Muhammad Ali, the 21-year-old heavyweight prospect, nearly got knocked out by Henry Cooper, a 185-pound underdog, in a non-title bout at Wembley Stadium in London in June 1963. This surprising event happened early in Ali's career, long before he became known as "The Greatest."
Ali had a lot going for him. He'd won a light-heavyweight gold medal at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome. He was over 20 pounds heavier than Cooper and had a four and a half inch reach advantage. Cooper, on the other hand, had lost eight of his bouts before facing Ali and was known for his "tissue-paper skin" that made him prone to cuts.
The packed stadium in London watched as the fight progressed. In the fourth round, something unexpected happened. Cooper landed a thunderous left hook that dropped Ali against the ropes. The bell rang just as the referee began the count. Ali's trainer, Angelo Dundee, guided him back to the corner.
Ali later said about the fight:
"Henry Cooper, one of England's greatest, sat me on my pants in London and was without a doubt one of the best I had met. His big trouble was tissue-paper skin."
Despite this close call, Ali won the fight. The match was stopped due to Cooper's severe cuts, giving Ali his 19th consecutive victory as a professional.
This fight didn't slow Ali down. The next year, in 1964, he became the world heavyweight champion by defeating Sonny Liston. His career had some ups and downs, including a three-year break from boxing from 1967 to 1970 when he refused to enlist in the U.S. Army for the Vietnam War.
Ali made a big comeback in 1970. In 1974, he defeated George Foreman in the famous "Rumble In The Jungle" fight.
Ali and Cooper had a rematch later. The result was the same - Ali won by stoppage due to Cooper's cuts. This time, Ali kept his WBC Heavyweight World Title.
This early fight with Cooper shows that even the greatest boxers can face tough moments. It's a reminder of the unpredictable nature of boxing, where one punch can change everything.
