Back in 1963 Henry Cooper Almost Caused a Huge Shock When He Floored Muhammad Ali at Wembley Stadium, London

On June 18, 1963, a 21-year-old Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali) traveled to Wembley Stadium in London to fight British heavyweight champion Henry Cooper in front of 55,000 fans. It became one of the most famous non-title bouts in boxing history—featuring a dramatic knockdown, tactical controversy, and a precise prediction coming true.

America’s Cassius Clay is shown sliding against the ropes as he goes down after a wild left hook from British champ Henry Cooper in the fourth round of their bout in London, England, June 18, 1963.

Clay arrived in London as the brash, undefeated (18–0) top contender, loudly dubbing himself “The Greatest” and declaring that Cooper was a mere stepping stone to world champion Sonny Liston. Playing the ultimate showman, Clay arrived in the ring wearing a crown and delivered his trademark pre-fight prediction: “If he gives me any jive, Cooper will fall in five.”

The 29-year-old Cooper caught Clay off-guard with early aggression, bloodying Clay’s nose in the opening round. Clay rebounded by round two, heavily jabbing Cooper and opening up major cuts on Cooper's notoriously fragile face. Clay began to taunt Cooper, showboating on the outside.

In the final seconds of the fourth round, Cooper unleashed his trademark, devastating left hook known as ”‘Enry’s ‘Ammer.” The punch landed flush on Clay’s jaw, sending him crashing backward into the canvas. It was the first time Clay had ever been officially floored in his professional career. Clay arose heavily dazed at the count of four just as the bell rang.

The interval between rounds four and five became historic. Realizing Clay was severely disoriented, his trainer, Angelo Dundee, notice a small tear in Clay’s boxing glove. Dundee strategically worsened the tear and informed the referee, buying Clay vital extra seconds to clear his head while handlers looked for a replacement pair. Though debate continues on how much extra time this afforded, it allowed Clay to regain his composure.

Clay emerged for the fifth round with a vengeance. He immediately unleashed a blistering combination that widened the deep gash over Cooper’s left eye. With Cooper bleeding profusely and unable to see, referee Tommy Little stepped in and halted the bout at 2:15 of the fifth round, fulfilling Clay’s exact round-five prediction.

Surviving Cooper’s left hook preserved Clay's shot at the world title. Just eight months later, in February 1964, Clay shocked the world by defeating Sonny Liston in Miami to become World Heavyweight Champion, after which he changed his name to Muhammad Ali.

Ali and Cooper met again in a 1966 rematch at Highbury Stadium, where Ali once again won on cuts in Round 6. Cooper remained one of the few men Ali openly praised for having legitimate knockout power.

Boxer Cassius Clay rests during an early morning run in London’s Hyde Park. Clay is preparing for his fight at Wembley with British heavyweight Henry Cooper.

Muhammad Ali during a training session at the Territorial Army Centre in White City, London, before his fight with Henry Cooper.

Cassius Clay shakes hands with Henry Cooper during the weigh-in at London Palladium. Clay continued his confident boastings that he will beat Cooper in five rounds in their fight at Wembley Stadium tonight.

See more»

Before Becoming “Hollywood’s Mermaid,” Esther Williams Was an Elite Swimmer in the 1930s

In the 1930s, Esther Williams was an elite, record-breaking competitive swimmer long before she became Hollywood’s famous “Million Dollar Mermaid.” Training out of the Los Angeles Athletic Club (LAAC), she dominated regional and national competitions as a teenager, culminating in multiple titles and a spot on the United States Olympic team.

Williams was enthusiastic about swimming in her youth. Her older sister Maurine took her to Manhattan Beach and to the local pool. Esther took a job counting towels at the pool to pay the five-cent entry fee, and while there, she had swimming lessons from the male lifeguards. From them she learned the “male only” swimming strokes, including the butterfly, with which she would later break records.

Her medley team set the record for the 300-yard relay at the Los Angeles Athletic Club in 1939 and was also the national AAU champion in the 100-meter freestyle, with a record-breaking time of 1 minute 9.0 seconds. By age 16 Williams had won three U.S. national championships in breaststroke and freestyle swimming.

By late 1939, 17-year-old Williams had officially qualified for three berths on the U.S. Olympic Swim Team. She was scheduled to compete at the 1940 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland. However, the outbreak of World War II in Europe forced the permanent cancellation of the games, instantly shattering her dreams of an Olympic medal.

