George Cooper, 75, identical twin of Britain's best-loved heavyweight boxer Henry Cooper
Hoodoo
George Cooper, who died on April 11 aged 75, was the identical twin of
the nation's best-loved heavyweight boxer Henry Cooper and shared the
highs and lows of his brother's long career in the ring.
Published: 6:02PM BST 18 Apr 2010
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/sport-obituaries/7604279/George-Cooper.html
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01618/george-cooper_1618568c.jpg
Although his own boxing career never progressed beyond domestic level,
George subsequently took on a valuable backroom role as Henry went on to
win the British, European and Commonwealth heavyweight crowns.
Along with Henry's long-time manager Jim "the Bishop" Wicks, George was
in the corner for all his brother's most notable fights, including his
gallant but unsuccessful world title challenge against Muhammad Ali at
Highbury on May 21 1966. He was also there for Henry's final fight,
against Joe Bugner at Wembley on March 16 1971, when the controversial
decision by the referee, Harry Gibbs, to award Bugner victory by a
quarter of a point led to Henry Cooper's retirement.
The Cooper twins � Henry was the elder by 20 minutes � were born on May
3 1934 in Westminster. Both boys ("right little ruffians", as Henry
later recalled) inherited their father's love of boxing and first
discovered their prowess in the school playground, where they invariably
stood up for one another.
"George and me were always very close," Henry declared in his
autobiography, published in 1972. "The only time we parted was when I
got married. Even then, with Dad retired and him and Mum going to live
at Margate, George came to live (with me) at Wembley until he was married.
"We went to school together, we went boxing together, we were together
in the Army. We look alike, we think alike, in temperament we're similar
and often we catch ourselves repeating each other's remarks. Throughout
our boxing lives I would go on first so that I wouldn't be worrying over
George's fight when I got into the ring."
The twins were introduced to Bellingham amateur boxing club by a
neighbour. They lost their first four fights as amateurs, but Henry
would go on to win the ABA light-heavyweight crown at 18 and
subsequently compete for Britain at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, by which
time the brothers were boxing for Eltham.
To avoid confusion with another boxer called George Cooper, George
fought under the name of Jim. Despite being a heavier puncher than his
brother, he suffered badly from cut eyes and at the age of 16 was
fortunate to survive a bout of rheumatic fever which sidelined him for a
year. Prior to turning professional he suffered a broken thumb and �
according to Henry � never punched so hard again.
The Cooper twins turned professional in a blaze of publicity. After a
round's sparring on the BBC's Sportsview programme, they emerged from
the ring to sit down and sign a contract before the watching millions.
They made their debuts at the Harringay arena in London on September 14
1954 � Henry stopping Harry Painter in the opening round, and George
overcoming the future European heavyweight champion Dick Richardson on
points.
But while Henry went on to become one of the most successful British
boxers of all time, George remained prone to cuts, eventually retiring
in November 1964. He had won 16 fights and lost 14, with one drawn.
Thereafter he fulfilled the role of his brother's trainer and confidant.
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