Henry Cooper KOs Muhammad Ali Boxing Coin Gift Set 1963

Great British Sporting Moments: Henry Cooper floors Cassius Clay 1963

Henry Cooper v Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) Coin Display Gift Set 1963

From the 'Sporting Events' range: visit our ebay store to view the full range (multiple buy to compound carriage) at: http://stores.ebay.co.uk/historiccoinandstampsetgifts

The display contains the complete set of eight 1963 coins, namely: halfcrown, florin, Scottish and English shilling, sixpence, threepence, penny and halfpenny.

All of the coins are in Fine (or better) condition and the item is housed in a display protection case.

This would make a great Christmas or Birthday present for a Boxing fan.

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Henry Cooper

His two defeats by Ali were Cooper's most famous fights...

Lennox Lewis may be Britain's only undisputed world heavyweight champion of the 20th century, but Cooper, with his distinctive Londoner's dropped aitches, easy going humour and craggy features, remains the people's favourite.

His record-breaking achievements in boxing's blue riband division - which were based on a fabled left hook, known as 'Enery's 'Ammer - made him a sporting icon of the 1960s.

And his famous showdowns with the great Muhammad Ali - recently voted by BBC viewers as the sportsman of the millennium - captured the imagination of boxing fans everywhere.

But above all else it was the way Cooper carried himself that cemented his place in the British public's heart.

Because for Cooper, who at 13st 8lbs was small for a heavyweight, how he won was always more important than whether he won.

"Boxing must be a sport in which its dignity is always to the forefront," he said.

"It's a rough, tough old game as it is - one all about courage and athleticism and fitness and skill.

"And, as we know only too well, sportsmen can get seriously hurt. That's why the dignity of boxing must be maintained."

Cooper the gentleman admits he is exasperated with the behaviour of many modern proponents of the noble art.

He has condemned the shenanigans surrounding Naseem Hamed's fights and the manic excesses of Mike Tyson.

But one of boxing's more arrogant figures is exempt from his criticism - Ali himself, who would predict what round he would win in and loved to taunt his opponents.

"Ali was different," Cooper explained. "He did it with some wit for a start. And he knew that you knew his antics were just his way of scoring a psychological point.

"He always did it with a little twinkle in his eye. You could always see his tongue in his cheek, and he meant you to."

Cooper fought Ali twice. First, as Cassius Clay, the great young American was knocked to the floor by Cooper at Wembley in 1963.

It remains the most famous punch in British boxing history.

Cooper already had a bad gash above his left eye, but with blood streaming down his face and Clay toying with him in the fourth round, he launched a left hook that sent Clay sprawling into the ropes.

But with 44,000 Englishmen screaming for the end of the fight, the bell sounded instead for the end of the round just as the count reached four.

Clay had survived and inside a minute of the fifth round the bout had been stopped, with Cooper blinded by his own blood.

Then in 1966 he fought Ali again, this time at Highbury.

But there was to be no fairytale rematch, as Cooper's tendency to cut cost him the world heavyweight title when the fight was halted in the sixth.

Cooper finally brought the curtain down on his illustrious career in 1971 at the age of 37, but only after one final disappointment when he lost his British, European and Commonwealth titles to Joe Bugner in a fight that to this day he believes he won by a round.

But if he is more famous for his defeats than for his numerous victories it matters little, because Henry Cooper will always be remembered as a genuine sporting hero.

The year that was 1963...

• On 29 January, President Charles de Gaulle vetoes Britain's attempt to join the European Economic Community • On 28 August, Dr Martin Luther King leads the 200,000 people on the 'March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom', at which he gives his famous 'I have a dream' speech • In October, the trial of Nelson Mandela – charged with sabotage and conspiracy to overthrow the government, under the Suppression of Communism Act – begins in South Africa (ends 1964) • On 18 October, following the Profumo scandal, but officially because of ill health, British prime minister Harold Macmillan resigns. He is succeeded by the 14th earl of Home, who disclaims the peerage and becomes Sir Alec Douglas-Home • On 22 November, President John F Kennedy is assassinated in Dallas, Texas. He is succeeded by vice president Lyndon B Johnson. Lee Harvey Oswald, arrested for the killing, is himself gunned down by night-club owner Jack Ruby two days later • Folk singers Bob Dylan and Joan Baez enjoy popular success • The Great Escape, directed by John Sturges, begins its long run, soon becoming a fixture on television at Christmas around the world •

Sporting 1963...

• Football League Champions were Everton, leaving Tottenham in the runners up spot • Manchester United defeated Leicester City 3-1 in the FA Cup Final, with Dennis Law finding the net for the Red Devils • The Grand National winning horse was ‘Ayala’ • The Cheltenham Gold Cup winning horse was ‘Mill House’ • The Epsom Derby winning horse was ‘Relko’ • Golf's British Open was won by Bob Charles • Oxford won the Boat Race by five lengths over Cambridge • F1 Champion was Jim Clark driving for Lotus • The Wimbledon tennis singles tournament saw victories for Chuck McKinley of USA (mens) and Margaret Smith of Australia (ladies) • American Sport – The first Super Bowl did not take place until 1967 - NBA Championship: Boston Celtics 4-2 Los Angeles Lakers – Major League Baseball World Series: Los Angeles 4-0 New York Yankees (MVP Sandy Koufax) •

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