Former heavyweight contender Ron Lyle mentioned this about Joe Bugner.
“Joe might actually combat,” Lyle informed Steve Bounce of boxingnewsonline.internet. “And in the event you weren’t in your sport, guess what, you bought an ass-whuppin’. We had a tough combat that day in Vegas.”
Bugner was 17 when his boxing journey started.
Over the subsequent 30-plus years, he’d interact in 83 fights, profitable 69 whereas throwing palms with main contenders and boxing legends. Bugner fought in an upright model. His jab was strong, as was his proper, and particularly his chin.
His boxing profession led him to arenas in England, the USA, and Australia.
Bugner was born in Hungary in 1950. Six years later, his household fled to Britain after the Soviet Union invasion. Bugner boxed within the beginner ranks within the Sixties, profitable 13 of 16 bouts, turning skilled in 1967.
The younger man stood six toes 4 and weighed over 200 kilos.
His debut combat on the Hilton Resort in Mayfair, London, was a loss, however he bounced again to win his subsequent 17 fights. His streak ended in opposition to Dick Corridor, however Bugner was quickly again within the winner’s circle once more. He gained a choice over one-time hotshot Manuel Ramos and stopped heavyweight title challenger Brian London earlier than going through Chuck Wepner in Wembley, London.
Bugner had traveled to the USA to spar with Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, and Sonny Liston. Ali mentioned to Bugner, “Let me inform you one thing proper now. You’re the ugliest white factor I believe I’ve ever seen in my life. Your mom will need to have cried when she had you.”
Bugner paused and mentioned, “You haven’t met my sister! Now that’s ugly.’’
Ali was impressed. Bugner discovered loads.
He fought Wepner on September 8, 1970. His jab turned Wepner into the New Jersey fighter’s nickname, “The Bayonne Bleeder. The referee stopped the combat in spherical three. Bugner continued his profitable methods, assembly British icon Henry Cooper in 1971.
Cooper, quickly to be 37, was making the eleventh protection of his British, Commonwealth, and European titles. The combat went down at Empire Pool (now Wembley Enviornment).
Bugner and Cooper fought 15 hard-to-judge rounds. Bugner received the nod by 1 / 4 of a degree. Boos cascaded up and down the sector. Bugner was now a villain. He would by no means be capable to change Cooper within the hearts of the British boxing followers.
“Once I beat Cooper, I used to be now not British,” mentioned Bugner years later. “I used to be a Hungarian refugee, and that was simply ridiculous.”
Bugner misplaced his titles six months later. He was again within the ring quickly after.
1972 was a busy 12 months for Bugner. He usually fought month-to-month, scoring eight stoppages and knocking out Jürgen Blin to recapture the European heavyweight title.
Bugner and Ali met up for actual on Valentine’s Day in 1973. Bugner chased whereas Ali danced. The combat was entertaining. Ali outboxed Bugner over 12 rounds, however Bugner, combating in the USA for the primary time, acquitted himself effectively.
5 months later, Bugner was in London to face one other former heavyweight champion. Joe Frazier had misplaced his title to George Foreman in a two-round beat down. Bugner went toe to toe with Frazier, absorbing many blows earlier than happening in spherical 10. Bugner battled, buckling Frazier’s legs late within the combat.
The choice went to Frazier by a degree, though it didn’t seem that near these at ringside. Bugner had fought effectively, exhibiting loads of braveness to combine it with Frazier.
Bugner gained his subsequent eight fights in succession. Victims included power-punching Mac Foster, Jimmy Ellis, and Jose Luis Garcia. Garcia had stopped Ken Norton in 1970.
The victory earned Bugner a rematch in opposition to Ali, who had shocked the world for a second time when he knocked out heavyweight champion and massive favourite George Foreman in Africa. The combat went down on June 30, 1975, in Malaysia. The warmth was oppressive, however didn’t hassle Ali, who jumped out to an enormous lead over a tentative Bugner.
Bugner tried to mount a comeback, however the outcomes have been minimal. Ali scored a convincing 15-round unanimous choice.
The criticism of Bugner’s efficiency was harsh.
Promoter Mikey Duff mentioned, “I suppose Joe, on the finish of the day, cash is the secret.”
Replied Bugner, “Sure, and with the ability to depend it.”
The combat broken Bugner’s repute – already iffy, as some perceived his lack of effort as gutless. Bugner known as it a profession.
His retirement was short-lived. He returned just a little over a 12 months later to combat British, Commonwealth, and European champion Richard Dunn.
“I’m coming in to get my titles,” mentioned Bugner.
He started working quick, flooring Dunn with a right-hand mere seconds after the opening bell. Dunn received up, however was quickly down once more. Bugner completed the combat with one other proper.
Bugner would combat often for the subsequent 20+ years. He dropped fights in opposition to Earnie Shavers, Marvis Frazier, and Frank Bruno. At 48, he gained one thing known as the WBF title, a lesser model of the heavyweight crown. He retired quickly after.
The rugged-looking Bugner has 23 performing credit to his title.
Sadly, monetary burdens have been an issue for a number of years.
Dementia attacked Bugner just a few years in the past.
He has no recollections of his fights.
Bugner’s boxing profession was an excellent one. He defeated many contenders and fought Muhammad Ali twice and Joe Frazier.
He was hardly gutless.
He’s underrated and nonetheless unappreciated.
Joe Bugner might combat.
