BoxRec

Bodyshot3 wrote:

Bugner's one of those blokes where the official stats don't give you the full picture. He was/is a huge guy and not pumped up and bulky like a lot of heavyweights today. Just naturally a big, tall, athletic bloke - big hands, big head, long reach, the whole lot. Fwank Warren said he was the biggest white bloke he had ever seen when he first met him back in the early-80s.

The film Magwitch is referring to is called All in a Day: the Fight and, I agree, is worth watching, especially for anybody interested in a nostalgia trip back to the 70s. Here it is, if anybody's interested:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uu9dTFfEQA

Thanks Mercman...have only seen bits and pieces of this before. Much appreciated

Bugner was definitely a properly big lad and is it stretching it to say that he's the best cut and most athletic white heavy until the K bothers arrived on the scene and towered over everyone else and looked the part as well?

Cooney was obviously a gigantic man who could whack a fair bit as well, but I am not sure he was as solid as Bugner or blessed with anything like the same reflexes or good movement. Reckon Joe would have skinned Cooney in most gym tests.

I've over-stated the importance of the Bruno fight before...which was essentially a nice payday for both men...but even an ageing Joe bulled his way forward against Frank and there was a lot of raw, big man power there for a few rounds.

Bruno actually went to rough-house tactics himself to cope with what was coming his way.

Marlene was originally a journalist and had a reputation as being a bit of a pushy cow. Joe Bugner credits her for getting his life back on the rails though. I think he met her at some celebrity party in Hollywood or LA or somewhere when he was basically living as a beach bum and drifting around the place. Apparently Marlene thought he was some unemployed actor when she first met him. She didn't realise he was a famous boxer who had fought Ali until she had been out with him a few times.

I remember Marlene Bugner being at the ringside for his early-80s comeback fights, and looking a bit of a fearsome customer.

Bodyshot3 wrote:

How would Joe Bugner have fared against current/ recent British Heavies Tyson Fury and Haye?

Interesting one indeed!

I reckon he'd have fared pretty well against both of them.

Certainly big, strong and smart enough not to get manhandled by Fury and able to match Tyson for mobility. And that great chin would have stood him in good stead as well. Maybe Joe had the shade faster hands also?

Suppose the big question would be whether enough good stuff came back from Joe and often enough to tip the decision his way. I could see Tyson doing the pressing and he does have a good work-rate as well. Possibly very tight indeed.

Can't really come to anything logical about a Haye showdown. David had that massive power - that even stunned a leviathian like Valuev when he pulled the trigger - but he would have been the smaller man in against someone who could block loads of shots, counter-punch sharply and who had top notch stamina as well.