1/13/07 - Jim Amato Sir Henry Cooper By Jim Amato He came from a fighting family and by the time his boxing career ended in 1971 he was the most beloved British boxer of all time. Only once did he challenge for the World's title but he dominated the British heavyweight scene for over fifteen years. His popularity soared even more after retirement and eventually the Queen of England knighted him. Sir Henry Cooper was more than just a British fighter. He was a fine example of what British boxing is all about. Henry's professional career started in September of 1954 and he proceeded to win his first nine fights including an eight round points win over Joe Bygraves. In Henry's tenth bout he lost the first of many bouts due to an eye cut to Uber Bacilleri. He would later avenge that loss. The roller coaster career of Henry Cooper had now begun. He would drop a ten rounder to Joe Erskine and stop Brian London in one round only to lose in five to Peter Bates. 1955 was a rough year for Henry as Bygraves kayoed him for the British Empire title. Future world champion Ingemar Johansson then bombed him out. Joe Erskine then outscored him for the British title. Henry began to turn things around late in 1958 with a stoppage over Dick Richardson and a point win over respected American Zora Folley. He finally won the British and Empire titles by decision over Brian London in 1959. He halted Gawie de Klerk in an Empire defense and defended both titles by a fifth round stoppage of Joe Erskine. In 1960 Henry scored important decision victories of Roy Harris and Alex Mitiff. He again defended his titles by a fifth round stoppage of Erskine in March of 1961. On December 5, 1961 Henry suffered a major setback when Folley kayoed him in the second round of their rematch. He came back to again stop Erskine in 1962 and Dick Richardson in 1963 setting the stage for a match with the undefeated Olympian, Cassius Clay. The facts of Cooper's first bout with Clay have been well documented. His left hook knocking Clay down at the end of round four. A torn glove gave Clay time to recover. Cassius then coming back to cut and stop Henry in round five. He came back to beat Brian London again also winning the vacant European title in the process. Six months later he was stripped of the European title due to an injury. Henry would win five of his next seven bouts setting up a title shot and rematch against Clay (Muhammad Ali). The rematch was anti-climatic. Henry tried hard but Ali's punches again ripped the tender skin above Cooper's eye forcing a stoppage. Four months later, ex-title holder Floyd Patterson felled Henry. It was again time to rebuild. Henry went back to retaining his British and Empire titles defeating Jack Bodell and Billy Walker. He then regained the European title winning on a disqualification from Karl Mildenberger. In 1969 Henry was to be matched with World Boxing Association champion Jimmy Ellis. The fight fell through because the British Boxing Board refused to recognize it as a world title fight. In a huff, Henry gave up the British and Empire titles. Later Henry relinquished the European crown due to an injury. Again in 1970 the Amazing E'nry came back to regain the British and Empire titles from Jack Bodell. Later he regained the European crown by stopping Jose Urtain. On March 16, 1971 Henry met upcoming Joe Bugner with all three titles at stake. After fifteen well contested rounds, Bugner was awarded a very close and controversial decision much to the dismay of Henry. Cooper never boxed again. I hope that Sir Henry is slated to be a guest at the Boxing Hall of Fame this year. His popularity has crossed the Atlantic. A tribute to this fine fighter and even finer gentleman. 
 Doug Jones By Jim Amato What do you say about a fighter who was good enough to challenge for world title recognition in two different weight classes? What do you say about a fighter who holds knockout victories over former world champion and Hall Of Famers Carl "Bobo" Olsen and Bob Foster? In all he met six world title holders. He also crossed gloves with top contenders like Eddie Machen, Pete Rademacher, Zora Folley, Billy Daniels, George Chuvalo, Thad Spencer and Boone Kirkman. Impressive? You bet! Here's more. He gave "The Greatest" his toughest pre championship fight and to this day there are many who feel that the decision rendered that night was a travesty. For some people timing is everything. Take Lennox Lewis and Roy Jones Jr. Talented boxers who were fortunate to come along when their respective divisions were void of serious challenges. Then take Jerry Quarry. A talented fighter who just happened to box in the greatest era of the heavyweight division. Go figure. Doug Jones suffered the same fate as Quarry. Bad timing with a dash of bad luck equals Doug Jones. Doug turned professional in 1958 and won his first nineteen fights facing light heavyweights as well as heavyweights. He established himself as a viable contender in 1960 with two wins over Von Clay and a six round KO of Bobo Olsen. 1961 wins over Rademacher and another over Von Clay led the unbeaten Jones into a match with the highly rated Machen. Doug lost the verdict but little stature. In his next bout Doug met the classy Harold Johnson for the vacant World Light Heavyweight championship. The clever Johnson outboxed Doug in this 1962 contest and Jones dropped his next bout on points to Zora Folley. Showing the tenacity that molded his career Doug bounced back to score kayos over Bob Foster and Folley in a return match. On March 13, 1963 Doug took on the unbeaten and highly touted Olympic Gold Medalist Cassius Clay in a sold out, jammed packed Madison Square Garden. It was the night that the roof almost caved in on young Cassius. Maybe he underestimated Doug. Who knows? The fact is that Doug hurt Cassius early and often. It didn't take Clay long to realize that he was in the fight of his life ! By the middle rounds Cassius was able to get his jab working. Only then did he climb back into the fight. The officials thought Clay did enough to win. The fans did not. Clay was booed without mercy and Jones who was short ended received the cheers of a winner. This would be the highlight of Doug's respectable career. There were ups but also untimely downs like the night Doug was upset by the rugged Canadian Chuvalo. He resurged with five straight kayo wins over mediocre opposition and was awarded a shot at the World Boxing Association heavyweight title held by Ernie Terrell. On June 28th, 1966 Doug failed on his date with destiny as the bigger, taller Terrell won a boring points verdict to retain his bogus title. Four months later Doug was beaten by up and coming prospect Thad Spencer. Then on February 21st, 1967 Doug became a stepping stone on Joe Frazier's march toward the heavyweight crown. You could see the end was near but Doug had one more surprise left. He traveled to Seattle and upset their unbeaten prospect Boone Kirkman via a badly cut eye. Boone wanted Doug again and got him. The faded Jones was no match in the return as Kirkman got sweet revenge and Doug got a ticket to retirement. Doug lost ten of forty one fights. These are not Hall Of Fame numbers. It is doubtful that Doug will ever get in the Hall but it is a shame that his name is rarely mentioned when the top big men of the 60's are brought up. As time goes on his stand against young Cassius is almost forgotten. Doug deserves better then that. jimsboxing@zoominternet.net
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