Joe Bugner obit

Joe Bugner: Former world heavyweight title opponent for Muhammad Ali dies aged 75

Joe Bugner has passed away at the age of 75; the former British, European and Commonwealth champion twice shared the ring with Muhammad Ali, losing both fights on points, and traded punches with some of the biggest names in his heavyweight era 

He was not on the list.

Former British, European and Commonwealth heavyweight champion Joe Bugner has died aged 75.

Bugner twice shared the ring with Muhammad Ali, losing both fights on points, and traded punches with some of the biggest names in his heavyweight era.

Earlier in his career, he defeated Henry Cooper on points to become British, European and Commonwealth champion in 1971.

Bugner's death was confirmed in a statement from The British Boxing Board of Control, which read: "It is with great sadness that the former British, European, Commonwealth heavyweight champion and world championship contender Joe Bugner has passed away at his care home in Brisbane, Australia.

"The British Boxing Board of Control passes on its condolences to Joe's family."

After building his reputation with victories over Brian London and Chuck Wepner, Bugner defeated Cooper by a razor-thin decision to secure three major titles.

His reign was ended by a points loss to Jack Bodell, but Bugner rebuilt and would go the distance in a creditable loss to Ali in Las Vegas in 1973.

Bugner was also beaten on points by Joe Frazier in London later that year before losing a 15-round rematch with Ali in Kuala Lumpur in 1975 for the WBC title.

He came up short in further fights against Earnie Shavers and Frank Bruno, but would secure victories over respected contenders such as James Tillis and Greg Page.

Bugner's professional career ended with a record of 69 wins, including 41 knockouts, 13 defeats and one draw.

He held triple nationality, originally being a citizen of Hungary and a naturalised citizen of both Australia and the United Kingdom. He unsuccessfully challenged Muhammad Ali for the heavyweight championship in 1975, losing by a unanimous decision. As an actor, he is often known for his villainous roles in films starring Bud Spencer, and for his role in the 1994 action film Street Fighter alongside Jean-Claude Van Damme and Raul Julia.

Born in Szőreg, a southeastern suburb of Szeged in southern Hungary, Bugner and his family fled after the 1956 Soviet invasion and settled in Britain. Standing at 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) with a prime weight of 16 stone 1lb (225 lbs or 102 kg), Bugner twice held the British and British Commonwealth heavyweight titles and was a three-time European heavyweight champion. He was ranked among the world's top ten heavyweights of the 1970s, fighting such opponents as Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Ron Lyle, Jimmy Ellis, Manuel Ramos, Chuck Wepner, Earnie Shavers, Henry Cooper, Brian London, Mac Foster, Rudie Lubbers, Eduardo Corletti, Jurgen Blin and George Johnson. The Telegraph also ranked him among the top ten heavyweight boxers of all time.

Bugner retired from boxing in 1976 but made sporadic comebacks over the next two decades with varying success. He moved to Australia in 1986, adopting the nickname "Aussie Joe," beating fighters such as Greg Page, David Bey, Anders Eklund and James Tillis before retiring again after a TKO loss to Frank Bruno in 1987.

He made a final comeback during the 1990s, winning the Australian heavyweight title in 1995 and the lightly regarded World Boxing Federation (WBF) heavyweight championship in 1998 at the age of 48 against James "Bonecrusher" Smith. He retired for the last time in 1999 with a final record of 69–13–1, including 43 wins by knockout.

 

Actor

John Jarratt and Lindsay Farris in Bad Behaviour (2010)

Bad Behaviour

3.6

Fingers McGee

2010

 

Bleeders (2008)

Bleeders

7.3

Short

Referee

2008

 

The New Boots (2004)

The New Boots

Short

Alpha Male

2004

 

The Baby Juice Express (2004)

The Baby Juice Express

5.1

Palooka

2004

 

Gettin' Square (2003)

Gettin' Square

6.6

Big Mick

2003

 

The Lost World (1999)

The Lost World

7.1

TV Series

Trustee

2001

1 episode

 

Walk the Talk (2000)

Walk the Talk

5.1

Senior Bouncer

2000

 

Pizza (2000)

Pizza

7.4

TV Series

Barman

2000

1 episode

 

Treat Williams, Tushka Bergen, and Jeremy London in Journey to the Center of the Earth (1999)

Journey to the Center of the Earth

5.6

TV Mini Series

Boxer

1999

2 episodes

 

Roar (1997)

Roar

7.2

TV Series

Murrough Leader #1

1997

1 episode

 

Furuhata Ninzaburô (1994)

Furuhata Ninzaburô

8.0

TV Series

Inspector Gregson

1995

1 episode

 

Jean-Claude Van Damme, Raul Julia, Kylie Minogue, Ming-Na Wen, Grand L. Bush, Andrew Bryniarski, Byron Mann, Wes Studi, Jay Tavare, and Peter Navy Tuiasosopo in Street Fighter (1994)

Street Fighter

4.1

Bison's Torturer

1994

 

Time Trax (1993)

Time Trax

7.0

TV Series

Primo (as Joseph Bugner)

1993

1 episode

 

Simone Buchanan, Robert Hughes, Christopher Mayer, Julie McGregor, Sarah Monahan, and Christopher Truswell in Hey Dad..! (1987)

Hey Dad..!

