Joe Bugner 'Overrated/Underrated'

Had the potential to do something. But the Frazier fight aside, he just signed it in, in his big fights. And was just glad to go the distance. Which was a fair achievement for the era he was in, but does not mean he has been underrated in any way shape or form, by the vast majority of people.

 

He is especially underrated by today's fans, who regard Bugner as a clubfighter or journeyman who would have lost to any half-decent fighter.

The only guys of the 1971 to 1977 era who rate above Bugner are:

1. Ali
2. Frazier
3. Foreman
4. Norton
5. Young
6. Quarry
7. Lyle
8. Shavers

Bugner would have beaten everyone else outside of this list. In fact, on his better nights, he might have beaten some of the names on this list, such as Young, Quarry, Lyle, and Shavers.

So, Bugner kept high company. He's underrated if people don't respect that.

 

And you regard these fights as indications of how good Bugner was in his prime?

 

Neither. Maybe underrated in his own time, at least under-appreciated.

 

Bugner was one of those guys that looked like he was never giving 100 % ... He was just missing a certain spark ... he was big, a good boxer with good speed and a terrific chin .. his power was limited and he simply just never managed to do that little bit extra in losing efforts across the board ...

 

I liked Bugner. He was surrounded by greatness so he never really showed

 

I remember that magazine. The other "young heavies" were Foreman, Norton, and -- surprisingly -- Mike Quarry. I guess they expected Quarry to grow into a full fledged heavyweight.

Bull****. The whole Roy Williams thing was more myth than fact...the notion that he was vastly underrated, and could whip some leading fighters if given the chance. Just imaginative talk among boxing people.

Williams was actually beaten by Richard Dunn. He also lost to Henry Clark. I see Bugner handling Williams by decision, in a sloppy, unimpressive performance, but a clear cut win nonetheless.

 

You're saying Bugner's loss to Middleton is an indication of how the prime Bugner would do against Williams? That's laughable.

Besides, Bugner wasn't on the defensive all night against Middleton. It was a very close fight. Many thought the decision should have gone to Bugner.

As for Williams's right hand, I don't think it would have made too much of an impact on Bugner. Bugner stood up to shots from the best of them. He could have withstood Williams's shots.

And you are right about styles making fights: Dunn and Clark beat Williams by dominating from the distance, throwing lots of jabs. Bugner was very effective distance boxer with an excellent left jab himself. He could have done better than Dunn and Clark.

Pepe: you have a bias against Bugner. That's clear.

 

Bugner was never offered a chance to fight Williams in 1974. Where did you get your information?

ALSO, WHERE ARE THE "ITALIAN TELEVISION ARCHIVES" YOU KEEP TALKING ABOUT????

 

This doesn't say that Bugner vs Williams was made. It's just a tentative statement to the effect that the four heavyweights named might fight each other. It doesn't say what the pairings would be.

Incidentally, these bouts never even came off.

As for Bugner, he was never offered a bout against Roy Williams. I know a lot about Bugner's career, and can tell you that Williams was never discussed as an opponent. Bonavena, Lyle, and Kirkman were discussed as London opponents in 1974, but none of those fights manifested.

Also, you misunderstood Dick Young's 1976 remark to the effect that Dante Cane was in the running for an Ali bout. Young was just making a sarcastic remark about the low quality of Ali's opposition. Nobody in their right mind would even have thought about Ali vs Cane in 1976.