Cooper Beats Clay in 1963

[Simon]

This is probably one for @Coiler but I was reminded a few days back about the Cooper vs. Ali fight of 1963. Claims that due to a tear in one of Ali's gloves the rest interval was more than momentarily longer than normal have been debunked, that Dundee used illegal smelling salts can't be proved one way or the other. Suppose for a moment that Cooper was able to catch Ali slightly earlier in the fourth round with an upward left hook, and being away from the ropes Ali hits the canvas and isn't able to get back to his feet in time. What if anything does that do for his career?

 

[Coiler]

He probably still becomes a star, the "loss stigma" wasn't there yet.

 

[AH Layard]

I have no expertise to add, only to say that my Grandad at the first fight at Wembley and I regret not asking him more about it when he was around. The only thing I remember him saying was that he was close to Liz Taylor and Richard Burton in the crowd!