How tall is Henry Cooper

181cmguy said on 1/Sep/23
Hey @Rob, I spoke about this on Ali's page....Cooper and him are the same height. I gave several photos, from the 60s and 80s. Some would say Ali's parkinson's had already affected his height by then, idk if it did, but even then you have to bear in mind Cooper is also 8 years older.

I think his photos with you prove that people tend to exaggerate height loss for some of these guys, boxer's aren't wrestlers afterall. I don't think they tend to lose that much height in general as they're pretty fit guys too, even later in life.

I just don't see an inch between them at all, perhaps we can agree to compromise:

-make both of them 6'2flat
-downgrade Ali by 1/2
-upgrade Cooper by 1/2

Would that work for you, if not I'd like to know if you have any photos that prove Ali was that much taller than Cooper, cus I haven't seen any yet.

It's not just Ali either, Foreman, Frazier and a few other guys are overlisted I feel.

Tallish guy said on 10/Mar/23
Rob how tall was his twin brother George?
There are lots of photos of them and his brother seems shorter.Why is there height difference when they are Identical twins?

Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 11/Feb/23
Probably still least 6ft1 when Rob met him, arguably still near 6ft1½.

6ft2 peak is unquestionable

Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 19/Dec/22
Rob, maybe 188cm is the best fit or at the very least a quarter up from this listing?

Slamo said on 19/Dec/22
A weak 6-2, peak possible

Zadjaad Rostami said on 16/Nov/22
I think Rob should switch the heights of Henry Cooper and David Haye. Cause in his peak Cooper looked the full 6.2 (1.88m), which Haye doesnt. I would guess Haye is 1.87m maximum.

Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 21/Jun/22
Rory, that's why I think 6ft1¾ is the better listing. I wouldn't object to 6ft2 either mind you.

Rory said on 23/Apr/22
In his prime 6ft1.5 was probably a low measurement, like after a hard session at the gym. Probably similar to Robs mate the plumber, most people would have accepted him as 6ft2.

Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 10/Mar/22
I think Ali could have been 6ft2¼ and Cooper 6ft1¾

Black Noir said on 9/Mar/22
Hey rob how tall was Henry when u last saw him? And say in his younger days 50 years old, was he a strong 187 cm man or more 186.5 cm?

Jordan87 said on 7/Feb/22
@Rob,

Yeah honestly I just noticed he is Leaning a bit with you. Does look the 6'1".Good for him not loosing height. Also Ali said years later that Cooper was one of the better fighters he had to contend with.

Jordan87 said on 4/Feb/22
With Rob, he holds up well.

Its very likely his Peak Height was 6'1.5" seeing as with Rob he looks nearly 6'1" at his advanced age. Maybe one of the actual legit listings in boxing.

Gr3 said on 21/Dec/21
That's quite impressive he didn't lose any noticeable height. Probably was 6'1.75 in his prime and was 6'1 when he died.

Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 6/Jul/21
I reckon he was still 186-187cm range when that photo was taken which indicates 188cm peak

Daniel Wells said on 29/Apr/21
Click Here

How tall did the Krays look, Rob?

Tall In The Saddle said on 9/Apr/21
If not bang on, I would guess very close to 6'2" also. He could sometimes look even with Ali which isn't too surprising when there's only about 1/2" difference in height.

The Brits should be proud. He dropped a young Ali very hard. If not for the ropes breaking Ali's fall, Muhammad could've been even a lot worse for wear. As it was, Ali was well out of it for a short time and even stood back off his stool after returning to his corner. He was also administered smelling salts which I think might've been illegal. I do believe that Ali's corner man Angelo Dundee deliberately worsened an existing tear in Ali's glove to try and buy some extra time but despite the myths, a new glove was not found and the fighters were ordered to fight pretty much on time for the 5th round. That also makes me wonder if the already torn glove, not replaced, played any part in fast tracking Henry to a horribly cut eye.

Not bad for a HW who only weighed about 185 1/2 lb vs Ali's 207 lb, eh? That was a cracking left hook. In Ali's next fight, he beats 218 lb Sonny Liston going away. Henry got a return match during Ali's reign and Ali was much more mindful to stay out of harm's way and ultimately, it was only Henry's propensity to bleed that saw the fight eventually stopped. Ali put some big HWs down and out but despite landing some flush shots on Henry, Cooper never looked like hitting the deck in either of their fights. Ali always held a soft spot for Cooper and really had only complimentary things to say since their fights.

Covvvid1984. said on 28/Mar/21
Close to 6-2 prime

Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 6/Jan/21
Rob, maybe the original 6ft1¾ is better?


