Joe Bugner - why the hate?

[MasterG]

That's the question really along with, defeating Dunn in 1 round was that Bugner's finest win?

A lot of people say they disliked him because he beat Our Entry, but is that the case?

As a boxer what was wrong with Bugner for him not to have been accepted by the boxing fans?

[coneye]

That's the question really along with, defeating Dunn in 1 round was that Bugner's finest win?

A lot of people say they disliked him because he beat Our Entry, but is that the case?

As a boxer what was wrong with Bugner for him not to have been accepted by the boxing fans?

Don't know perhaps it was that he did,nt really care too much what they thought . but what i do know is he was a really good fighter who mixed it with the best , and from a personal point of view i met him and had a couple of lenghty conversations with him , and he was /is a really really nice fella , . i believe he's in a nursing home now and wish him nothing but the best

[THEBUTCH]

I think it boiled down to 2 things; the British public (generally speaking) not really caring for his attitude and also believing he didn't always try his best.

Undoubtedly a very good heavyweight boxer.

[jwfg]

That's the question really along with, defeating Dunn in 1 round was that Bugner's finest win?

A lot of people say they disliked him because he beat Our Entry, but is that the case?

As a boxer what was wrong with Bugner for him not to have been accepted by the boxing fans?

Losing on points to Frazier gained Joe a lot of British support. How long that support lasted is another thing.

[polecateddy]

The Bruno stoppage was fairly premature. I’d imagine he’d have taken Bruno the distance. Round 11 and 12 could have got interesting! Could throw a discus further than any British heavyweight I’d wager.

[Coco]

Johnny Nelson like performances

[SeanBrennan]

Bugner features in Buncey's latest Boxing News article https://boxingnewsonline.net/bunce-diar ... ght-title/

[IRONFIST]

Controversial decision against Henry Cooper, also his one step forward and two steps backwards approach. Never really accepted as a true Brit...

[SeanBrennan]

Hungarian refugee, lived one hell of a life. In bad health now iirc. He has an autobiography, anyone ever read it? His ghostwriter was a crime writer, odd choice. It's £25 for the paperback so I suspect out of print now.

[Controversial]

The Bruno stoppage was fairly premature. I’d imagine he’d have taken Bruno the distance. Round 11 and 12 could have got interesting! Could throw a discus further than any British heavyweight I’d wager.

He was brought over to lose, I remember Hearn talking about it in an interview that Bugner just wanted a pay day and hardly trained.

[Controversial]

I read years ago that after an early opponent died that Bugner was never the same and he became more defensive and reluctant to go for the stoppage.

[polecateddy]

Even at 48 his jab alone could carry the day against people like Bob Mirovic, who came over a lot to the UK and Germany.

[margaret thatcher]

he could be frustrating - big athletic skilled guy with ability to burn, but it often looked like he didnt fully apply it and get the most from himself

still did well of course

[SeanBrennan]

The Bruno stoppage was fairly premature. I’d imagine he’d have taken Bruno the distance. Round 11 and 12 could have got interesting! Could throw a discus further than any British heavyweight I’d wager.

He was brought over to lose, I remember Hearn talking about it in an interview that Bugner just wanted a pay day and hardly trained.

I recently read an article on this, I think in BN, where Bugner said he wanted £250k and said if he got hit he was staying down.

EDIT: It was in Barry Hearn's autobiography. He knew he was not going to win.

[Controversial]

The Bruno stoppage was fairly premature. I’d imagine he’d have taken Bruno the distance. Round 11 and 12 could have got interesting! Could throw a discus further than any British heavyweight I’d wager.

He was brought over to lose, I remember Hearn talking about it in an interview that Bugner just wanted a pay day and hardly trained.

I recently read an article on this, I think in BN, where Bugner said he wanted £250k and said if he got hit he was staying down.

EDIT: It was in Barry Hearn's autobiography. He knew he was not going to win.

That’s it, I think it was Hearn’s first big fight he promoted too.

[SeanBrennan]

He was brought over to lose, I remember Hearn talking about it in an interview that Bugner just wanted a pay day and hardly trained.