With amateur sports sidelined by war, Williams took a job as a department store stock girl before turning professional in 1940. Her local swimming fame caught the eye of showman Billy Rose. She was hired to star alongside Olympic champion Johnny Weissmuller in Billy Rose’s Aquacade, a massive musical swimming spectacle at the Golden Gate International Exposition in San Francisco. It was her performance in this pool that drew Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) talent scouts, launching her iconic movie career.

See more»

Arnold Schwarzenegger Taking Ballet Lessons in New York City, 1976

In 1976, Arnold Schwarzenegger famously took professional ballet lessons to refine his stage presence and master the art of posing. While living in New York City, Arnold worked alongside his training partner Franco Columbu and ballet dancer/choreographer Marianne Claire to incorporate fluid dance movements into his routine.

During the mid-1970s, around the time the landmark documentary Pumping Iron was filmed, bodybuilding was evolving from a simple flex-and-hold display into a choreographed performance art. While Schwarzenegger was already renowned for his massive physique, he recognized a critical flaw shared by many lifters: rigid, abrupt movements between poses.

“People think bodybuilding is just lifting heavy weights, but presenting the physique is an art. Ballet taught me how to move gracefully and maximize the impact of every pose,” he said.

Schwarzenegger’s willingness to cross-train in a discipline traditionally seen as the opposite of heavy iron helped set a new benchmark for stage presentation in modern bodybuilding, proving that artistic control and extreme muscularity could coexist.

See more»

26 Amazing Photographs of Ginger Rogers Playing Tennis From the Mid-20th Century

Academy Award-winning actress and dancer Ginger Rogers was a highly accomplished tennis player who took the sport seriously enough to compete at the highest level of American tennis. While best known for her legendary Hollywood dance partnerships, her athletic prowess extended far beyond the studio dance floors.

Her dedication culminated in playing in the mixed doubles draw at the 1950 U.S. National Championships (now known as the US Open) at Forest Hills. At 39 years old, she partnered with Frank Shields (the grandfather of actress Brooke Shields). Though they were eliminated in the first round, competing at a Grand Slam level cemented her status as a legitimate tennis player.

Her former assistant, Roberta Olden, told Fox News that Rogers was a very good tennis player who always beat her even though she was decades older than she was. Rogers initially played the sport alongside Hollywood legends such as Errol Flynn and Katharine Hepburn, but she was looking for a challenge, and she certainly got it at the tournament. Unfortunately, she and Shields lost to a much younger team. Rogers also competed in a celebrity tournament that took place in conjunction with the U.S. Open, but she and her partner lost before the final match.

Observers of her game frequently remarked that the same flawless footwork, balance, and timing that made her a transcendent dancer translates directly to her tennis style. She possessed a strong, competitive drive and continued to play well into her later years.

Rogers was highly influential in styling her own on-court looks, often opting for clean, tailored, and occasionally daring two-piece white ensembles that brought Hollywood elegance to the traditional tennis clubs of the mid-20th century.

See more»

The Own Goal at 1994 World Cup That Cost Andrés Escobar His Life

Going into the 1994 World Cup in the United States, the Colombian national team was widely considered a dark horse favorite to win the entire tournament. They had famously dismantled Argentina 5–0 in Buenos Aires during qualifiers, and Brazilian legend Pelé had even tipped them for the title.

However, back home, Colombia was fracturing. The death of drug lord Pablo Escobar (no relation to Andrés) in December 1993 had opened a massive power vacuum, causing chaos among rival drug cartels. These syndicates were deeply entrenched in Colombian football, heavily betting on matches and using clubs to launder money. The pressure on the team was suffocating. Players received death threats at their hotels, and the manager’s tactical decisions were actively influenced by cartel syndicates threatening the lives of the squad and their families.

After a shocking 3–1 loss to Romania in their opening match, the Colombian team received severe backlash and even death threats. On June 22, 1994, Colombia played a must-win group stage match against the host nation, the United States, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.

In the 34th minute, American midfielder John Harkes sent a sharp cross into the Colombian penalty box. Attempting to block the pass, Colombia’s dependable, elegant star defender and captain, Andrés Escobar, slid to intercept the ball. Instead of clearing it, his deflection redirected the ball past his own goalkeeper, Oscar Córdoba, into the back of the net. The own goal gave the U.S. the momentum, resulting in a 2-1 defeat for Colombia. Despite winning their final group match against Switzerland, the Colombian team finished last in Group A and was eliminated early from the tournament.

