top ten greatest UK heavyweights

Ali was on a long KO streak and used to predict the round he would win in. The fight with Jones was not an exciting affair and the crowd starting giving both Fighters the bird. I think it was at the end of the 8th that some ringsiders started throwing peanuts into the ring. Ali got the loudest cheer of the night when he calmly started picking them up and eating them !

 

Sounds like an over simplification I know but essentially the British press never forgave him for beating Cooper.

 

Lennox Lewis
Tyson Fury
Anthony Joshua
Dillian Whyte
David Haye
Frank Bruno
Herbie Hide
Henry Akinwande
Joe Bugner
Michael Bentt
There never used to be many good British heavyweights, but ever since the 90s, they’ve been the main force of heavyweights

 

Simplest answer is often the most accurate. Cooper was massively popular, and the public perception was that Bugner got a gift.

We see it often where it's difficult following on from a hugely popular, media-friendly fighter - Ali/Holmes and Bruno/Lewis are other examples. Even beating the older fighter doesn't properly get the new guy over, which tends to lead to frustration and mistrust of the media (Holmes was an acute case of this).

Personality-wise, Bugner could be pretty engaging and likeable, but his humour didn't really translate to a 70s British audience. People also expected him to be a destroyer based on his size and build, but he was often too passive. Unlike Cooper who would wear the obvious signs of defeat (whether it be gushing blood like a fountain against Ali or face first on the canvas against Patterson), Bugner would come out of some losses looking in better shape than the winner. It just didn't fit the plucky British underdog archetype.

In some ways, the mid 80s comeback gave a glimpse of what Bugner could have been had things turned out differently. Popular with the (Aussie) public, using his size, strength and confidence to bully people around the ring. Unfortunately, he was too far past his athletic peak to get past Bruno, but he did at times push Bruno around in a way that very few did.

Bugner was probably thrust too early into the role of British champion; he was only a kid when he beat Cooper, and still developing physically and technically. It was too soon to be carrying the hopes of an unforgiving British public and media.

In a different time, Bugner could well have been one to benefit from a Manny Steward style mid-career makeover, like Lewis and Wlad. Building him up physically and mentally, and moulding a style that made best use of his physical gifts. All the tools were there to build a top top heavyweight for the mid to late 70s. He was only 27 when he disappeared after the loss to Lyle; those really should have been his prime years where he could have made a run for the WBA title.

 

Cracking post Momus. In addition I would add that I don't think Joe ever really got over the death of Ulrich Regis after their fight. A common comment was that Bugner only fought at his best when he was hurt or angry.
Joe was not a natural, hard bitten Fighter, he took up Boxing because it offered fame and riches. It is well known that his first love was the discuss, in fact when he emigrated to Australia he attempted to throw the qualifying standard and represent the Aussies in the Olympics. Incredibly he finished in the national top 5 and didn't miss the distance by much having not thrown competitively since he was 15.
Given his sensitive nature I think Regis' death had a profound effect on his mental and emotional approach to Boxing.