Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In April 1966 ITN profiled Muhammad Ali and Henry Cooper in the lead up to Ali v Cooper II, the globally-anticipated world heavyweight title match. The fight was a rematch for the pair who had previously fought in 1963 – providing Ali with the first of only four knockdowns in his 21-year career. Whilst defending his title as world heavyweight champion in 1966, Ali still had many critics, due in part to previous upsets against Sonny Liston, his defiance of the draft, and his conversion to Nation of Islam. Cooper on the other hand was keen to prove himself after his 1963 defeat to Ali - he was the only serious boxing threat in Britain at that time.
Notably, our reporter refers to Ali as Cassius Clay throughout the report, but addresses him as Muhammad during the interview, an interesting editorial detail on Ali’s reception and our news coverage at this time.
#boxing #boxinghistory #archivefootage #sports #muhammadali #henrycooper #1960s #1960sbritain #1960shistory #britian #usa #cassiusclay #thegreatest
To license the footage featured in this clip, follow the link below:
gettyimages.co.uk/search/2/film?family=editorial&phrase=X27046601*
To search the ITN Archive collection on Getty Images, follow the link below:
gettyimages.co.uk/footage/itn
🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube channel (tap the bell icon and stay up to date with all the latest ITN Archive videos!) - youtube.com/@FrontlinebyITN
🎥 Follow us on Twitter - twitter.com/ITNArchive
🎥 Like us on Facebook - facebook.com/ITNArchiveITNP
🎥 Check out our TikTok - tiktok.com/@itnarchive1955
In April 1966 ITN profiled Muhammad Ali and Henry Cooper in the lead up to Ali v Cooper II, the globally-anticipated world heavyweight title match. The fight was a rematch for the pair who had previously fought in 1963 – providing Ali with the first of only four knockdowns in his 21-year career. Whilst defending his title as world heavyweight champion in 1966, Ali still had many critics, due in part to previous upsets against Sonny Liston, his defiance of the draft, and his conversion to Nation of Islam. Cooper on the other hand was keen to prove himself after his 1963 defeat to Ali - he was the only serious boxing threat in Britain at that time.
Notably, our reporter refers to Ali as Cassius Clay throughout the report, but addresses him as Muhammad during the interview, an interesting editorial detail on Ali’s reception and our news coverage at this time.
#boxing #boxinghistory #archivefootage #sports #muhammadali #henrycooper #1960s #1960sbritain #1960shistory #britian #usa #cassiusclay #thegreatest
To license the footage featured in this clip, follow the link below:
gettyimages.co.uk/search/2/film?family=editorial&phrase=X27046601*
To search the ITN Archive collection on Getty Images, follow the link below:
gettyimages.co.uk/footage/itn
🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube channel (tap the bell icon and stay up to date with all the latest ITN Archive videos!) - youtube.com/@FrontlinebyITN
🎥 Follow us on Twitter - twitter.com/ITNArchive
🎥 Like us on Facebook - facebook.com/ITNArchiveITNP
🎥 Check out our TikTok - tiktok.com/@itnarchive1955
