TRIBUTES have been paid to Sir Henry Cooper, described by a friend in Christchurch as “the gentlest of men”.

The European, British and Commonwealth heavyweight boxing legend who famously felled Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali) in 1963, would have been 77 today.

Close pal of 15 years, Terry Baker, the A1 Sporting Speakers promoter, was among the first to learn that Sir Henry had passed away at his son’s home on Saturday They worked together on countless theatre shows and after-dinner talks, including Sir Henry’s last public appearance around seven months ago.

Mr Baker said: “His two sons (Henry and John) are understandably devastated.

“He was the gentlest of men. Everything you read to that end is true.

“You could not meet a nicer person.”

Mr Baker remembers getting on instantly with the late champion, who he describes as a “dyed in the wool cockney”, meeting him just an hour before their first show in Croydon. He then became a close family friend and regular visitor.

“I cannot say why, but he was very fond of us,” Mr Baker said. “He just took to us.

“He was unbelievably humble and had time for everybody. There was not one inch of the big I am about him.

“He was the most natural person, which is why I think the public loved him so much.”

Sir Henry had been unwell for a while, but he said it was still a shock.

“If he had to go at that age, as a fan of Arsenal for it to be within a few minutes of them beating Manchester United I think he would have been happy.

“He phoned us in tears an hour after his wife Albina died in 2008. That possibly was the beginning of the end - she had done everything for him.”