Cooper and Clay's UK popularity pre first fight ?

[funso banjo baby]

i was just wondering about this.

the Cooper and Ali legends grew from this fight especially.

but how popular were both before the first fight, in terms of the mainstream british public?

a popular misconception is that the first fight was a title fight.

the british and empire champs changed regularly in the 50's and 60's...exactly how well known was Cooper?

im guessing Clay would have been almost unknown to the mainstream brits ?