Former boxer Sir Henry Cooper has died aged 76.
Cooper, a former British heavyweight champion, died just two days before his 77th birthday.
He passed away at his son's house in Surrey.
Cooper is best remembered for two famous clashes with Muhammad Ali in the 1960s.
He floored Ali in the fourth round with 'Enry's Ammer' - his trademark left hook - but Ali eventually won the 1963 non-title fight at Wembley.
Ali triumphed again when they boxed three years later but Cooper remained a favourite with the British public.
Robert Smith, the general secretary of the British Boxing Board of Control, paid tribute to Cooper tonight and described him as ‘one of the sporting icons, not just for the boxing public but sport in general’.
Speaking to Sky Sports News, Smith continued: ‘He fought Muhammad Ali twice, once when he was Cassius Clay and once when he was Muhammad Ali, and he put up wonderful performances.
‘Ali is possibly the greatest athlete there's ever been and Henry put up a great performance and just wasn't quite good enough on both occasions - but he's not the only one who wasn't good enough to beat Ali.
‘Ali was one of the first 'big' heavyweights and Henry lost to Joe Bugner, who was 15-odd stone and Henry was 14 - just bigger men. For such a small man, he put up some great performances in a world-class context.’
On the affection in which Cooper was held, he added: ‘It's not just the boxing and your ability, it's the personality as well.
‘He won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year on two occasions, which is a tremendous feat for a boxer. Everyone called him 'Our Enry', and he was much loved, he served boxing wonderfully.’
