Who do you regard as Britian's greatest ever boxer?

[X]

Come on guys ..... Henry Cooper was a good fighter and was much loved in Britain .... but he was a European level guy. He didnt really ever come close to a world title and the true world class guys he fought all beat him handily. No disrespect to Henry, but he sort of agreed in his autobiography after Floyd Patterson sparko'd him.

[erics44]

Bruuuuuuuuuuunooooooooooooooo!

[Master]

As good as Cooper was he was knocked out by world class fighters like Ingemar Johansson.

I have read about Jimmy Wilde, and Tyson loved Jack kid Berg, and Ted Lewis.

Of modern times I would say Buchannan and Galzaghe should get a mention, but that is all.

[ross]

Id like to say Eubank too as I believe he could compete and make a tough fight for anyone but Benn not necessarily did more on the world stage in regards to challenging for titles and "names" but got wider recognition.

[armyash]

If Henry Cooper deserves a mention then so does Dave Charnley. Very underrated by the boxing world. R.I.P.

Dave Charnley - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[imp]

Lennox is the p4p of all time for the uk. No fighter from the uk in their prime would have beaten him.

[roberto duran legend]

Ken Buchanan , watch this guy in his prime , pure quality boxing
skills, P4P best Bitish fighter.

[Andre]

If Henry Cooper deserves a mention then so does Dave Charnley. Very underrated by the boxing world. R.I.P.

Dave Charnley - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Then so would Len Harvey; has to be in the top 6.



Len Harvey (11 July 1907 – 28 November 1976) was a boxer born in Stoke Climsland, Cornwall. A great tactician and defensive boxer who boxed at every weight division of his day. He began boxing at the very young age of 12 and boxed to he was 36. He was British champion at three weights, middleweight, light-heavy and heavyweight. He also held the British Empire championship at light-heavy and heavyweight as well as being recognised as world light-heavyweight champion in Britain from 1939–1942.
Early career

Len Harvey started out as a flyweight at 12. By the time he was 18 he was ready to fight for the British welterweight title. He was held to a draw though by Harry Mason on 29 April 1926. His next British title shot came 2 years later on 16 May 1929. This time at middleweight against Alex Ireland. Harvey knocked out his opponent in the seventh round to become British champion. He made six defences between 1929 and 1933. He also fought Marcel Thil of France for the world middleweight championship. He lost on points in a close decision.
On 10 April 1933, he defended his title against Jock McAvoy. This ended in defeat for Harvey but two months later he was in the ring again challenging Eddie Phillips and won on points to become British Light Heavyweight champion. On 30 November that year he beat the then unbeaten Jack Petersen to become the British Heavyweight champion. He then went on to beat Canada's Larry Gains to become British Empire champion, but lost both titles in a rematch with Petersen being stopped in the 12th round on cuts. Harvey then went on to fight for the world title on 9 November 1936, but was beaten on points by John Henry Lewis. He then regained the British Heavyweight title by disqualification against old foe Eddie Phillips. In 1938 John Henry Lewis retired after developing eye problems, Harvey was then matched with another old foe Jock McAvoy for British recognition of the world championship at Harringay Arena. This time he won on points on 10 July 1939.
Later career and death

During World War II Harvey joined the Royal Air Force. By this time he was a national sporting idol and was given an officer rank. During this time he was persuaded to defend his titles against Freddie Mills on 20 June 1942. By this time Harvey was a veteran of over a hundred bouts and was 35 years old. He was knocked out in two rounds the only second time he was stopped and first by K.O. He retired after this bout, he had an official record of 133 fights, 111 wins, 9 draws and 13 defeats. He claimed to have had 418 but they probably including booth fights. His three fights with Jock McAvoy were legendary where he won two and lost one, he later died in London on 28 November 1976. Such was his legend that he was inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame in 2008.