View source for Joe Bugner

{{Short description|British-Australian boxer and actor (1950–2025)}}
{{Use Australian English|date=December 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2013}}
{{Infobox boxer
| image = Correio da Manhã AN 243.jpg
| landscape = yes
| caption = Bugner ({{abbr|l|left}}) against [[Jack Bodell]], 1971
| name = Joe Bugner
| nationality = {{hlist|Hungarian|British|Australian}}
| realname = József Kreul Bugner
| nickname = Aussie Joe
| weight = [[Heavyweight]]
| birth_date = {{birth date|1950|3|13|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Szőreg]], Hungary
| death_date = {{death date and age|2025|9|1|1950|3|13|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Brisbane]], Queensland, Australia
| reach = 82 in
| height = {{cvt|6|ft|4|in|m}}
| style = Orthodox
| total = 83
| wins = 69
| KO = 41
| losses = 13
| draws = 1
}}

'''József Kreul Bugner''' (13 March 1950 – 1 September 2025) was a Hungarian-born British–Australian [[professional boxer]], who competed in the [[heavyweight]] division, and actor. He held [[Multiple citizenship|triple nationality]], originally being a citizen of [[Hungarian People's Republic|Hungary]] and becoming a [[naturalised citizen]] of both the United Kingdom and Australia.

He unsuccessfully challenged [[Muhammad Ali]] for the [[World heavyweight boxing championship records and statistics|heavyweight championship]] in 1975, losing by a [[unanimous decision]]. As an actor, he was often known for his villainous roles in films starring [[Bud Spencer]] and for his role in the 1994 action film [[Street Fighter (1994 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 [[Hungarian Revolution of 1956|1956 Soviet invasion]] and settled in Britain. Standing at {{convert|6|ft|4|in|m|abbr=on}} with a prime weight of 16 stone 1lb (225 lbs or 102&nbsp;kg),<ref>{{cite web|author=William Oscar Johnson|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1066001/index.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100403063850/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1066001/index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 April 2010 |title=Joe Bugner is Down Under looking for a title shot – 05.25.87 – SI Vault |publisher=Sportsillustrated.cnn.com |date=25 May 1987 |access-date=25 October 2012}}</ref> Bugner twice held the [[List of British heavyweight boxing champions|British]] and [[List of Commonwealth Boxing Council champions|British Commonwealth]] heavyweight titles and was a three-time [[List of European Boxing Union champions|EBU 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 (boxer)|Jimmy Ellis]], [[Manuel Ramos (boxer)|Manuel Ramos]], [[Chuck Wepner]], [[Earnie Shavers]], [[Henry Cooper]], [[Brian London]], [[Mac Foster]], [[Rudi Lubbers]], [[Eduardo Corletti]], [[Jürgen Blin]] and [[George Johnson (boxer)|George Johnson]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Mike Goodpaster|url=https://thegruelingtruth.com/boxing/ranking-the-top-10-heavyweight-of-the-1970s/|title=Top 10 Heavyweight of the 1970s|work=The Grueling Truth|date=14 November 2022|access-date=27 June 2023}}</ref> ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' ranked him among the top ten British heavyweight boxers of all time.<ref>{{cite web|author=Gareth A. Davies|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/boxing/2017/04/24/top-10-british-heavyweight-boxers-time/|title=Top 10 Heavyweight Boxers of All Time|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=24 April 2017 |access-date=27 June 2023}}</ref>

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", defeating fighters such as [[Greg Page (boxer)|Greg Page]], [[David Bey]], [[Anders Eklund (boxer)|Anders Eklund]] and [[James Tillis]] before retiring again after a [[TKO]] loss to [[Frank Bruno]] in 1987.<ref name="ringside" /> 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 41 wins by knockout.<ref name="ringside" />

