Joe Bugner in care home with dementia

Our contributors from the UK would have a better handle -BUT it seems that it was mainly the press, not so much the fans, that gave Bunger a lot of grief. Sure, we understand the potential fallout of beating a legend like Henry Cooper, but it seems the press really went after Bugner and hung on like dogs with their bone - as they do with many celebrities toward whom they turn their malicious intentions.

Was there necessarily any significant bitterness carried over between Joe and Henry themselves?

I don't know if people have watched the linked video yet, but Joe was really a sharp guy, showing off simple but important wisdom for life.

 

I think Pug that people have it wrong when they say the fans never forgave him for beating Henry which was no robbery it was simply one of those which could have went either way.
I just think the fans expected a bit more from Joe over his career considering his physical advantages and talent.
I mean how does a fighter give a legend like the great Joe Frazier such a tough fight but still manage to get beat off and I mean no disrespect Jack Bodell?
I think that was the thing that got the fans ire, they knew it was there but all too often it never came out and he was passive.
It pales into insignificance though considering his condition now because Joe was a good bloke and we can all only wish him well.

 

Am sorry to hear about your grandmother. It's a devastating condition, both for those going through it but also their loved ones. Affects so many.

 

Yeah, it's a multi-perspective thing.

Wrongly or rightly, Bugner himself put it down mostly to his beating Cooper and the attitude of the press toward him. But that's a good point re Joe's less stellar performances having some influence - performances in which it appeared he could've given more. However, there are fights like the one you referenced - vs Frazier at Earls Court in which Joe put up a great fight which should've overridden the lesser performances.

Tbh, I haven't watched the whole fight but for whatever it's worth, the sole Judge, Harry Gibbs only gave it to Frazier by a mere 3/4 of a point under the 5 points per round system. If a fair score, that's a very close fight.

I remember reading that Joe's first love was weightlifting/bodybuilding and we can def. see the legacy of that in Joe's build. He never seemed to like, let alone, love boxing.

Perhaps that lack of 100% mental/physical immersion in boxing contributed to some frustrating periods of passivity during the course of several of his fights - suffice to say, it almost appeared as if Joe never really wanted to hurt anyone.

He had all the physical tools, and he had very fast hands imo, particularly for a man of his size - he just didn't always let them go, lol. Perhaps a victim of his own heavy arms in respect of arm weariness. He could punch too when he had a mind to it, almost put Frazier down with an excellent right cross. But you're right, it all means little now, we can only hope that Joe is as happy and comfortable as he can possibly be.

 

Joe was one of Britain's best ever heavies. Top 5 I would say. Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier always spoke well of him.

And yes,the main issue is that Joe is as comfortable as he can be which by all accounts he is,thank God.

 

Too true Stevie. Besides his boxing achievements, I always liked Joe for his great sense of humor. In the vid, he describes one of his early encounters with Ali - Joe said that Ali said he (Joe) was the ugliest person he'd ever seen. Joe retorted: "You think I'm the ugliest? You haven't seen my sister!" With that, Joe said that Ali cracked up.

 

Willie pep, one of the greatest, if not the greatest defensive fighter of all time was also diagnosed with dementia before his death.
I believe that, getting hit less probably helps. But length of time you are getting hit in the head seems to be the biggest variable.
And joe fought for almost 4 freakin decades and ran smack into a pretty big bunch of sledgehammer hitters like Shavers, Lyle, Frazier, Bruno and james smith.

 

We must not forget dementia affects plenty of folk who have never boxed in their lives, so Joe Bugners condition possibly non boxing related.

At least Joe sounds like he is getting good care, you can't cure dementia but can make life as comfortable and fulfilling as possible for those suffering it.

 

So sorry to hear this. Joe was one of the most durable heavies to come along. When he lost a fight it was almost always to one of the more elite fighters and even then they did not look good in defeating him. His boxing record reads like a who's who of top fighters over a very long period of time.

In one of his earliest fights, his opponent, Ulric Regis, died after the bout. I have to wonder if that affected his future bouts, making him appear passive to critics. I have read that Max Baer and Ezzard Charles became more cautious after opponents died in the ring.

A short time ago, while looking over his record, I noticed that he had a bout with James "Bonecrusher" Smith in 1998 which was stopped in the second round due to Smith having an injured shoulder. Boxrec listed this bout as for the World Boxing Federation title, so apparently in his next-to-last fight while in his late 40s he won some version of the world heavyweight title?

My father had dementia at the end of his life. I can take some comfort in knowing that he was comfortable and in no pain while receiving very good care the whole time. I always liked Joe Bugner and I wish him all the best. God bless you, big fella!

 

I read that too. Made me laugh.

 

It seems he is in no pain and sounds relatively happy. Those are good things. He lived his life the way he wanted to. God bless him.

 

I wasn't around at the time of the Cooper fight, but I was (just about) at the time of Bugners fight vs Bruno. Unlike Cooper and Bruno, who were well loved celebrities, Bugner simply wasn't well known amongst the non-boxing fan general public.

I remember watching Bugner on a talk show around 97. Cooper joined by video call and was asked to compare their respective performances against Ali. Cooper conceded Bugner went the distance when he didn't, but said Joe fought to survive whereas Henry fought to win. Bugner, who was in the midst of a comeback, offered Cooper a fight. Cooper declined, advising Bugner was 47 whereas he was 63. I got the impression there was no hatred, but both were still proud and Bugner a bit of a wind up merchant.

 

Who can forget his classic line.
Get me Jesus Christ and i will fight him tomorrow, to which a reply comes back, you are only saying that because you know he has got bad hands...

 

Best wishes aussie Joe , You made Australia and Hungary proud

 

Sad news.

I have had experience of the hell this disease causes with my Dad. If it is a good ‘home’, it maybe the best place for him, as near the end, he may require almost 24 hours a day attention.

I know beating ‘enry and seemingly taking it too easy in some fights hurt his stature in the UK, but I always thought his sense of humour was cliche British.

I remember the post fight ringside interview he had after the Bruno fight, when he was asked if beating him meant Frank had a chance against (prime) Tyson. He responded with a knowing gleam in his eye:

“That is a different kettle of fish; he (Tyson) is 21 not 37 (Joe’s age)!”