Still looked a decent 6ft1 when you met him. There was really not much between him and Ali like less than an inch. Not much between him and Joe Bugner either in their bout, 2in tops maybe

Miss Sandy Cowell said on 28/Nov/20
I'm watching Henry playing darts on an old edition of 'Bullseye'. I don't usually watch the programme because I can't tolerate the stupid background voice! 😩🙉

I have no idea how tall the late Jim Bowen was, but Henry looks far taller. Jim was probably around 5ft8.

I enjoyed this rare opportunity to catch Henry on TV, all happy and festive.

6ft1.5

🎯🐂🥊🎄🎅

Miss Sandy Cowell said on 30/Jul/20
Oh dear...

I didn't realize Henry had passed on.

RIP Henry XXX 🕯️

Miss Sandy Cowell said on 30/Jul/20
I never knew Henry is THAT tall, but then I rarely watch boxing, apart from when I want to have a laugh with my Dad. Yes, we've been in hysterics before!

Henry gets 6ft1.5. 🥊🥊📺😂🤣

Canson said on 23/Apr/20
@Jordan87: I agree with what you said

Jordan87 said on 5/Feb/20
@ Movie Guy,

Cooper is still easily over 6'1" at age 72 ( His age during Rob's Picture). I always thought Ali looked no more than an Inch Taller then Cooper. Figure cooper was a good 6'1.5" in his Prime.

Ali I would put between 6'2 and 6'2.5. , Never over.

Your right about Tyson Fury. I'd Say 6'7.5 is his max height.

movieguy12 said on 28/Nov/18
I think Cooper gave Ali as 6'3.5'' which seems odd. Nowadays Ali is usually considered about 6'2'' or just over. Cooper would seem to be a good judge being a tall man himself and having met Ali in the ring and outside I guess. Angelo Dundee Ali's trainer has also given different heights for Ali stating 6'4'' but on another occasion saying the champ wasn't that tall at 6'2''. I think Cooper claimed 6'2'' for himself and does still look a big guy in the photo with Rob although quite elderly at this point. I've also read an article in which the writer put Cooper at about 6ft in his prime saying he was too small for a heavyweight even in those days. Sports heights seem to be all over the place. You'd think if anyone would have an accurate height it would be an athlete as I'd imagine they have easy access to health checks, medicals etc. Rocky Marciano was typically given as just under 6ft or thereabouts but was probably shorter, one writer described him as being 5'9'' if stretched on a rack. Mike Tyson was given as 5'11.5'' in his fighting days but says he is 5'10''. A modern example is Tyson Fury who claims 6'9'' but is probably an inch or two under this.

Tall In The Saddle said on 7/Apr/18
Rob - lucky man to have met him. Cooper appeared to have some fair sized mitts on him.

I only linked the Daily Mail article for the Tale of the Tape - interestingly just one year later the orig. Tale of the Tape for Clay v Liston downgraded Cassius to 6'2.5".

I actually just read the Daily Mail article and it's excellent. Particularly for the fact that they put paid to the long perpetuated myth that there was between 3-5 minutes delay between rounds 4 and 5 after the knockdown. It was established years ago that there was only 6 seconds delay before the start of round 5 - Ali's torn glove may or may not have been caused his corner man Angelo Dundee, worsening an existing tear with his pinky but in the end the glove wasn't actually replaced - so the still torn glove wouldn't have helped an already cut Cooper and even though only 6 seconds delay - when you're in a world of hurt as Cassius was, sometimes it can make all the difference. Ali was also lucky that the ropes incrementally broke his fall and that he was knocked down right at the end of the round.

Over the years, both Cooper and Dundee used to talk up the delay between rounds. I don't think Cooper was making excuses - it simply made for a great yarn and Henry related it in good humour. As to Dundee, I'd say he exaggerated the delay to promote himself as a savvy corner man who bought his fighter crucial extra time.

Tall In The Saddle said on 6/Apr/18
Accepting prime Ali at no less than 6'2.5" I would not put 'Enry below 6'2" and would probably place him closer to 6'2.5" if not bang on that mark himself.

In action in the ring Ali gained at least 1" extra illusory advantage over his opposition - because Ali always fought "tall" in so far as his posture was always upright and Ali was constantly up on his toes bouncing. There a lots of photos of Ali and Cooper outside the ring standing in close and while it might surprise there is in fact little if nothing to choose between their heights imo. Henry only carried about 192 lbs (13st 10lbs) into the ring but otherwise he was a big framed man. Cooper was an awkward and dangerous opponent for Ali (great left hooks were kryptonite to Ali) and if not for cuts, I believe he would've gone the distance every time with Ali - despite getting hit flush time and again when blinded with his own blood Cooper did not stagger or appear badly hurt at any time. Ali knew this and that is why he always afforded Coop some much respect as a fighter. Ali also appreciated Coop for the consummate and respectful gentleman that he was (see This is your Life for both Ali and Cooper respectively in which their mutual respect for each other is well advertised).