See more»

West Bromwich Albion Goalkeeper John Osborne Smoking a Cigarette During a Match in 1972

In a striking image from 1972, West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper John Osborne is seen smoking a cigarette during a match, a scene almost surreal by today’s athletic standards. With a cigarette casually perched between his lips as he stood in goal, Osborne captured the essence of a footballing era far removed from the hyper-disciplined, scrutinized world of modern sport. It was a time when personality often eclipsed protocol, and players exuded a rugged charm that connected them deeply with everyday fans.

According to fan accounts and football lore, Osborne pulled a pack of cigarettes out of his socks but lacked a light. He turned to the home crowd at the Hawthorns, and a supporter threw a lighter onto the pitch, which Osborne used before returning it.

Smoking on or near the pitch was not entirely uncommon or forbidden during this era. Players frequently smoked in dressing rooms, and managers openly smoked on the touchlines. Smoking in English football grounds was not officially banned until 2004.

Osborne made over 250 appearances for West Bromwich Albion between 1966 and 1977. He was a crucial part of the squad that won the 1968 FA Cup Final against Everton. He earned the nickname "Bionic" because he played with a pioneering plastic/metal joint inserted into one of his fingers.

Early in his career at age 24, Osborne survived a cancer diagnosis that required the removal of a rib and part of a lung. Despite this, he returned to top-flight professional football. He later passed away from lung cancer in November 1998 at the age of 57.

The Story of Pickles, the Dog Who Found the Trophy After It Was Stolen Before the 1966 FIFA World Cup in England

Few stories in sports history match the chaotic, stranger-than-fiction drama of the 1966 FIFA World Cup. Months before England captain Bobby Moore would lift the iconic Jules Rimet Trophy, a four-year-old black-and-white mixed-breed collie named Pickles became the absolute savior of English football. Here is how a Sunday morning dog walk saved the beautiful game.

In March 1966, four months before England was set to host the World Cup, the Football Association agreed to let the solid-gold trophy be displayed at the “Sport with Stamps” rare stamp exhibition at Methodist Central Hall in Westminster.

Despite assurances of 24-hour security, the guard schedule had structural gaps. On Sunday, March 20, 1966, while a Methodist church service was taking place on the floor below, someone forced open the back doors of the building, removed the padlock from the display case, and stole the trophy. Ironically, the thieves completely ignored rare stamps worth £3 million, taking only the trophy (valued significantly lower for its physical gold).

The Metropolitan Police were utterly humiliated. Days later, a ransom note demanding £15,000 arrived. An undercover sting operation led to the arrest of a middleman, but he claimed to have no knowledge of where the actual trophy was hidden. The trail went cold.

On Sunday, March 27, exactly one week after the theft, 26-year-old Thames lighterman David Corbett stepped out of his South Norwood home in South London to take his dog, Pickles, for a walk. As Corbett was getting ready to put on the leash, Pickles wandered over to a neighbor’s parked car and began sniffing intensely at a package hidden under a laurel bush.

Corbett later recalled the moment: “It was wrapped in tightly-bound newspaper and string, laying against my neighbor’s car wheel. I picked it up and it's quite heavy, though not very big... At the time the IRA were at large, so I personally thought it was a bomb. So I put it down. Picked it up, put it down again. Then curiosity took hold. I tore a bit off the bottom and there was a plain disc. Then I tore around and there was Brazil, Germany, Uruguay. I ran back in and said to my wife: ‘I think I’ve found the World Cup!’”

Corbett rushed the trophy to the local police station, where, in classic true-crime fashion, he was initially interrogated as the prime suspect. Once his name was quickly cleared, the nation erupted in pure relief and “Pickles-mania.”

The heroic collie became an international celebrity. Corbett collected nearly £5,000 in reward money (enough to buy a house at the time). Pickles was named “Dog of the Year,” awarded a silver medal from the National Canine Defence League, and given a year’s supply of free food from pet food manufacturer Spillers.

