AS British boxing great Sir Henry Cooper was laid to rest earlier this week, a former promoter remembered the day the “true gentleman” opened a boxing club in Worcester.
John Curnock, of Worcester Amateur Boxing Club, said: “We had more than 100 people here to see it opened.
“Henry had his picture taken in the ring with all the lads – he was a true gentleman.”
In November 1987, Our ‘Enry opened the then newly refurbished boxing club in the old tannery in Vincent Road, where the club’s home remains.
Mr Curnock said: “He was driven up from London and we met him at Broadway.
“We shared the same philosophy about what boxing was about. He came out with as complete a definition of boxing as you will get.
“The boy who is shy – it will bring him out of his shell. And the one who thinks he knows everything – well, boxing is a great leveller.”
After the opening Mr Cooper, who died earlier this month, watched an evening of bouts at the Chateau Impney Hotel near Droitwich, and although he was not on the card, he impressed the audience with a few words.
It was certainly not the first time Mr Curnock saw Henry Cooper, having watched enthralled at the legendary 1963 Wembley Stadium fight with Muhammad Ali – who was then still Cassius Clay.
Clay would go on to be boxing’s most famous world champion – a title that eluded Cooper.
“Henry knocked him down in the fourth. He had a wonderful left hook and that’s what took Clay down,” Mr Curnock said.
“But Henry always had real problems with cuts on his eyes. I went with my brother to see Henry fight Zora Folley and he was cut over the eye in about the second round.
“I thought he was going to get beaten, but he didn’t and he took the bout on points.”
Mr Curnock, who is a former trainer and promoter, had tickets to an audience with Joe Calzaghe and Sir Henry Cooper in Swansea in November last year, and took the 1963 Clay bout programme with him to get it signed.
But it was not to be – Sir Henry was taken ill and was unable to attend.
“The compere came on and said he would never appear in public again,” said Mr Curnock.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here