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IT WAS NO JIVE! (Muhammad Ali vs Henry Cooper-1)
Rumble young man, rumble, was the roar of the slogan,
When the Black Superman landed in London.
He came to display his skills against Henry Cooper,
Whose left hook was described as 'Henry's Hammer'.
But the 'Lip' promised the world to knock him out in five,
And also predicted that it 'wouldn't be no jive.'
Then came the night for which all Britain longed,
The stadium was full as more crowds thronged.
Everyone was there, the common and the cream,
Focussed from Buckingham were the eyes of the queen.
The atmosphere was tense as a relaxed Muhammad Ali,
Came to break the myth of the white hope's legitimacy.
As the opening bell of the scheduled rounds clanged,
On Henry Cooper's face sharp jabs banged.
The grace and style of Ali was too much for the Briton,
He appeared bewildered with a foe in constant motion.
It was all Ali from round one to round four,
Henry Cooper's 'Hammer' was not able to score.
Many at the ringside were screaming with frenzy,
Encouraging Cooper to finish the 'Stinging Bee'.
In response to their yells, Ali swung his head,
Magnificent his smile, he was the champ in red.
Now, Cooper got the chance and landed his big hook,
And down went the 'Lip' like a tree that had been shook.
He got up and walked to his corner in a daze.
In the minute that followed his head cleared the maze.
Round five saw Cooper charging wildly,
In a bid to hit again the fully recovered Ali.
Now the scene changed into a scene of deadly fury,
Ali's razor punch opened a cut on Henry.
The more Cooper charged, the more he got hit,
Blood gushing out, as the gash widened and split.
Circling majestically around his battered foe,
Muhammad Ali looked bigger than his ego.
The ease with which he was hitting Cooper that night,
Made the referee step in and stop the short-lived fight.
Henry's face was drenched in his own blood,
To prolong the contest would have been absurd.
So Ali fulfilled his prediction once more,
Even though he fell on the canvas in round four.
His fifth round whipping of the British champ that night,
Proved once again that he was the best of those who fight.
Beating the British champion in front of his own people,
Muhammad Ali looked simply invincible.
Many champions came but no one like him,
Be it Joe Louis, Marciano or Gentleman Jim.