Pickles went on to star as an extra alongside Eric Sykes and June Whitfield in the 1966 comedic spy film The Spy with a Cold Nose. When England went on to win the World Cup that July, both Corbett and Pickles were invited to the official celebration banquet at the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington. Pickles became the star of the night, famously held by players like Bobby Charlton, though he also reportedly bypassed the prestige of the evening by relieving himself on the five-star hotel’s elevator doors.

Tragically, Pickles’ time in the limelight was short. In 1967, he passed away in a tragic accident while chasing a cat. He was buried in the back garden of the house his reward money helped purchase, where his collar and medal remain highly prized pieces of football folklore (some of his medals are preserved by the National Football Museum in Manchester).

See more»

The England Fans Who Went to the 1986 World Cup and Loved It So Much, They Stayed

In 1986, amidst high unemployment in the Black Country, a group of young childhood friends aged 20 to 23 lost their jobs. Seeking an escape, they scraped together a few hundred pounds each to follow the England national football team 5,000 miles away to Mexico for the 1986 FIFA World Cup and chose to never return home.

The most famous anecdote from the group involves Garry Hardwicke (nicknamed “Rabbithead”). He reportedly told his partner back home that he was just “nipping out to get a pint of milk,” and ended up staying away for 12 years.

The group, including friends nicknamed Adder (Gary Allen), Rabbithead, Batesy (Stuart Bates), Arnie (David Arnold), and Texas Steve (Steve Dawson), fell in love with the vibrant Mexican culture and welcoming locals. Instead of catching their flights back to the UK after England was knocked out by Maradona’s infamous “Hand of God” match, they embarked on a massive journey across the Americas.

Most of the group eventually moved further north and built permanent new lives and careers in North America.

(via BBC)

Brazil National Team Training Aboard the Ship “Conte Biancamano” for the 1934 World Cup in Italy

Brazil’s second appearance at a World Cup came in 1934, in Italy. For the first and only time in history, the reigning world champion did not take part in the following edition. Champions on home soil four years earlier, Uruguay chose not to participate in the tournament in retaliation for the absence of European teams at the 1930 World Cup in Montevideo. At the time, many countries claimed the long journey to South America was too difficult.

Sixteen teams qualified for the World Cup through the first-ever qualifiers, including the host nation: Sweden, Spain, Italy, Hungary, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Romania, the Netherlands, Germany, France, the United States, Egypt, Brazil, and Argentina. Among these teams, only Brazil and Argentina did not need to take the field, due to the withdrawals of Chile and Peru.

Managed by coach Luiz Augusto Vinhaes, Brazil went to the World Cup without having played a single friendly in 1933. To reach Italy, the delegation left Brazil by ship on May 12. During the more than ten days aboard the ship Conte Biancamano, the players trained on deck.

Brazil national team training aboard the ship Conte Biancamano for the 1934 World Cup in Italy.

In a bizarre twist of fate, the Conte Biancamano docked in Barcelona to pick up the Spanish national team, who were drawn as Brazil's first-round knockout opponents. According to historical FIFA tournament trivia records, Spain’s legendary goalkeeper Ricardo Zamora reportedly spied on Brazilian star forward Waldemar de Brito practicing penalty kicks on the ship’s deck. Zamora later used this knowledge to save de Brito’s penalty during their actual match.

Because the 1934 World Cup featured a straight single-elimination knockout format, Brazil’s tournament was over almost as soon as it began. They landed in Italy completely unacclimatized just 48 hours before their opening match. On May 27, 1934, Spain defeated Brazil 3-1 in Genoa, instantly eliminating the Seleção after just 90 minutes of World Cup play.

The Brazilian team team on the bus prior to their first round match vs Spain which they lost and were eliminated from the tournament.

Brazil bowed out of the 1934 World Cup in the Round of 16 after a 3-1 defeat to Spain.

Muhammad Ali Letting a Young Fan Win a Fight in 1963

On June 6, 1963, in a small London gym, 6-year-old Patrick Power was learning to box to stand up to schoolyard bullies. That day took an unforgettable turn when none other than Muhammad Ali, then still known as Cassius Clay, arrived to train for his upcoming bout against British champion Henry Cooper. The young boy had no idea he’d be sharing the ring, even briefly, with a future legend.

Ali, known for his charm as much as his skill, noticed Patrick and took the time to offer him some boxing tips. With a warm smile and playful spirit, he stepped into the ring with the young lad and sparred gently, allowing Patrick to land a few punches and “win” the round. It was a touching gesture that left a lasting impression on everyone in the gym that day.

