Joe Bugner Tribute Thread: All Time Great Contender

Anyone know what Bugner is doing now? Did he save any of his money? Does he have all his marbles? I think he still lives on the gold coast of Australia.

 

The future 'Heavyweight Champion'

Joe Bugner, in a June interview, discussing his upcoming July 2, 1973 bout with Joe Frazier, stated;

'That he proved he is a Heavyweight to be taken seriously, as he he went 12-Rounds with Muhammad Ali,
proving he is worthy of a Top 5 Rating.'

"After I defeat Joe Frazier, I want to fight George Foreman for the Heavyweight Championship. I have
the style and the size to defeat him. They say they have a possible September date in the works for
a Heavyweight Championship fight.'

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I don't think Bugner was particularly musclebound. It's just as you say,in that he was just doing what came naturally to him.

With a prime Bugner-Bruno fight,Frank could scrape it within a twelve round limit,but in a fifteen rounder,I envisage Joe stopping Bruno around the thirteenth or fourteenth.

 

I believe Joe lost some money on business ventures gone wrong a few years back. He seems to have come out of it ok though.

 

Hey kenmore. Please continue to realize that after his 73 performance against Ali, I was higher than a kite trumpeting his potential. By early 76' (after his IMO lackluster performance against Ali in the title scrap) by buds and I said there were three HW's out there that had the style and tools to beat Foreman. Holmes (obviously) Young (style) and Bugner (size, style)
But, and this is major IMO, he lost to Lyle! That fight burst his bubble in my book. Why did he not pound down Ron en route to an easy UD given ALL his talent? Other posters mention him going back to England/Europe with big fights against McAlinden, Bepi Ros??? **** on these Continent tomato cans; Obviously ready at that time, he should have concentrated on 'top-flight' competition.
Do you honestly see Joe beating Holmes or Norton in say, 76? I'll give you the size factor in a same time frame bout against Jimmy Young, but I wouldn't sell that sneaky little guy short with him being in his short window of prime at the time.
And...'my way of thinking' gives Leon Spinks ZERO props. A 7-0-1 newbie that fights an over the hill (playing all of us for fools) Ali in 78'?
A same time in 78' bout between Bugner-Leon?...Joe wins easily. I still feel Ali (not a popular opinion) didn't give his best against Spinks knowing the green kid would give him a rematch in six months to give Ali the title for a record 3rd time. I feel Patterson's effort against Ellis in Stockholm in '68 was a much better effort in trying for the title a 3rd time. (you're a Bugner nut-hugger, I'm a Floyd nut-hugger :good)
I guess I'm still at a loss as to your assessment of Joe.

 

June 6, 1972

Joe Bugner vs. Richard 'Doug Kirk' Czelewicz

Doug Kirk, American New England Heavyweight Champion.

A 5' 10", 185 lbs. short-armed brawler.

Was Ring Magazine's June 1972 'Prospect of the Month'

13-0-0 (10 KO's)

Blasted by 215 lb. Joe Bugner (TKO 5) in a 'mis-match'.

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Just imagine a hypothetical fight between Patterson and Holyfield at Cruiserweight ! A classic,imo.

As styles go,Bugner would definitely have given Foreman a good fight in '77,if Joe had been up for it. My money would have been on George though.