Joe Bugner today. Where would you place him? Below are current Ring Magazine Rankings. Personally, I'd move Haye up a bit and drop Jennings, but lets the current Ring Magazine rankings for the purpose of this thread. Where would Joe Bugner rate in his prime years if he was active today? I'd say around 6th. RING RATINGS For ratings ended Jul. 16, 2016 Tyson Fury CHAMPION TYSON FURY Country: U.K. Record: 25-0-0 (18 KOs) Ranking: This Week: C | Last Week: C | Weeks On List: 230 Title: RING, WBO, WBA WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO Country: Ukraine Record: 64-4-0 (53 KOs) Ranking: This Week: 1 | Last Week: 1 | Weeks On List: 582 DEONTAY WILDER Country: U.S. Record: 37-0-0 (36 KOs) Ranking: This Week: 2 | Last Week: 2 | Weeks On List: 138 Title: WBC KUBRAT PULEV Country: Bulgaria Record: 23-1-0 (12 KOs) Ranking: This Week: 3 | Last Week: 3 | Weeks On List: 248 LUIS ORTIZ Country: Cuba Record: 25-0-0 (22 KOs) Ranking: This Week: 4 | Last Week: 4 | Weeks On List: 30 ANTHONY JOSHUA Country: U.K. Record: 17-0-0 (17 KOs) Ranking: This Week: 5 | Last Week: 5 | Weeks On List: 37 Title: IBF BERMANE STIVERNE Country: Canada Record: 24-2-1 (21 KOs) Ranking: This Week: 6 | Last Week: 6 | Weeks On List: 168 JOSEPH PARKER Country: New Zealand Record: 19-0-0 (16 KOs) Ranking: This Week: 7 | Last Week: 7 | Weeks On List: 14 BRYANT JENNINGS Country: U.S. Record: 19-2-0 (10 KOs) Ranking: This Week: 8 | Last Week: 8 | Weeks On List: 121 DAVID HAYE Country: U.K. Record: 28-2-0 (26 KOs) Ranking: This Week: 9 | Last Week: 9 | Weeks On List: 9 ANDY RUIZ JR. Country: Mexico Record: 28-0-0 (19 KOs) Ranking: This Week: 10 | Last Week: 10 | Weeks On List: 7 10
On his best night, he'd easily beat the current past prime incarnation of Stiverne but so could many. So he could take his spot. He'd be tier two or three in general terms though.
I've always been a fan of Joe Bugner. He was one of the few guys who looked like he was going to peak early - after turning pro at 17 and beating Cooper at 21 and facing Ali at 23 - and yet somehow continue to win fights until he was nearly 50 years old. He was an excellent boxer. And he had great fighting heart. Rating him really depends on which Bugner you're talking about. Late 1960s/early 70s Bugner. Mid 70s Bugner. 80s Bugner. 90s Bugner. The top 10 heavyweights you listed aren't all at their very best right now. Joe Bugner AT HIS VERY BEST might beat them all. But there were only a couple fights where he fought his best. Joe Bugner on an average night might lose to all of them, too. Depending on which version we're talking about, even Ruiz might win. (Marvis Frazier once beat Bugner.) I was a fan of Bugner. But it's kind of unfair just to ask: "Where does Joe Bugner fit among these guys?" Because these guys aren't all at their best right now. And Bugner could be very hot and cold himself. It would be more fair if you picked Joe Bugner at one moment in his career and asked how that Bugner would fit among these 10 fighters at this ONE moment in their careers. Overall though, Joe Bugner was a very good heavyweight for a very long time.
He had the skills and the physical attributes to break top 10. But his non aggressive safety first style would prevent him from being a champion.
The division lacks proven depth and perhaps even a dominant champion now that Wlad is 40. Flirting with top 20 you say? Guys like Johann Duhaupas or Eric Molina are top 15-20 guys. Bugner, is better than that. I'd say he's better than anyone Wilder or Joshua fought.
Bugner at his best could take all of um.predicting when that was was impossible could be totally negative or on fire .all the fighters he took on he never took a hammering Bruno came closest but joe took.the money and ran. funny bloke
I'd place him somewhere in Australia, and that is the best place for him. A big strong technically sound guy who just couldn't be bothered at times.
He wasn't that good, folks. Having Rudi Lubbers as a marquee win doesn't connote the stuff of legends. Top-18 on his best day.
The talk of him beating the champions is stupid, I agree, but he had a decent resume and should make the top ten.