Joe Bugner fought Muhammad Ali twice – and also had some other top-class fighters in front of his fists. Now the Brit has passed away at the age of 75.
Joe Bugner, who lost twice to Muhammad Ali, has died at the age of 75. The Hungarian-born Briton had an impressive and long career that spanned from 1967 to 1999. During this time, Bugner fought some of the biggest names in heavyweight history.
Escape from home
Bugner and his family fled to Great Britain at the end of the 1950s after the Soviet Union invaded Hungary and settled in St. Ives. He was already an excellent sportsman at school and developed his talent for boxing under trainer Paul King.
Although Bugner would later become one of Britain’s greatest heavyweights, his professional debut on December 20, 1967 did not go according to plan. He was knocked out in round three by Paul Brown. In 1971, Bugner ended the career of Henry Cooper, revered by British fans as “Our Henry”.
In 1973, however, he gained some fans when he pushed Joe Frazier, who had just lost his title to George Foreman, hard for twelve rounds. Before his defeat to Frazier, Bugner fought a twelve-round fight in Las Vegas against another former champion, Muhammad Ali. “The Greatest” won unanimously on points.
Against Ali for the world championship
In 1975, Ali and Bugner met again, this time for the world championship. But it was a lackluster fight, which Ali won in Kuala Lumpur after 15 rounds. Bugner later blamed the extreme temperatures and high humidity for his performance. A defeat to Ron Lyle two years later by split decision marked the end of the first phase of Bugner’s career.
He returned to the ring in 1980. But a two-round defeat to Earnie Shavers in 1982 seemed to dash any hopes of ever fighting for the title again. Points defeats to underdogs Marvis Frazier and Steffan Tangstad seemed to make Bugner a “gatekeeper” before he defeated James Tillis, David Bey and Greg Page in consecutive fights and climbed up the world rankings.
No chance against Bruno
Bugner, who was now living in Australia, was brought back to the UK by Barry Hearn in 1987. The up-and-coming promoter pitted him against Frank Bruno at a major open-air event at Tottenham Hotspur soccer club’s stadium. Bugner had no chance and lost the duel prematurely in the eighth round. He then ended his career for good.
Bugner returned again in 1995 when he defeated Vince Cervi in Australia to win the national heavyweight title. Even a defeat to Scott Welch did not deter him. Bugner scored six more wins – including against the aging “Bonecrusher” Smith – before ending his 1999 career with a record of 69-13-1 (41 knockouts).
Joe Bugner had health problems in recent years and died in a nursing home in Brisbane, Australia.
Text: Frank Schwantes