Looks a bit silly when you first read it,but let's think about it.....! As Conteh made his name and became champion in the 175 lbs division,it's easy to forget that he started off as a heavyweight,albeit at the lighter end of the scale. Obviously Joe would outweigh John by 28 lbs or more,but Bugner also had a similar physical advantage over a Henry Cooper in his thirty seventh year. So who would take this one ?
As you mention, Conteh was fighting Heavyweights at the time, but Terry Daniels and Joe Bugner are as Aussie Joe himself remarked (about himself and Tyson in 87), a different kettle of fish. I think Conteh though could beat McAlinden for the British title, and if he got to Blin before Bugner, then maybe he could of been European Heavyweight Champ too.
I can't see John's left jab and butting head being of much benefit here against Joe's combination of fast hands, mobility and skills, unless Bugner does a walking tank job, like he did with Bodell. If the roused animal who steamrolled Dunn shows up, I'd rather not watch.
I see "The Bug" not being as swift as Conteh, but he did have ability, plus, size.... Bugner pounds out a tuff win based on decent skills and strength..... MR.BILL
Styles make fights, as does talent / ability, but I cannot picture Conteh ever going 12 to 15 rds with Frazier or Ali like Bugner managed in '73 and '75...... MR.BILL
Mismatch, in the flesh, Bugner is one of the biggest human beings I have ever seen, and I played senior rugby, he fought the best and not knocked out, no chance Conteh.
I go along with the consensus that Bugner would be too big for Conteh. I do think,however,that John would beat some of the less good British heavyweights that were around in his time or after. Men such as Danny Mcalinden,Bunny Johnson,Richard Dunn and David Pearce.
i remember many of Johns Heavyweight fights, and even though he was clearly much the superior talent than many of his opponents, their natural strengh and punch resistence ment John had to usually go all out, just to keep themin Check, i remember a real Brutal fight he had with Tough Bill Drover, he was the first guy to Drop John, John gets up and Goes to war with Bill, Johns classy vicious Combinations, one combination consisted solely of five conecutive Left Hooks (only remember Ray Leonard doing same against Ranzany !) BIll was Rattled but soaked it up and fought on, Conteh continued to hammer away at bill against the ropes, but Bill would not go, Eventually the ref stopped it as bill had an Egg Sized lump on his forehead, The Drover camp shouted loud that Contehs Head was to blame, it was an early indication that John's Punches were not going to budge the determined Big Boys, Drover was subsequently blasted out in two by Ron Lyle, Big Dave Matthews Had to be outfinesed, Les Steven took a Conteh Bomb in the Last Round, and survived to the bell, Billy Aird was stopped on a cut, again protesting about the Conteh Head, and so for me its apparent that a Fast good boxing very good chinned strong heavyweight will not be stopped by "Artificial Heavyweight" Conteh A big clue is in Conteh's First Defeat, Many Thought Conteh Actually Won, But Eddie Duncan refused to get too involved with Conteh, Staying on the move or Tieing up, a Flicking Jab keeping the Stalking Conteh Occupied, Conteh could not pin Eddie Duncan down to do much Damage, Allowing for he Improvement in Conteh up to the Daniels fight, Bugner was much Superior to Eddie Duncan, as a survivalist too, and similarly would i think have "Mucked John About" - Unless Joe attacked John like he did Richard Dunn, i think Bugner on Points is a sound conclusion.
