Questions about "All in a Day: The Fight"

[yancey]

I finally watched the video of the day of the Bugner-Frazier fight this morning. Very interesting.

Who was the very smooth guy in the suit at the arena walking around managing things? Obviously he was the promoter, but I would like to know his name.

Also, who was Bugner's manager/trainer in this fight? (the blondish, middle-age guy) He played a big role in the video and I would like to know who he was.

[yancey]

Never mind, did a little research.

Jarvis Astaire looks like he was the promoter guy, and Andy Smith was Bugner's trainer.

[orbtastic]

Andy Smith was his trainer.

[yancey]

Yes, that's right. Jarvis Astaire was the promoter and Andy Smith was Bugner's manager, who was with him from before he turned professional right up to the Ron Lyle fight.

The two other guys at the hotel are Joe's brother, Bill Bugner, and (I think) Dave Roden, a British heavyweight who also on the bill at Earls Court that night.

Mercman,

Since you are obviously familiar with the film, I have one more question.

There was a big guy that walked into Bugner's dressing room at the arena shortly before the fight.

Was that Jack Bodell?

[misterpunch]

bodell

[Caractacus]

Here are some interesting facts concerning THE FIGHT.

It was filmed 2.July.1973
It first aired on BBC TWO November.12.1973
(to promote the Bugner vrs Mac Foster fight which aired on BBC One programme-Sportsnight Special 14.November.1973(tape-delayed of course)

THE FIGHT was repeated on BBC TWO April.18.1974.
Which would be my guess as to when this tape was preserved.
Its possible the original video-tape of the first telecast
may have been part of the great BBC TV "wiping" of the early 1970's,
or does a copy of Bugner vrs Mac Foster still exist in the BBC archives?
(Ive never seen it).
so your guess is as good as mine I suppose.
(and yes that is George Foreman's voice at the end credits,
saying it could have gone to Buger)

[yancey]

The Bugner-Frazier fight was shown live on American TV, the old CBS Sports Spectacular show, as I recall. Brent Musburger called the action.

And despite George Foreman's opinion, and repeated attempts at some revisionist history by Bugner, Frazier won the fight fair and square.

The prime Frazier of the '68-'70 era would have had Bugner out by the 8th round, tops.

[Caractacus]

The Bugner-Frazier fight was shown live on American TV, the old CBS Sports Spectacular show, as I recall. Brent Musburger called the action.

From what I read it was shown live on free TV in parts of Europe,Asia and South America.
However in the USA it was shown live only on closed-circuit in two locations
The Philadelphia Arena in Philadephia(PA)
and
the Academy of Music in NYC.

[Caractacus]

Here is a link to Frazier vrs Bugner bout

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1YTAG9Fkqk

[yancey]

The Bugner-Frazier fight was shown live on American TV, the old CBS Sports Spectacular show, as I recall. Brent Musburger called the action.

From what I read it was shown live on free TV in parts of Europe,Asia and South America.
However in the USA it was shown live only on closed-circuit in two locations
The Philadelphia Arena in Philadephia(PA)
and
the Academy of Music in NYC.

I definitely saw the entire bout on CBS Sports Spectacular and Brent Musburger definitely called the action. I thought it was live, but I could be mistaken. CBS Sports Spectacular was on a Saturday afternoon in America, so I am going to do a quick google check and see what day of the week 7/2/73 was.

[yancey]

Update---

7/2/73 was a Monday, so I must be wrong about seeing it live. CBS must have shown it the following Saturday on Sports Spectacular. Sorry about that.

I remember Musburger doing it because he raved about Frazier's good sportsmanship in holding up as Bugner slowly began to fall from that left hook in the 10th. Bugner was helpless for a second or two and Frazier could have really followed up and smashed Bugner. I was also impressed with Frazier holding up.

[Caractacus]

BTW I dont think Frazier vrs Bugner was shown live on the BBC television because it would have affected the gate receipts.
It was aired live over the BBC TWO Radio however.
Commentary by Simon Smith
with inter-round summaries by Fred Verlander,
and proceeded by a discussion about the fight between Henry Cooper,Peter Wilson and Harry Carpenter.

BTW and possibly a reason it was shown only in Philadelphia and NYC via closed-circuit was because the time the fight began 5 p.m (EST).

[littlepug]

BTW I dont think Frazier vrs Bugner was shown live on the BBC television because it would have affected the gate receipts.
It was aired live over the BBC TWO Radio however.
Commentary by Simon Smith
with inter-round summaries by Fred Verlander,
and proceeded by a discussion about the fight between Henry Cooper,Peter Wilson and Harry Carpenter.

BTW and possibly a reason it was shown only in Philadelphia and NYC via closed-circuit was because the time the fight began 5 p.m (EST).

Read somewhere that BBC wouldn't show it live because it was on early and didn't want to show a potential bloodbath at that hour.

[Caractacus]

well there is a five hour time difference between London and New York City,
so the fight must have began around Noon in England.

[Caractacus]

CORRECTION--

the Joe Frazier vrs Joe Bugner fight at Earl's Court actually started at Midnight July-2-1973
and was shown closed-circuit in Philadelphia and NYC at 5 a.m in the morning!
(which would explain its limited showing in the USA)

I had to do some further reasearch about that,because it wouldnt make sense to hold a major fight
at noon on a Monday(a workday) in London.