I recently read an article on this, I think in BN, where Bugner said he wanted £250k and said if he got hit he was staying down.

EDIT: It was in Barry Hearn's autobiography. He knew he was not going to win.

That’s it, I think it was Hearn’s first big fight he promoted too.

you're right I remember now. I'd go and check but I borrowed it from the library (I am so cool I still go to the library).

[Controversial]

I recently read an article on this, I think in BN, where Bugner said he wanted £250k and said if he got hit he was staying down.

EDIT: It was in Barry Hearn's autobiography. He knew he was not going to win.

That’s it, I think it was Hearn’s first big fight he promoted too.

you're right I remember now. I'd go and check but I borrowed it from the library (I am so cool I still go to the library).

Make the most of them while they are still around!!

[SeanBrennan]

That’s it, I think it was Hearn’s first big fight he promoted too.

you're right I remember now. I'd go and check but I borrowed it from the library (I am so cool I still go to the library).

Make the most of them while they are still around!!

indeed. Ironically my father used to send me and my brother to boxing when we were little kids, I used to skip it and go to the library most of the time! Been a member of that library 31 years. It's run by a Trust now which seems to be how the county councils outsource most of their services round here.

[Jaguar]

Hungarian refugee, lived one hell of a life. In bad health now iirc. He has an autobiography, anyone ever read it? His ghostwriter was a crime writer, odd choice. It's £25 for the paperback so I suspect out of print now.

Yes, I have and unfortunately it's disappointing.

On one hand, there are quite a few typos and niggly factual errors throughout the book, and quite a few of the pages came loose as well, so I don't think it's been very well produced..

More importantly though, I didn't think the whole Joe Bugner story came through that well. Because Bugner had a hell of a life:

Child refugee; junior athletics champion; pro boxer at 17; British and European champ at 21; in with Ali at 22 and Frazier at 23; fought for the world title and retired for the first time at 25. Upteen comebacks and finally won a version the title at 48, Lived in Britain, America and Australia; acted in films; had loads of women; owned a vineyard; earned a blew a fortune.

But somehow the book doesn't put it all together into a coherent narrative. It's a pity really because it's some story.

[Counter-puncher]

you're right I remember now. I'd go and check but I borrowed it from the library (I am so cool I still go to the library).

Make the most of them while they are still around!!

indeed. Ironically my father used to send me and my brother to boxing when we were little kids, I used to skip it and go to the library most of the time! Been a member of that library 31 years. It's run by a Trust now which seems to be how the county councils outsource most of their services round here.

you're lucky to have one. Brum have closed most of theirs down. there's a local one that's only stayed open because my mate started a campaign with a grassroots community group. its the only one i know of in a 5 mile radius or more

[funso banjo baby]

He even supported Thatcher, you'd think Brits would appreciate that level of dimness

[Controversial]

Joe isn't a good shape these days, last I heard he was in a care home with dementia and has no recollection of his boxing career. He would've had some great stories to tell about his career and life, horrible illness.

[SeanBrennan]

Make the most of them while they are still around!!

indeed. Ironically my father used to send me and my brother to boxing when we were little kids, I used to skip it and go to the library most of the time! Been a member of that library 31 years. It's run by a Trust now which seems to be how the county councils outsource most of their services round here.

you're lucky to have one. Brum have closed most of theirs down. there's a local one that's only stayed open because my mate started a campaign with a grassroots community group. its the only one i know of in a 5 mile radius or more

Jesus that's sad. Credit to your mate and his campaign. Ours is a bit of a community hub now which is great, Salvation Army do support there and local groups meet there. The staff are all lovely too, the type who go above and beyond quietly.

[Flump]

I always liked Bugner, but he was described as a volcano that never erupted, but he was beating decent class fighters in the 60's all the way through to the 90's.

I think getting the Cooper decision, Harry Carpenter's commentary and being somewhat safety first didn't help him.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Bugner was a great natural athlete, but he didn't ever particularly want to be a fighter, and that showed through in his lack of aggression and killer instinct. He was never forigven for the Cooper win, a fight that was very hard to score, and frankly,not his fault that the scores went his way.

Also being a foreigner didn't help, let's be honest.