The moment captured in these photographs speaks volumes: the world’s greatest boxer crouching low, grinning, while a little boy throws a punch with all his might. It was a rare, joyful glimpse of Ali’s kindness outside the spotlight, one that turned an ordinary boxing lesson into a magical childhood memory.

Sharing a Cigarette During the Tour de France, ca. 1927

During the Tour de France in 1927, a captivating moment was captured as two cyclists shared a cigarette amidst the grueling race. At a time when the race was known for its extreme physical endurance and challenging terrain, the image of these athletes casually taking a break to smoke highlighted a stark contrast to the modern image of sports professionalism. Back then, cyclists were not the well-conditioned, highly trained athletes we think of today, but often worked with fewer resources and a less scientific approach to training.

The cigarette break served as a small, humanizing moment in the midst of the grueling competition. The riders, caught between moments of exhaustion and the fleeting respite, were sharing a brief pause from the intense race. The casualness with which they lit up during such an intense event shows how much the culture of competitive sports has changed over the years, with the focus now on optimal health and performance.

This iconic photograph from the 1927 Tour de France is a reminder of the past and how far the sport has evolved. It symbolizes a different era in cycling, one where athletes could share a smoke as easily as they shared the road. Today, the Tour de France is synonymous with elite athleticism, but this picture offers a rare glimpse into a time when the race was less about perfection and more about sheer will and grit, with moments of levity in between the fierce competition.

James Hunt Punching a Track Marshall During the 1977 Canadian Grand Prix at Mosport Park

During the 1977 Canadian Grand Prix at Mosport Park, James Hunt punched track marshal Ernie Strong in a fit of rage after a collision with his teammate. The incident became one of the most infamous examples of Hunt’s volatile temperament.

On lap 62, while battling Mario Andretti for the lead, Hunt attempted to lap his McLaren teammate, Jochen Mass. A misunderstanding led to a high-speed collision that knocked both cars off the track. While Mass was able to continue, Hunt was forced to retire. Seething with frustration, he remained at the trackside waving his fist at Mass for several laps.

When marshal Ernie Strong attempted to intervene and guide Hunt to a safer area away from the live track, Hunt reacted by landing a “crisp right hand” that knocked the marshal to the ground. Almost immediately after the strike, Hunt realized his error, helped Strong to his feet, and apologized while being led away. 

The race stewards took immediate action against Hunt for his conduct. Hunt was fined $2,000 for the assault on the marshal and an additional $750 for returning to the pit lane in an “unsafe manner” by walking on the racing side of the barriers. Strong eventually sued Hunt over the incident.

The footage remains a staple of F1 “wildest moments” reels, perfectly capturing the volatile, rock-star persona that made Hunt both beloved and polarizing.

“I was just so angry... It was a complete misunderstanding, but at that moment, I just lost it.” – James Hunt, reflecting on the incident.

In 1964, Bob Uecker and Bob Gibson Are Both Fined by the Cardinals for Holding Hands for the Team Picture

Bob Gibson and Bob Uecker holding hands in the 1964 St. Louis Cardinals team photo. The prank initiated by Uecker, who whispered the idea to Gibson. Both players smiled widely for the photo, but when the team and management noticed, the photo had to be retaken, and both men were fined for the incident.

Seconds before the photo was taken, Uecker (a backup catcher) had whispered to Gibson (the team’s intimidating ace pitcher), “We should hold hands.” Gibson happily did, and they held hands, and they smiled big, and this was 1964. They did it simply as a gag to break the stiffness of the formal moment, not for any political or social statement. When management discovered the pose in the developed photo, officials considered it unprofessional and a distraction. Both players were fined an amount often cited as around $200 or $300 total.

The original photograph was discarded, and the entire team had to gather to retake the official picture. The incident became a famous anecdote, which Uecker himself later recounted on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in 1971: “Management didn’t think it was funny. But it was the only way I could keep Gibson from hitting me, by holding onto his pitching hand.”

This time very purposely putting Uecker and Gibson in separate rows. You will notice in the official team photo, though, they both still have huge smiles on their faces. They knew!

While some have interpreted the gesture as a subtle statement about racial unity during the Civil Rights era (Gibson was Black, Uecker was white), both players maintained it was purely a harmless prank. That same season, the Cardinals went on to win the 1964 World Series.