Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Bugner (1st meeting)

Joe Bugner rankings

Org.	Pos.	As of	Published
1+ Mth. Old
WBA	N/A	N/A	N/A
WBC	N/A	N/A	N/A
Ring	N/A	N/A	N/A
2+ Mth. Old
WBA	N/A	N/A	N/A
WBC	N/A	N/A	N/A
Ring	N/A	N/A	N/A
3+ Mth. Old
WBA	NR	19.08.1972	19.08.1972
WBC	NR	~30.06.1972	by 06.07.1972
Ring	NR	~31.07.1972	by 03.08.1972

Muhammad Ali 217 lbs beat Joe Bugner 219 lbs by UD in round 12 of 12

• Date: 1973-02-14
• Location: Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
• Referee: Buddy Basilico
• Judge: Lou Tabat 56-53
• Judge: Roland Dakin 57-54
• Judge: Ralph Mosa 57-52

• Unofficial UPI scorecard - 56-53 Ali
• Unofficial AP scorecard - 58-50 Ali
• Fight Program
• Fight Photo 2, Fight Photo 3
• See Also: Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Bugner (2nd meeting)

Notes

• Bout official on December 11, 1972, under condition that Bugner would defeat Rudi Lubbers.
• The fight took place at the Las Vegas Convention Center before a crowd of 5,700.
• The live gate - not counting closed circuit in the U.S. and internationally - was $298,000.
• Ali entered the ring wearing a jewel-studded robe bearing the inscription "People's Choice" on the back. It was a gift from Elvis Presley and cost around $3,000.
• Ali was an 8 to 1 favorite and predicted a seventh-round KO.
• Ali opened a cut over Bugner's left eye in the first round.
• Bugner lost his next bout to Smokin' Joe Frazier, but he won his next eight fights and got a rematch with Ali for the World Heavyweight Championship in 1975.