BoxRec

I'm interested in the 1973 London bout between Joe Bugner and Mac Foster. I know Bugner won by shut-out decision, but I don't know the specifics. The English Boxing News reported the outcome by blaring a "Bugner Flops!" headline on its front page. I'd like to know why the British boxing world found Bugner's effort to be so substandard. I would have thought, from the scores and knowing Foster's reputation, that Bugner's win should have been regarded as a fairly good achievement.

Does anyone here have the old copies of Boxing News? Can you print the fight report in its entirely here? Thanks in advance.

I remember there was a article about the bout in one of the newspaper archives.
Mac Foster said he wasn't too much impressed after his loss to Bugner and that he didn't have the "Right Stuff"
to ever become HW Champion of the World.

Caractacus wrote: ↑26 May 2018, 15:21 I remember there was a article about the bout in one of the newspaper archives.

I've seen the newspaper articles. I'm hoping to read the Boxing News report because that journal was known for in-depth action reporting and critical evaluations of the boxers.

I didn't know that Foster dissed Bugner after the bout. Interesting.

ron4972 wrote: ↑26 May 2018, 15:51

Caractacus wrote: ↑26 May 2018, 15:21 I remember there was a article about the bout in one of the newspaper archives.

I've seen the newspaper articles. I'm hoping to read the Boxing News report because that journal was known for in-depth action reporting and critical evaluations of the boxers.

I didn't know that Foster dissed Bugner after the bout. Interesting.

Supposedly it was a one-sided but drab, lifeless affair.

Bugner had lost to Ali and Frazier in 1973. Maybe the British press was hard on him because they expected him to show some fire if he wanted to resurrect his career.

Instead Bugner just went through the motions in beating a fighter on the downward slide.

Proceed with extreme caution with anything these 'two' men tell you, Ron.

Tuan_Jim wrote: ↑26 May 2018, 18:29 Proceed with extreme caution with anything these 'two' men tell you, Ron.

I'm sure this contribution is meant to be helpful, as a bit of healthy skepticism is never a bad thing.

Caractacus wrote: ↑26 May 2018, 15:21 I remember there was a article about the bout in one of the newspaper archives.
Mac Foster said he wasn't too much impressed after his loss to Bugner and that he didn't have the "Right Stuff"
to ever become HW Champion of the World.

Mac should not be one to judge. He failed more than Joe ever did.

Caractacus wrote: ↑26 May 2018, 15:21 I remember there was a article about the bout in one of the newspaper archives.
Mac Foster said he wasn't too much impressed after his loss to Bugner and that he didn't have the "Right Stuff"
to ever become HW Champion of the World.

Translation: I didn't win a round and I'm pissed off and I don't like Joe.

I don't put much fodder into what fighters say about other fighters.

BoxBuzz wrote: ↑26 May 2018, 18:55

Tuan_Jim wrote: ↑26 May 2018, 18:29 Proceed with extreme caution with anything these 'two' men tell you, Ron.

I'm sure this contribution is meant to be helpful, as a bit of healthy skepticism is never a bad thing.

Four years gone and some certain posters here are still paranoid about Il Dueche being abaard here
. Man you shgould probably seek some professional help.
you had better Check yourself, before you wreck yourself !

Tony1244 wrote: ↑29 May 2018, 08:47

Caractacus wrote: ↑26 May 2018, 15:21 I remember there was a article about the bout in one of the newspaper archives.
Mac Foster said he wasn't too much impressed after his loss to Bugner and that he didn't have the "Right Stuff"
to ever become HW Champion of the World.

Translation: I didn't win a round and I'm pissed off and I don't like Joe.

I don't put much fodder into what fighters say about other fighters.

why do you assume he was pissed off and bitter rather then honest? he was right in that bugner never was champ and always was at least a level below the best

jamamb wrote: ↑30 May 2018, 07:13

Tony1244 wrote: ↑29 May 2018, 08:47

Caractacus wrote: ↑26 May 2018, 15:21 I remember there was a article about the bout in one of the newspaper archives.
Mac Foster said he wasn't too much impressed after his loss to Bugner and that he didn't have the "Right Stuff"
to ever become HW Champion of the World.

Translation: I didn't win a round and I'm pissed off and I don't like Joe.

I don't put much fodder into what fighters say about other fighters.

why do you assume he was pissed off and bitter rather then honest? he was right in that bugner never was champ and always was at least a level below the best

Point taken. He was right about Bugner.

Bugner was good but never great, but I still don't take what fighters say about other fighters very seriously.

Bugner flopped because he fought tamely (safety first) against a man who was clearly past his best.

bennie wrote: ↑30 May 2018, 08:53 Bugner flopped because he fought tamely (safety first) against a man who was clearly past his best.

But Foster was known for having brutal punching power. He was tight, musclebound and limited, true. Foster was also over the hill. But even at that late stage in his career, Foster could still upend anyone if he could land a clean powerpunch. Given this reality, I don't find it surprising that Bugner fought a safe tactical fight.

I remember hearing that, at one point in their fight, Foster actually shook Bugner up with a heavy blow. I hope I can find the Boxing News write up.

Here is page one of the report from Boxing News

Miles Templeton.

And now here is page two

Miles Templeton

Poor Bugner must have been burned out by that ridiculous schedule. 52 fights! That's more than Lennox Lewis or Joe Frazier had in their whole career--and Joe was only 23! Probably accounts for why he was so often flat.

i think that scan makes it pretty clear about why it wasnt well recieved, but graham houston browses the boxrec forum regulalry and occassionally posts, maybe you can send him a message if you want to know more. hes under his own name

@prewarboxing

That is excellent stuff. Thanks greatly for posting the article!

I didn't realize that Graham Houston did the Boxing News write-up for this fight. I respect Houston's judgment but I question if he was correct in believing that Foster had lost his power. Isn't a heavyweight's punching power the last quality that he loses?

I really have been under the impression that even though a heavyweight puncher could lose all his athleticism and reflexes to age and laziness, he tends to maintain the sledgehammer power right up through the end. Therefore, perhaps it's possible that Bugner made the right choice by boxing cautiously on this occasion?

As everyone here can probably guess, I was huge Bugner fan back in the 1970s. I know most of his fights, and I'm interested in assessing his strengths and weaknesses. I figured the Foster fight might say something about Bugner's qualities, because even the old and fading Mac was still a top-15 or top-20 contender at the time of this bout. The Foster fight is also important because it took place during Bugner's prime.

I think Graham's write up makes sense, even though I didn't see the fight. He indicates that Bugner's jab lacked snap, that Joe didn't dance on his feet enough, that there was a lot of close-quarters mauling, and that Joe's punches too often seemed lack cuffs and swats. That sounds an awful lot like what Bugner's fight against Ron Lyle was like in 1977. So I can picture Bugner looking this way on an off night. Still, it appears that Joe won the fight easily.