Joe Bugner and Frank Bruno

Forget time scales and compare their records period and it becomes clear Bugner WAS the better boxer with a better chin,stamina and movement than Bruno.

Bugner also did better at the highest level than did Frank so its no contest to me.

 

Bugner certainly knew how to Negate - which made him so very hard to get rid off (apart from is Pro debut as a nervous 17 year old - or of course when he was past it )
be it Ali, Frazier or Lyle - When Joe was stopped in the 2nd round By Earnie Shavers this was completly misleading, and forms part of the Earnie Shavers KO Highlights Reel - Earnie Floored Joe in the First, But Joe got Up, Kept out of Further Trouble and in the second Round Joe was coming Back at Earnie - and Earnie was not looking too comfortable - Sadly for Joe he was stopped because of a cut eye ! - if not for that an Earnie Victory was no Foregone Conclusion.

I strongly Suspect Joe could of Pecked and Poked out a Dicision over the Witherspoon that Stopped Frank. Styles make Fights and Joe was Awkward to say the least.

 

I agree with almost everything you say in this post. It's especially good that you pointed out that Bugner lost to Shavers because of a cut. Bugner and Shavers were fighting on even terms when the cut ended matters. If not for the cut, the outcome of the fight was an open question, because the very aggressive Shavers probably could not have maintained his energy level for much longer.

It was very impressive to see Bugner get up -- clear headed -- after being floored by a devastating uppercut from Shavers. That tells us something about how durable Bugner was.

Nonetheless, I believe a prime Bruno would have beaten a prime Bugner in a close, tightly contested fight. It would have gone the distance. I pick Bruno because Bugner always seemed to have trouble with guys who were strong enough, aggressive enough, and skilled enough to back him up. The prime Bruno was such a fighter.

 

Bugner had talent but his biggest talent of all was knowing his limits and making a business out of it.

Bruno was a warrior. He was going to go down fighting and put it all on the line.

Bugner was a business man. He would use his talent to put himself into a position to land a big fight then do just enough to get out in one piece, then count his money.

I once watched a live link up on tv a few years ago where bugner says to Henry Cooper in a studio "I keep hearing about the great Henry Cooper but I went 25 rounds with Muhammad Ali how did you get on Henry?" And Cooper says "oh, listen Joe I could have lasted 25 rounds with Ali if I did what you did, you weren't trying to win!" Bugner had no reply. I think to save face joe offered Cooper a rematch to which Henry told him not to be so silly. henry was about 65 years old by then. It was quite a frosty exchange. I can't remember where I saw it but it happened.

So over all bugner would lose all the big fights Frank had ....by decision . And Bruno would lose all the big fights Joe had by knockout.

 

Sorry lads, more overating on the part for Bruno. Limited and no doubt brave, Frank fell short against every live one he fought bar McCall. Bugner was the better fighter and was more than capable of beating 'Spoon (who i think is underated) and definitely Smith (which he did when they were a gazillion yrs old but we wont count that) and McCall too, but loses to, but gives a decent account of himself, against Tyson and Lewis. Frank doesnt see the finishing post against any of Joes prime 'names'.

 

I agree that Bruno won't see the finishing posts against the best that bugner fought but that does not make Joe any better than Frank.

Joe was not trying to win those fights, he was looking to get through them. Bugner always looked like he could do better because in big fights he was not necessarily looking to win. It does not mean he could do better. It just means he was not trying to win.

I say that but I do like Bugner. He was a character, he had talent, was strong and brave and you could put him in with anyone. But that man knew his limits. He knew when he was beat and he knew that when he was beat it was not worth getting hurt trying to win. He survived. One eye on the next payday. It was not do or die with him. If it was he would have been knocked out a lot more times.

 

Respect all those opinions..but am not sure what Bugner brings to the ring that beats Bruno.?
He's not going to blast him out..nor out jab him.
Yes he may have more stamina but he still needs to do something offensive and i don't see what.
Bruno took out several guys of Bugners stature..ie big but slow...i wouldnt be surprised if Frank took him early.If Bruno connected you were gone.Frank could box too...see his fight v Lennox....Frank crumbled when faced with heavy assaults when tired...Bugner aint doing heavy assaults.
Somehow i take Frank...

 

Bugner was a good boxer but he's not hurting Bruno and to beat Bruno you have to hurt him. Frank is only going to fall apart if he is getting hit hard as he gets tired. I don't care how tired Frank gets he won't fall apart because Joe won't hit him that hard.

Joe would mess Frank about. He would go through the motions he just would be in better shape than he was when he did fight Frank.

Maybe Joe outpoints Bruno if he stays within his comfort zone but my guess is Frank takes Joe out of his comfort zone and Bugner goes into Jack Johnson mode. Surviving, keeping things close. Bruno would get the decision on account of his early work.

 

Bugner by close decision in a boxing match, not a shoot out. Bruno would try to make it a fight but Bugner would force him to box. Bugner was crafty in a strange kind of way. Bruno had decent skills. He boxed well vs. Smith, Witherspoon, and Lewis before being stopped in all 3. Bugner is no Lennox Lewis but he is on the level with Smith and Witherspoon.

Bugner didn't have Smith's power but he was better overall in my opinion. Witherspoon had decent power and skill but he was lazy in many of his fights. Bugner wasn't real active but don't mistake it for lazy, he was well conditioned. Bugner vs. Witherspoon (both at their best) would have been a good fight.