33 Facts About Brian London

Brian Sidney Harper, better known by the ring name Brian London, was an English professional boxer who competed from 1955 to 1970.

Brian London 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.

Brian London was born in West Hartlepool, County Durham, on 19 June 1934.

Brian London moved to Blackpool when he was 16 years old, where he resided into his later years.

Brian London had a brother, Jack junior, who fought as a light-heavyweight.

Brian London's father fought under the name "London" rather than Harper, as a homage to an American novelist with this name.

Brian London never liked the idea of boxing as a child, as he didn't like the idea of having cauliflower ears like his father and his associates.

Brian London was spurred to take up boxing during his time in the Royal Air Force for national service, after an officer learned of his familial relations.

Brian London fought as an amateur before turning professional in 1955.

Brian London finally lost when he came up against Henry Cooper in May 1956.

In June 1958, Brian London fought Joe Erskine, the Welsh boxer, for the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles.

Brian London lost to the Cuban Nino Valdez later that year, by a technical knockout in the seventh.

However, in January 1960, Brian London bounced back when he beat the American Pete Rademacher by a knockout in the seventh.

When Richardson's trainer shouted a few remarks at Brian London, Brian London replied with an impressive combination of blows, decking him, and chaos broke out.

Brian London lost to American Eddie Machen in October 1961 by a technical knockout in the tenth, and in April 1963, he lost to Ingemar Johansson of Sweden on points over twelve rounds.

Brian London then fought Henry Cooper for the third time in February 1964, when he challenged for his British and Commonwealth titles, as well as the vacant European title.

Brian London's next fight of note was in March 1965, against the young "Golden Boy" of British boxing, Billy Walker.

On 6 August 1966 Brian London fought for the World Heavyweight Championship for the second time at the age of 32, when Muhammad Ali came to defend his title at Earl's Court Exhibition Hall in England.

Ali bouncingly circled continually, whilst Brian London tracked doggedly after him for the first two rounds seemingly with a strategy of trying to land a single knock-out punch to the American champion.

Brian London succeeded in landing only one blow in the match, a left jab to Ali's jaw midway through the first round which caught Ali by surprise and left him for a moment stunned, but the blow lacked weight and Ali was able to quickly recover.

On coming out for the 3rd Round Brian London hesitated to engage.

Brian London stopped me in three rounds and that was it, I don't think I hit him.

In March 1967, Brian London next fought American, Jerry Quarry, in Los Angeles, losing the fight by a unanimous decision after ten rounds.

In November 1967, Brian London had what was to be the last win in his career when he fought the talented American Zora Folley.

Folley had lost a world title fight against Muhammad Ali earlier that year, and Brian London beat him on points over ten rounds.

Brian London had continued to fight when he was past his best, and in June 1968, he lost, by a technical knockout to Jack Bodell.

The bout was unusual in that the bell was inadvertently rung as Brian London was getting up after being knocked down in the second.

Brian London was then knocked down again and was counted out before the end of the round.

Brian London's last fight was against the up-and-coming young boxer Joe Bugner, who would eventually take the British, Commonwealth and European titles from Henry Cooper.

Brian London was 22 wins to 3 losses early in his career but lost 17 of his last 33 fights.

Brian London had a dark sense of humour, and when asked if he would have done anything differently with Muhammad Ali, he replied, "Yeah, I should have shot him".

Brian London died on 23 June 2021 at the age of 87.

Brian London had suffered a long illness prior to his death.