The man who knocked down Muhammad Ali with a 'hammer'

Sport & Games · Published 19 October 2026 · Updated 21 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 1963, a British underdog did the unthinkable: he felled the future greatest heavyweight of all time. But the victory was short-lived, ending in a bloody technical knockout that sparked decades of debate over refereeing, timing, and the sheer physical toll of the sport.

Henry Cooper was a technical anomaly in the boxing world. Despite being naturally left-handed, he fought in an 'orthodox' stance, placing his stronger left hand and foot forward. This allowed him to land his most devastating weapon—a hook dubbed 'Enry's Hammer'—from his front hand. This move featured an upward, uppercut-like trajectory that could catch opponents off guard. While he was often criticized for being cut-prone and lacking elite defensive technique, Cooper compensated by forcing a high-action pace in his bouts.

His most famous moment occurred at Wembley Stadium in 1963 against Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali). Though Ali outweighed Cooper by 21 pounds, Cooper felt he was in peak condition. In the fourth round, Cooper landed a solitary left hook to Ali's jaw, sending the future champion to the canvas. However, the fight was stopped in the fifth round due to a severe cut over Cooper's left eye. The aftermath was clouded by controversy: Cooper claimed a significant delay occurred between rounds, while official tapes and records suggest a mere six-second interval extension.

Cooper's career was defined by resilience and unique accolades. He was the only British boxer ever awarded a knighthood and the only man to win three Lonsdale Belts. For a period of three years, he possessed the European heavyweight title, while staying unbeaten in Commonwealth and British heavyweight championship bouts throughout twelve years. Despite a controversial retirement in 1971 following a narrow loss to Joe Bugner, Cooper remained a beloved public figure, eventually becoming a 'Name' at Lloyd's of London before facing personal financial hardships in the 1990s.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• How an 18th-century bare-knuckle boxer became the father of modern pugilism
• The man Muhammad Ali called the hardest puncher he ever faced
• The Scottish boxer who won world titles while bleeding
• The underdog boxer who inspired Rocky and survived fifteen rounds against Muhammad Ali
• A heavyweight career defined by immense power, brutal setbacks, and one bizarre disqualification
• From Ancient Greece to Global Stage: How the Olympics Evolved
• The relentless baseline power of Helen Wills, tennis's first true global superstar
• How a preacher's daughter became the first to conquer both boxing and MMA
• Heike Drechsler remains the only woman to win two Olympic long jump gold medals.
• The Buddhist priest who taught Japan's three great unifiers how to play Go
• How Heather McKay went nearly two decades without losing a single squash match
• Why the 19th-century Go master Hon'inbō Shūsaku earned the nickname Invincible

More in Individual sports · More in Sport & Games · Latest · A–Z · All topics