro a few months later. Ali's first big win came in 1962, when he stopped his former trainer Archie Moore in the fourth round. Ali was 20 at the time, while Moore was at least 48, and had had 217 fights. Ali kept winning, and March 1963 Ali won a controversial points decision over Doug Jones. At the time of this fight, Ali still went by his birth name Cassius Clay.

Henry Cooper turned pro in 1954. He was rather light for a heavyweight, and these days would probably be encouraged to box as a light heavyweight. Cooper's main asset was a left hook as good as any in the business, and his main weakness was a tendency to cut around the eyes. Cooper had won 12 of his last 13 bouts, and was the reigning British and Commonwealth champion.

For an in depth look at their respective records, visit:

Muhammad Ali - https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/000180

Henry Cooper - https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/9379