Brian London


Brian Sidney Harper (19 June 1934 – 23 June 2021), known professionally as Brian London, was an English professional boxer who competed from 1955 to 1970.[1]

Brian London
Muhammad Ali fights Brian London on August 6, 1966.jpg
London fighting Muhammad Ali in 1966
Statistics
Real nameBrian Sydney Harper
Nickname(s)The Blackpool Rock
The British Bulldog
Rated atHeavyweight
NationalityBritish
Born(1934-06-19)19 June 1934
West Hartlepool, County Durham, England
Died23 June 2021(2021-06-23) (aged 87)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights58
Wins37
Wins by KO26
Losses20
Draws1

Career

He held the British and Commonwealth heavyweight title from 1958 to 1959, and twice challenged for the world heavyweight title, losing to Floyd Patterson in 1959 and Muhammad Ali in 1966, both times via knockout. He was one of a quartet of British boxers, with Henry Cooper, Joe Erskine, and Dick Richardson, who dominated the British boxing scene throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Following a long illness, he died on June 23, 2021, four days after his 87th birthday.

References