This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/17/2021
Offered is a site program from the June 18, 1963, bout between Cassius Clay and Henry Cooper. Also included is the normally extremely ephemeral (and disposable!) “Daily Express Community Singing” program. The fight took place in London's Wembley Stadium between the two contenders. Though scheduled for 10 rounds, the fight was stopped in the 5th because Clay had opened a gash near Cooper's left eye that was gusing blood. The real story of the fight, though, was that Cooper landed a left hook on Clay's jaw that sent him to the mat in the closing seconds of the 4th round. Clay was visibly shaken, and while he did get back to his feet, the round ending just at that moment allowed him to regain his senses. He was also gifted a few precious extra seconds when his trainer questioned whether his torn glove should be replaced.. According to Cooper, Ali always said that in the fifteenth round of the Frazier fight, he went down more from exhaustion, but “the punch Cooper hit me with, he didn't just shake me. He shook my relations back in Africa.” The win over Cooper would lead to Clay's title shot with Sonny Liston early the next year. The program measures 8 ¼ x 10 ½ inches, and the lyric sheet measures 7 ¼ x 10 ¾ inches. Both pieces present with moderate wear, some edge wear and wrinkling. The program has a cover tear that has been repaired with tape on the interior. Excellent condition.