Joe Bugner - RIP

[Ruthless-RKO]

Former British, European & Commonwealth heavyweight champion

https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/924

[Boxerbeetle]

Must admit I thought Bugner already passed away. His prime was before my time, but fondly remember watching his mini-comeback in the 90s. RIP.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Joe Bugner: Former world heavyweight title opponent for Muhammad Ali dies aged 75

Joe Bugner has passed away at the age of 75; the former British, European and Commonwealth champion twice shared the ring with Muhammad Ali, losing both fights on points, and traded punches with some of the biggest names in his heavyweight era

Former British, European and Commonwealth heavyweight champion Joe Bugner has died aged 75.

Bugner twice shared the ring with Muhammad Ali, losing both fights on points, and traded punches with some of the biggest names in his heavyweight era.

Earlier in his career, he defeated Henry Cooper on points to become British, European and Commonwealth champion in 1971.

Bugner's death was confirmed in a statement from The British Boxing Board of Control, which read: "It is with great sadness that the former British, European, Commonwealth heavyweight champion and world championship contender Joe Bugner has passed away at his care home in Brisbane, Australia.

"The British Boxing Board of Control passes on its condolences to Joe's family."

[Ruthless-RKO]

75. thought he was older

[Jaguar]

RIP - but what a life.

From refugee to schoolboy athletics champion, boxer, actor, businessman, and much else. A life full of ups and downs, a life well lived.

For anybody who's interested, I've always found the film: All in a Day, which shows the buildup to Bugner's fight with Joe Frazier:



Goodbye and thank you, big man.

[deadpan]

Very sad. In a different era he's getting a version of the title. Savvy enough to reinvent himself a few times when clearly past his pomp. Intriguing bloke too. On Desert Island Discs in '73 his luxury item was a chess set, Papillon was his book and his music choices included Walker Brothers, Isaac Hayes & Gilbert O'Sullivan.

[tony1234]

Sad news, I enjoyed his comeback in the 80's, and listening to his fights live on Radio 2 in the 70's when barely any live coverage existed.

RIP

[olij999]

Very sad. In a different era he's getting a version of the title. Savvy enough to reinvent himself a few times when clearly past his pomp. Intriguing bloke too. On Desert Island Discs in '73 his luxury item was a chess set, Papillon was his book and his music choices included Walker Brothers, Isaac Hayes & Gilbert O'Sullivan.

A man of discerning taste.

[stujones]

I think younger folk don't know or have forgotten just how big a fight Bugner vs Bruno was. It was a promoters wet dream. You had the naturally hated (cos of the Cooper result) Bugner who was (people often forget) coming off one of his best wins of his career beating recent world champion Greg Page - so was seen (by some, but not many when people saw his condition) as a legitimate test to Bruno.... Bugner himself was in the top 10 with some organisations because of that win. Bruno was everyone's favourite son and Bugner naturally not liked by the grannies - and boy did he play it up - with the Aussie Joe name and coming in looking like all he has done is eaten since the Page fight.

The build up to the fight was huge - regular news bulletins on the 10 o clock news in the build up and making the TV times etc. It was talked about by folk for a lot of the build up.

Watching the fight more recently, Bugner gave a better account of himself compared to when I remember the fight as a kid.

Tough guy, absolutely knew how to handle himself and was really quite commendable with some of his displays in his mid/late 40s. A really brave effort vs Scott Welch also.

I do not know why but Bugner's dementia was one I found quite shocking - he seemed so sharp of mind and clear of speech in his 60s when doing the reality TV stuff. I thought he was going to escape it. It does sound like his last few years was tough.

[handsofstone]

RIP tough durable bugger so he was

[THEBUTCH]

RIP

Something of a legend in British boxing circles and knew a thing or two about selling a fight with his considerable personality.

So many big names on his record. What a career big Joe had

[CaptainSpacerod]

RIP Joe

[paultom]

I think younger folk don't know or have forgotten just how big a fight Bugner vs Bruno was. It was a promoters wet dream. You had the naturally hated (cos of the Cooper result) Bugner who was (people often forget) coming off one of his best wins of his career beating recent world champion Greg Page - so was seen (by some, but not many when people saw his condition) as a legitimate test to Bruno.... Bugner himself was in the top 10 with some organisations because of that win. Bruno was everyone's favourite son and Bugner naturally not liked by the grannies - and boy did he play it up - with the Aussie Joe name and coming in looking like all he has done is eaten since the Page fight.

The build up to the fight was huge - regular news bulletins on the 10 o clock news in the build up and making the TV times etc. It was talked about by folk for a lot of the build up.

Watching the fight more recently, Bugner gave a better account of himself compared to when I remember the fight as a kid.

Tough guy, absolutely knew how to handle himself and was really quite commendable with some of his displays in his mid/late 40s. A really brave effort vs Scott Welch also.

I do not know why but Bugner's dementia was one I found quite shocking - he seemed so sharp of mind and clear of speech in his 60s when doing the reality TV stuff. I thought he was going to escape it. It does sound like his last few years was tough.

I went to that fight, glad I got to see him in the flesh, obviously not his best version but still.

