Henry Cooper, English boxer and sportscaster (d. 2011)
Sir Henry Cooper (3 May 1934 – 1 May 2011) was a British heavyweight boxer, best remembered for a 1963 fight with a young Muhammad Ali (then Cassius Clay), which Cooper, who at times looked on the verge of winning, lost due to an injury around the eye from Ali's pounding. Cooper was undefeated in British and Commonwealth heavyweight championship contests for twelve years, and held the European heavyweight title for three years. In 1966 he fought Ali again, by then world heavyweight champion, and second time lost again due to Ali's punches around the eye. Cooper twice was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year, and after retiring in 1971 following a controversial loss remained a popular public figure. He is the only boxer in the UK to have been awarded a knighthood.