How would a prime Joe Bugner in this era?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Rakesh, Aug 14, 2021.


  1. Rakesh

    Rakesh Well-Known Member Full Member

    1,636
    2,173
    Jul 6, 2021
    Could a prime Joe Bugner climb the rankings like he did in the 70s? If he did get to championship level how do you see him dealing with Wilder, Fury, Joshua? and which one would he have a chance against/defeat the easiest?
     
    ETM likes this.
  2. Noel857

    Noel857 I Am Duran Full Member

    9,874
    12,857
    Mar 24, 2019
    He would beat Wilder and have a 50/50 chance against both Joshua and Fury
     
  3. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

    29,461
    35,975
    Jan 8, 2017
    He'd do as well as he did back then I think. Never enough to get to the top but at his best a extreme tough fella to beat.
     
  4. Mr Butt

    Mr Butt Boxing Junkie Full Member

    14,678
    183
    May 16, 2009
    He’d do good enough to have more than a couple of title chances but with bugner at title fight level it would depend on his mood for he could beat wilder and Joshua but he’s not a shoe in
     
    Fergy likes this.
  5. GoldenHulk

    GoldenHulk Boxing Addict Full Member

    4,628
    5,172
    Jan 7, 2007
    He wouldn't be a ranked contender today, all the top guys hit way too hard for the Bug, and he wouldn't be able to peck and poke his way to decisions.
     
  6. ETM

    ETM I thought I did enough to win. Full Member

    13,291
    11,664
    Mar 19, 2012
    He would probably do well. His jab alone would present problems. He might fit in perfectly.
     
    Reinhardt likes this.
  7. thistle

    thistle Boxing Addict Full Member

    7,353
    7,859
    Dec 21, 2016
    he'd do just fine and he'd probably be fighting at Cruiserweight!

    Bugnar is a legit Contender, so little to worry about there, he'd hold his own with most of his peers in any era.
     
  8. JWSoats

    JWSoats Active Member Full Member

    1,457
    981
    Apr 26, 2011
    Bugner was a tough, durable fighter. He came up short against the elite of his day, but anybody that defeated him usually did not look good in doing so. Would have liked to seen him against Quarry and Foreman. While they were overall better fighters, Joe had the style to frustrate both, and I would not feel confident in picking either over him. But to answer the question posed in the thread, I think Bugner would do about the same today as in his actual career. He was a big, durable fellow with decent boxing skills in an era of quality heavyweights and I believe that would make him a solid contender in any era.
     
    thistle likes this.
  9. choklab

    choklab cocoon of horror Full Member

    27,674
    7,653
    Dec 31, 2009
    I think a prime Joe Bugner had the potential to match anything Tyson Fury has done. If he really wanted to.
     
    Last edited: Aug 15, 2021
    ETM, thistle and robert ungurean like this.
  10. robert ungurean

    robert ungurean Богдан Philadelphia Full Member

    16,212
    15,235
    Jun 9, 2007
  11. Indefatigable

    Indefatigable Active Member banned Full Member

    971
    1,091
    Mar 6, 2021
    And that tells you EXACTLY how terrible heavyweight boxing has become. Lazy non throwing paciFIST Joe Bugner. Pathetic
     
    ETM likes this.
  12. he grant

    he grant Historian/Film Maker

    25,422
    9,393
    Jul 15, 2008
    Joe Bugner was 6' 4 w an 82" reach and weighed 225 without touching a weight or PED's .. he had a terrific chin , was fast, could box and move .. he'd be very competitive ..
     
    thistle, ETM and Rakesh like this.
  13. Indefatigable

    Indefatigable Active Member banned Full Member

    971
    1,091
    Mar 6, 2021
    As EVERY heavyweight great was up to the Tyson era. They never lifted weights. Weights ruin fighters bodybuilder fighters get kayod and destroyed everytime.
     
  14. TheMikeLake

    TheMikeLake Well-Known Member Full Member

    2,379
    1,122
    Jun 17, 2013
    I don't have really anything to add but I did examine his record and saw that he was only 6 months away from fighting 5 decades!
     
    Rakesh likes this.
  15. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

    29,461
    35,975
    Jan 8, 2017
    This thread reminds me of when Joe copped a lot of flak, for going swimming in the pool after the Ali fight in Kuala Lumpur.
    Ali used to stick up for Joe.
    Like someone said, If Ali was so great, then how did Bugner go the distance twice with him, if he was that bad?
     
    thistle likes this.