Joe Bugner vs Chuck Wepner

Wepner with 78 stitches against Liston

Liston said he didn't want to hit the guy any more.

 

Liston's classic line, calling Wepner's manager he bravest man he ever saw ...

 

I somehow feel thats seriously exaggerated. The man wasn't torn into by a ****ing great white.

 

I bought this film about 15 years ago, and I remember being amazed at Bugner's fluidity and handspeed. He looked very impressive in dispatching Wepner. I researched the English newspapers to see what they said about the fight. The London Times correspondent said that based on Bugner's performance against Wepner, Bugner was the very best 20 year old heavyweight that Britain every produced (i.e., for that age group).

TheGreatA: fantasitic posting. I'd like to see more early Bugner stuff.

 

Funny, this new Bugner stuff isn't coming up when I search YouTube or google video. But keep it coming....great material.

 

Liston was sometimes a very glib and witty guy, which not many people realize.

 

Didn't realise Bugner got to spar with Sonny Liston - would be interested to hear his opinion on him - has anyone got anything on that??

 

Joe bugner was a great physical specimen and probably one of heavyweight boxing's more durable fighters.. I think he might have done better and gone further with a bit more aggression, but then, he may also have been finished sooner by some of his conquerors.. Bugner is an underrated fighter in my opinion.. For a man who fought for decades, defeated a great number of rated fighters, and shared the ring with the best of the best, he sure as hell isn't mentioned much.....

In the late 1980's, Bugner defeated Page, Tillis and a few others, before going 8 rounds with a prime Bruno.... Given that Joe was 37-38 years of age, and on the comeback trail, along with being probably 20 lbs over his prime weight, I think these were good showings..

 

Bugner rated Liston as one of the three top punchers he ever fought: the other two being Shavers and Lyle. Bugner said that Liston could knock someone out with a single left jab, based on his experience in sparring.

 

Aussie Joe's victory over the still borderline world class Page was arguably his best performance since the Frazier fight.

As for the Bruno fight; to quote Bugner post fight:

"The referee was a bloody disgrace" (for letting Bruno hit Joe whilst he was being kept up by the ropes)

And Bugner's opinion on the Bombers chances against Tyson:

"That is a different kettle of fish, Tyson is 21, not 37..."

 

Bugner boxed very well in those three fights in Australia in '86 and '87. I remember watching the Bey and Page fights here in the UK on ITV.

But with Tyson coming up through the rankings and unifying belts, and Bugner failing to secure a fight with Michael Spinks, I think he took the Bruno fight for the money and instead of a world title fight. Barry Hearn, the promoter, paid him well and Bugner came back to the UK overweight and undertrained and just really there for the payday - (like most of Bruno's opponents).
One of Bruno's best performances, but Bugner was a huge disappointment that fight.
Bugner was all about the money, and I think he figured £250,000 for getting beaten by Bruno was the better option than maybe the same amount again for being killed by Tyson.
I'm not saying he could have beaten Bruno by 1987 had he been in shape and motivated, but he certainly didn't try much.