5.7

TV Series

Joe Bugner

1992

1 episode

 

A Country Practice (1981)

A Country Practice

6.8

TV Series

Ivan Mann

1992

2 episodes

 

Fatal Bond (1991)

Fatal Bond

4.0

Claw Miller

1991

 

Sher Mountain Killings Mystery (1990)

Sher Mountain Killings Mystery

3.4

The Ranger

1990

 

Shane Briant and Cassandra Delaney in The Rocks (1988)

The Rocks

5.3

TV Movie

'Crusher' Harris (as Joseph Bugner)

1988

 

Bud Spencer in Buddy Goes West (1981)

Buddy Goes West

6.5

Sheriff Bronson

1981

 

Terence Hill and Bud Spencer in I'm for the Hippopotamus (1979)

I'm for the Hippopotamus

6.6

Ormond

1979

 

Cary Guffey and Bud Spencer in The Sheriff and the Satellite Kid (1979)

The Sheriff and the Satellite Kid

6.1

Brennan

1979

 

Delta House (1979)

Delta House

5.4

TV Series

Wade Klingem

1979

1 episode

 

Bud Spencer in Lo chiamavano Bulldozer (1978)

Lo chiamavano Bulldozer

6.7

Orso

1978

 

Self

Our 'Enry: A Tribute to Sir Henry Cooper

TV Movie

Self

2011

 

The Contender Australia (2009)

The Contender Australia

7.8

TV Series

Self

2009

1 episode

 

Declan Donnelly and Anthony McPartlin in I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! (2002)

I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!

5.8

TV Series

SelfSelf - Contestant

2009

17 episodes

 

I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! NOW! (2002)

I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! NOW!

3.7

TV Series

SelfSelf - Contestant

2009

17 episodes

 

Anh Do, Amelia-Jane Hunter, and Jordan Raskopoulos in The Squiz (2009)

The Squiz

6.0

TV Series

Self

2009

1 episode

 

The Magical Scarecrows Stars with Hearts: Final Signatures (2009)

The Magical Scarecrows Stars with Hearts: Final Signatures

Self

2009

 

Bert's Family Feud (2006)

Bert's Family Feud

6.3

TV Series

Self - Audience MemberSelf - Team CaptainSelf

2006

3 episodes

 

When Boxing Ruled the World (2001)

When Boxing Ruled the World

TV Movie

Self

2001

 

Burke's Backyard (1987)

Burke's Backyard

5.9

TV Series

Self - Celebrity Gardener

1999

1 episode

 

Roy & H.G.'s Planet Norwich (1998)

Roy & H.G.'s Planet Norwich

8.4

TV Series

Self

1998

1 episode

 

Australian Story (1996)

Australian Story

7.6

TV Series

Self

1998

1 episode

 

Dispatches (1987)

Dispatches

6.6

TV Series

Self

1993

1 episode

 

It's a Knockout (1966)

It's a Knockout

7.4

TV Series

Self

1988

1 episode

 

Good Morning Britain (1983)

Good Morning Britain

5.2

TV Series

Self

1987

1 episode

 

Jonathan Ross in The Last Resort with Jonathan Ross (1987)

The Last Resort with Jonathan Ross

6.6

TV Series

Self

1987

1 episode

 

Top of the Pops (1964)

Top of the Pops

6.9

TV Series

Self - Guest

1976

1 episode

 

The Sweepstakes Game

TV Series

Self - Panellist

1976

1 episode

 

Bruce Forsyth in The Generation Game (1971)

The Generation Game

6.4

TV Series

Self - Guest

1975

1 episode

 

Sports Review of the Year 1974

TV Special

Self

1974

 

All in a Day (1971)

All in a Day

TV Series

Self

1974

1 episode

 

Superstars (1973)

Superstars

6.2

TV Series

Self - Competitor

1973

1 episode

 

ABC's Wide World of Sports (1961)

ABC's Wide World of Sports

7.6

TV Series

Self - Boxer

1973

1 episode

 

Archive Footage

Earnie Shavers (2021)

Earnie Shavers

Short

Self (archive footage)

2021

 

Ron Lyle (2021)

Ron Lyle

Short

Self (archive footage)

2021

 

Muhammad Ali in What's My Name: Muhammad Ali (2019)

What's My Name: Muhammad Ali

8.4

Self - Ali Opponent (archive footage)

2019

 

Jimmy White in Barry Hearn: The People's Promoter (2012)

Barry Hearn: The People's Promoter

TV Movie

Self (archive footage)

2012

 

Ali: Still the Greatest (2012)

Ali: Still the Greatest

7.2

TV Mini Series

Self (archive footage)

2012

1 episode

 

Live from Studio Five (2009)

Live from Studio Five

2.4

TV Series

Self (archive footage)

2009

1 episode

 

Cat Deeley, Alison Hammond, Dermot O'Leary, and Ben Shephard in This Morning (1988)

This Morning

4.3

TV Series

Self (archive footage)

2009

1 episode

 

Ian Fleming and Geoffrey Boothroyd in Timeshift (2002)

Timeshift

7.0

TV Series

Self (archive footage, uncredited)

2006

1 episode

 

Jeremy Clarkson in You Don't Want to Do That (2001)

You Don't Want to Do That

TV Movie

Self (archive footage)

2001

 

Television's Greatest Hits

TV Series

Self (archive footage)

1992

1 episode

 

100 Great Sporting Moments

TV Series

Self (archive footage)

1986

1 episode

 

Jaromil Jires in The Rock 'n' Roll Years (1985)

The Rock 'n' Roll Years

8.5

TV Series

Self (archive footage)

1986

1 episode

 

Michael Buffer, Jim Lampley, Paulie Malignaggi, Paul Williams, and Paul McCloskey in HBO Boxing (1973)

HBO Boxing

8.1

TV Series

Self - Boxer (archive footage)

1986

1 episode

 

Eamonn Andrews in This Is Your Life (1955)

This Is Your Life

6.5

TV Series

Self (archive footage, uncredited)

1978

1 episode

 

Muhammad Ali in The Greatest (1977)

The Greatest

5.9

Joe Bugner (archive footage, uncredited)

1977

 

Weekend World (1972)

Weekend World

6.5

TV Series

Self (archive footage)

1972

1 episode