==Early years==
Bugner was born in [[Szőreg]], [[Hungarian People's Republic|Hungary]]. His family fled to the United Kingdom in the late 1950s because of the [[Soviet Union]]'s invasion of Hungary in 1956 after the [[Hungarian Revolution of 1956|Hungarian Revolution]] of that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boxrec.com/media/index.php/Joe_Bugner |title=Joe Bugner - Boxrec Boxing Encyclopaedia |publisher=Boxrec.com |date=28 March 2012 |access-date=25 October 2012}}</ref> Initially, he was one of about 80 refugees housed in the students' hostel at Smedley's factory in [[Wisbech]].<ref>{{cite journal|last=Smedley|first=Michael|title=Smedley's in Wisbech|journal=Annual Report|volume=52|pages=7–11|year=1991|publisher=Wisbech Society}}</ref> They settled in the [[Huntingdonshire]]<!-- Do not change to Cambridgeshire; St Ives was part of Huntingdonshire at the time --> town of [[St Ives, Cambridgeshire|St Ives]] near the [[The Fens|Fens]].<ref name="gdnobit" /> Bugner excelled in sports at school and was the national junior [[discus]] champion in 1964.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ruff|first1=David|title=Joe Bugner Keeps on Coming Back - Interview|url=http://www.doghouseboxing.com/DHB/Ruff092110.htm|website=doghouseboxing.com|access-date=5 July 2014}}</ref> He lived and trained in [[Bedford]] during his early boxing years;<ref name="flickr"/> he was a regular at Bedford Boys Club under the training of Paul King, and attended Goldington Road School in Bedford.<ref name="flickr">{{cite web|url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/46069415@N00/8441842699/ |title= Joe Bugner, former British heavyweight boxing champion |author= Dave Roberts |work= flickr.com |date= February 3, 2013 }}</ref>

==Boxing career==

===1960s===
Throughout his brief amateur career, Bugner competed sixteen times, winning thirteen matches. On the recommendation of his then-trainer and friend, Andy Smith, he became a professional in 1967 (at the young age of 17). Smith was unhappy with the choice of Bugner's opponents and believed that he could better control the quality of his opponents if Bugner turned professional.<ref name="ringside">{{Cite web|url= http://ringsidereport.com/rsr/news.php?readmore=1586 |title= Gypsy Joe Bugner, the Wandering Heavyweight |work= ringsidereport.com |author= Peter Stitt |date= July 12, 2007 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071011213100/http://ringsidereport.com/rsr/news.php?readmore=1586 |archive-date= 11 October 2007}}</ref> He had a losing debut against Paul Brown on 20 December 1967 at the [[London Hilton]], where he suffered a TKO in the third round. Showing gritty determination after his debut, the teenage Bugner went on to win a remarkable 18 consecutive fights in under two years during 1968 and 1969 (including 13 stoppage victories) before narrowly losing to the older and vastly more experienced Dick Hall.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=000924 |title=Joe Bugner : Boxer |work=Boxrec.com |access-date=25 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021117154205/http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=000924 |archive-date=17 November 2002 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> He bounced back and rounded off the 1960s with three further stoppage victories.<ref name="ringside"/>

===1970s===
In 1970 Bugner emerged internationally as an outstanding young prospect and was world-rated by the end of the year. He won nine consecutive bouts that year, including victories over well-known boxers such as [[Chuck Wepner]], [[Manuel Ramos (boxer)|Manuel Ramos]], [[Johnny Prescott]], [[Brian London]], [[Eduardo Corletti]], Charley Polite and [[George Johnson (boxer)|George Johnson]].<ref name="ringside"/>

Bugner was now positioned to challenge world-rated Englishman [[Henry Cooper (boxer)|Henry Cooper]], who had nearly knocked out [[Muhammad Ali]] a few years previously, for Cooper's British, [[Commonwealth of Nations|British Commonwealth]] and European titles. However, because Bugner was still too young to fight for the British Commonwealth title (the minimum age was twenty-one years old at the time), this much-anticipated bout had to be postponed until the following year. While waiting to come of age, in 1971, he defeated Carl Gizzi and drew with Bill Drover just weeks later and weeks before facing Cooper.<ref name="ringside"/>

Bugner earned a reputation early in his professional years as a tough, durable but often exceptionally defensive and cautious boxer; he retained that image for the rest of his career. He was often criticised for lacking natural aggression in the ring. Some observers argued that Bugner's heart was never in boxing after an early opponent, Ulric Regis, died from [[Traumatic brain injury|brain injuries]] soon after being outpointed by Bugner at London's [[Shoreditch Town Hall]].<ref name="ringside"/>

====Defeat of Henry Cooper====
In March 1971, Bugner met veteran Cooper and won a fifteen-round decision. Bugner won the bout by the slimmest of margins, 1/4 point, on the card of the lone official, [[Harry Gibbs (referee)|Harry Gibbs]]. The British sporting public and press were deeply divided about the verdict. Many felt that Cooper deserved the decision due to his steady aggression. But Bugner fought effectively on the defence and often scored with his left jab. ''[[The Times]]'', among others, scored the fight in favour of Bugner. The outcome of the bout was regarded as controversial for many years.<ref name="gdnobit" />