[jameswilson]

RIP.

[Flump]

The first ever fight I remember seeing live on the telly was Bugner v Winston Allen. And it was memorable because Allen nutted him, then an incensed Bugner flattened him with a right hand. Though my Dad was a fighter, Bugner was some of the reason I got into this sport, so this feels mildly personal. And in his time he was quite a celebrity and a very interesting guy.

RIP Joe

[dookus]

RIP. Genuinely fascinating man and career. The best and sometimes only proper world-level big man we had for a long time.

[stujones]

Probably also worth mention how many people who were around when Joe was at his peak spoke openly how he was emotionally impacted and lost a instinct to go for it, following the death of Regis after their fight. Many people speak about how good he could have been, which also I think impacted on his popularity.

[CaptainSpacerod]

Nice tribute to Joe on Buncey’s podcast

[Taansend]

If you haven't seen the Aussie movie "Gettin' Square" do so. It's pretty good.

[Taansend]

I remember reading a story years ago about how after Bugner fought Ali - some of the British press were giving him a hard time over what they perceived to be a lack of effort.

Bugner shouts out "I'll fight anyone, even Jesus Christ"

And one of the Press pipes up "Come on Joe, you're only saying that because you know he has bad hands"

[MightyWarrior]

Good old Joe, I remember as a young kid gobsmacked, staring at the back page of the paper on the bus, Richard Dunn laid out flat inside a round by a fired up Bugner ( an all too rare occurrence) with the headline WHO DUNN IT?

One of his great performances, although he got massive credit for the Frazer fight i think. I was too young to follow Joe’s career until his come back in the 80s

Hell of a chin on him, almost impossible to knock out on his pomp.

I remember thinking that the Bruno fight was a joke. Joe had no chance, and at best he was gonna just spoil his way through it against the young up-and-coming puncher. He was well past it obviously, and Barry Hearn - Eddie’s dad - was cashing in on a gullible public. A mate of mine bought me a ticket ( which I didn’t really want - he wasn’t a fight fan ) but we went along to it anyway - it was carnage at White Hart Lane, the type of crowds that you would see turning up to the AJ fights in later years, although they didn’t know they were meant to sing sweet Caroline back then.

Jo really was of his time, perfect for the 1970s, and had a good line in chat - of course his press conference where he said he’d fight anyone, even Jesus, led to Hugh McIlvanney’s great reply from the press row, cmon Joe, that’s only because you know he’s got bad hands.

[GlobalBox]

R.I.P Champ.

[Riddick Bowie]

Talk about a colourful list of opponents: Muhammad Ali twice, Smokin' Joe Frazier, Jimmy Ellis, Greg Page, Earnie Shavers, Ron Lyle, Mac Foster, Henry Cooper, Frank Bruno, Chuck Wepner, Manuel Ramos, David Bey and Quick Tillis (right after he warred with Tyson), not to mention Jose Luis Garcia, George 'Scrap Iron' Johnson, Jack O'Halloran, Larry Middleton, Floyd's brother Ray Patterson, Jack Bodell, Marvis Frazier, Scott Welch and Richard Dunn.

I get a headache just looking at those names.

One of the great pantomime villains, and one whose sudden mental decline shocked me as he was always sharp, never so much as slurred his words or demonstrated any sign that he'd ever been in a fight.

Do not be tempted to seek out his out of print and overpriced autobiography, lads. He may have had an amazing life and career, had great charisma and fine intelligence, but his book is as low effort and frustrating as some of his worst fights. A breezy throwaway work that for me is one of the biggest lost opportunities in boxing books.

Anyway a great man and may he rest in peace. I'll have a glass of Australian wine in his honour tonight.

[IRONFIST]

RIP, never a fan of his boxing style but very tough blighter. Bruno had to cheat to stop him, pushing/pressing him down and other dirty tactics.

[Jaguar]

Talk about a colourful list of opponents: Muhammad Ali twice, Smokin' Joe Frazier, Jimmy Ellis, Greg Page, Earnie Shavers, Ron Lyle, Mac Foster, Henry Cooper, Frank Bruno, Chuck Wepner, Manuel Ramos, David Bey and Quick Tillis (right after he warred with Tyson), not to mention Jose Luis Garcia, George 'Scrap Iron' Johnson, Jack O'Halloran, Larry Middleton, Floyd's brother Ray Patterson, Jack Bodell, Marvis Frazier, Scott Welch and Richard Dunn.

I get a headache just looking at those names.

One of the great pantomime villains, and one whose sudden mental decline shocked me as he was always sharp, never so much as slurred his words or demonstrated any sign that he'd ever been in a fight.

Do not be tempted to seek out his out of print and overpriced autobiography, lads. He may have had an amazing life and career, had great charisma and fine intelligence, but his book is as low effort and frustrating as some of his worst fights. A breezy throwaway work that for me is one of the biggest lost opportunities in boxing books.

Anyway a great man and may he rest in peace. I'll have a glass of Australian wine in his honour tonight.

I agree. The book is really poor, which is a pity as Bugner had a hell of a story to tell.