Rudi Lubbers 'The Dutch Master'

January 16, 1973

Royal Albert Hall - Kensington, London, United Kingdom

British - Heavyweight Joe Bugner 'snapped' the undefeated string of
Dutchman - Rudi Lubbers.

Joe Bugner, who defended his European Heavyweight Championship by a
15-Round Decision, was not impressive, despite not losing a round.

The 22 1/2 year-old 6' 4" and 219 lb. Bugner was unable to sustain a heavy
attack on the smaller 196 lb. Rudi Lubbers, and despite being a much bigger man,
Joe could not put the Dutchman down in the bout.

Rudi Lubbers at 6' 0", was 4" shorter than the European Champion, and could not
get inside often enough to score with his straight right hand, his best punch.

Scorecards;
Referee......75-68 (7-0-8 in Rounds)
Judge........74-68 (7-1-7 in Rounds)
Judge........74-68 (7-1-7 in Rounds)

Joe Bugner improves to 43-4-1. Rudi Lubbers falls to 21-1-0.

Joe Louis who attended the match stated, 'Joe Bugner let this kid off the
hook 30 to 40 times. He better change his style if he wants to beat Clay
in Las Vegas next month.'

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'The Dutch Master'

Landing a 'wicked right' to the protruding jaw of Joe Bugner.

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It's On -

'Muhammad Ali To Go Dutch, With Rudi Lubbers'

Set for Saturday Night - October 20, 1973 in Jakarta, Indonesia

Muhammad Ali who is using this bout as a 'tune-up' before he takes
on former Heavyweight Champion - Joe Frazier in January 1974, predicts
a victory by 'knockout' in Round 4.

Rudi Lubbers, a Discotheque Bar Bouncer and Dutch Heavyweight Champion,
is a 4-1 Underdog, but says that doesn't bother him, as he expects the bout
to go the 'full' 12-Rounds.

Rudi, who has been in training for 9-Months, is ready to score an 'upset',
and predicts it will be him who fights Joe Frazier in January 1974.

Rudi Lubbers, 'I just have to keep the pressure on him, by backing him
up and working both hands. If you stay still, he will eat you alive with
his left jab.'

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Saturday Night - October 20, 1973

Senyan Stadium - Jakarta, Indonesia

Attendance; 25,000

Rudi Lubbers, gets battered and bloodied, but does not go down, as the Dutchman
withstands every hard punch that Muhammad Ali can dish out, and walks out of the
ring, a 12-Round Decision Loser, but a 'Big Winner' with the Indonesian boxing fans.

Muhammad Ali, at a finely chiseled 217 lbs., who had predicted a 5th Round Knockout,
was unable to put the 196 lb. {4-1} Underdog away, despite pelting him with an unanswered
barrage in Round 4, bloodying his nose in Round 5, and messing up his face in Round 7.

By the end of Round 9, Rudi had his right eye closed, and his body battered, but
the 28 year-old Dutch Heavyweight, and Disco Bar Bouncer showed tremendous heart
for a man who was physically inferior in size and in talent against the former Champion.

The 31 1/2 year-old - Muhammad Ali, now at 43-2-0, was unable to score his 32nd knockout,
despite having a 3" height, 6" reach and 21 lb. weight advantage over his smaller opponent.

Referee - Enrique Jiminez said, 'At no time was Rudi Lubbers in severe trouble, though he was
battered and out-classed.'

Ringside Observers scored the bout (11-1-0 in Rounds) for Muhammad Ali, and several of the
rounds were over-whelming dominant for the American Heavyweight.

"Muhammad Ali 'unloads' on out-classed Dutchman - Rudi Lubbers"

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Rudi Lubbers 'durability and heart' forced Muhammad Ali to change
his fight plan, from that of attack, to box and move.

Rudi, showed that if you could crouch and stay low, Muhammad's
power punches were not as effective.

Muhammad Ali, 'I hit him with everything I had.'

Rudi Lubbers, 'To be honest, as a Bouncer, I've been hit harder in bar fights.'

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April 27, 1974

After the '2' 1973 Losses -

Rudi Lubbers, did not let the 'decision losses' to Joe Bugner and Muhammad Ali get
him down - as he returned to defeat a 'fantastic' Belgian Heavyweight and future
'World Heavyweight Title Challenger' named Jean-Pierre Coopman, 'The Lion of Flanders'
in his hometown of Gent, Belgium.

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Rudi, dropped the 200 lb. Belgian with a counter right hand in Round 3, and cruised to
a 'solid' 10-Round Decision win.

Rudi was back on the winning track, and moved to 22-2-0.

Jean-Pierre Coopman dropped to 13-3-0.

 

Let's be honest......

Muhammad Ali could not knock down Rudi Lubbers, let alone stop him
as per his prediction of a 5th Round 'knockout'.

So, the 'injured' right hand was concocted to 'save face'..........:deal

concocted; to make up, to devise an excuse

 

July 1974

Rudi Lubbers,,,,,'I would like to fight Joe Frazier, here in the Netherlands. I think the
Dutch fans would enjoy the boxing match. With my style, I believe I could be trouble
for the former Champion.'

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