Here's a link to the orig. tale of the tape - Click Here

Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 28/Dec/17
I've read 6ft up to 6ft3 for this guy so honestly this is probably the most reasonable mark for him...even though he could pull off 6ft2

Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 2/Jul/17
I think the 6ft1¾ listing was fairer. Right between the two most commonly reported heights

berta said on 8/Feb/17
this guy looks like he didtn loose any height before his death? in the photo he looks barely 187 like he was maybe 186. cool to see that guys that reach 80 dont loose anything in height. i mean if you look at the photo and new his age then most would probably have guessed him at 6 foot 3 ore little over at peak. this guy went from being 2 and a half inch shorter than clint eastwood ( if that is true) to being 1inch taller. at about the same age

movieguy said on 6/Sep/16
I remember reading an article that said his big problem with beating the top heavyweights was that he was too small at about 6ft. He does look more than that in the photo with Rob though.

Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 27/Aug/16
If he was 6ft1 range in his 70's then I don't see how he could not have been a full 6ft2 in his prime…

Rory said on 25/Aug/16
He looks 6'1-1.5 in that pic with Rob in I'm guessing his mid seventies, based on that I'd say 6'2 range peak is very believable.

Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 13/May/15
About 1in below Ali who I reckon was a weak 6ft3

Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 11/Jan/15
Rob, is this his peak height or did he still look when you met him?

Arch Stanton said on 10/Oct/14
He looks quite a lot like Jason Statham's dad Click Here Looks about as cockney as you can get!

chris said on 15/Aug/14
He walked past me at a celebrity golf match, I would say 6'2.

Dracula said on 28/Mar/14
I remember noticing a very tall, stocky gentleman standing in front of me in the local high street store circa 1994. It was only when he turned to leave that I realised it was indeed Henry Cooper. I was and still am 5'10 and he must've been at least 6'3.

Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 14/May/11
Is he dead? wasn't aware. RIP

Ivan said on 2/May/11
R.I.P Sir Henry

Anonymous said on 9/Apr/09
I met Henry at the same black tie bash as johnathan Ross, Henry is 6'2, i asked him and he confirmed he is still 6'2 and i think he is correct.

Hugh said on 17/Jan/09
So maybe 6ft2?

Lenad said on 28/Dec/08
Up straight a solid 187cm if not a bit more.

Hugh said on 27/Aug/08
He may still be 6ft2.

Hugh said on 23/Mar/08
Leo, Your right about this guy being a tank, look at the size of his hands and shoulders.

Hugh said on 29/Feb/08
I'd give him a full 6ft2. Ali was a solid 6ft3 at his peak. He looks no more than an inch shorter in that match.

Leo said on 7/Feb/08
He still looks like a tank!

Anon said on 2/Feb/08
Ali vs. Cooper, Ali looks a bit taller...
Click Here

Anonymous said on 2/Feb/08
Looks tall but surprisingly his peak fighting weight was about 13 1/2 stone. Very light even by the standards of the 60s when heavyweights weren't the monsters they later became. I think that Ali was about 6'3'' when young. OK he's smaller now but he's older and has a stoop.

anonymous said on 1/Feb/08
was about a half inch to an inch shorter than ali. 6`2ish seems pretty dead on.

Danny said on 1/Feb/08
He still looks like solid 6'1, maybe 6'1.5... Listing looks accurate

zzz said on 1/Feb/08
6'2..he was an inch shorter than ali in their fight..

miko said on 31/Jan/08
Rob why do most of your photos have a blue background?

Anonymous said on 30/Jan/08
he looks like 6'0.5-6'1. maybe 6'2 when he was younger.

dmeyer said on 30/Jan/08
steel looks 187 cm with you rob

TJ said on 30/Jan/08
In the 90s, he described himself as 6'2, but he was referring to his height when boxing. He also said Ali was 6'3.5, which seems too much. Odd though because he fought Ali twice, so you would think he would know if there was only half an inch between them.

miko said on 30/Jan/08
Probably 6"2 peak and 6"1.5 current or something like that.

AshnarLynx said on 6/Oct/07
Yeah, on the Tommy Cooper show he looked 6'2.