Nonetheless, Bugner was now the [[List of British heavyweight boxing champions|British]], British Commonwealth and European champion, and for the first time, he was ranked among the world's top ten heavyweights. Bugner would remain in the world ratings for most of the 1970s.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}

Bugner retained his European title with a decision over tough German heavyweight [[Jürgen Blin]].<ref name="ringside"/> However, later in 1971, Bugner surprisingly lost decisions to underdogs [[Jack Bodell]] and Larry Middleton; sandwiched between these losses was a victory over Mike Boswell. The Bodell fight was particularly costly, depriving Bugner of his British, British Commonwealth and European championships. Bugner's relative inexperience, his youth and lack of an extensive amateur background were the chief causes of these defeats.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}

In 1972 Bugner won eight consecutive fights, including a knockout over Jürgen Blin for the European championship. By the end of this, Bugner demonstrated much-improved ring ability and acquired enough experience that his manager began seeking matches against the world's best heavyweights.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}

====Prime years====
Bugner began 1973 by retaining his European belt with a victory over the capable Dutchman [[Rudie Lubbers]]. The 23-year-old Bugner then lost twelve-round decisions to [[Muhammad Ali]] and [[Joe Frazier]].<ref name="ringside"/> Despite being clearly defeated, Bugner fought well and won the respect of the boxing media and the public alike. After their bout, Ali declared that Bugner was capable of being world champion.<ref>{{cite magazine | date=26 February 1973 | url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1087092/index.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025165756/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1087092/index.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=25 October 2012 | title=Ali In A World Of His Own | magazine=Sports Illustrated | access-date=24 November 2009 }}</ref> Ali's trainer [[Angelo Dundee]] later echoed that sentiment.<ref>{{cite magazine | date=1 March 1976 | url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1090798/index.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025165712/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1090798/index.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=25 October 2012 | title=The Next Stop Is Costa Rica | magazine=Sports Illustrated | access-date=24 November 2009 }}</ref> The fight with Frazier in July 1973 at [[Earls Court]] in London was deemed a classic. After being knocked down by a tremendous left hook in the tenth round, Bugner arose and staggered Frazier to close the round. Frazier took the decision, but only narrowly, and arguably only [[George Foreman]] and Muhammad Ali ever gave Frazier a harder fight. Many regard the Frazier bout as being Bugner's best career performance.

After the Ali and Frazier fights, Bugner won eight bouts in a row, his most notable victories being over ex-WBA world heavyweight champion [[Jimmy Ellis (boxer)|Jimmy Ellis]], and [[Mac Foster]].<ref name="ringside"/> By the end of 1974, Bugner was rated among the top five heavyweight contenders in the world.

Bugner challenged Muhammad Ali for the world championship in June 1975, the bout being held in [[Kuala Lumpur]], with Ali winning a relatively one-sided fifteen-round decision. Bugner performed fairly well but maintained a strictly defensive posture throughout most of the fight, perhaps due to the blistering tropical heat, and as a result, he was widely scorned by the media and public. In an interview during an April 2008 reunion with Henry Cooper, Bugner defended his tactics in the Ali fight as having been necessary due to the extreme temperature and humidity of the outside venue.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}

====Regains British, European and Commonwealth titles====
Early in 1976, Bugner announced his retirement from boxing, stating that he no longer felt motivated to fight professionally.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}} Within months however he returned to the ring, expressing disgust at Richard Dunn's performance against Ali and in October, he defeated [[Richard Dunn (boxer)|Richard Dunn]] with a first-round knockout to reclaim the British, British Commonwealth and European championships.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}

In 1977, Bugner lost a close twelve-round decision away from home to top contender [[Ron Lyle]]. The scores were 57–53 and 56–54 for Lyle against 55–54 for Bugner. After this bout, Bugner again retired, making only sporadic comebacks to the ring over the next decades.<ref name="ringside"/>

===1980s===
Bugner returned to the ring for brief periods in the 1980s and 1990s but was never as effective as he had been during his prime due to his age and inactivity.<ref name="ringside"/>

After a three-year absence from the ring, Bugner returned in May 1980, knocking out fringe contender Gilberto Acuna, before promptly retiring again. In 1982, a ring-rusty Bugner (having had only one short fight in five years and weighing in some 25&nbsp;lbs above his prime fighting weight) fought the hard-hitting top contender [[Earnie Shavers]], but was stopped in the second round due to a badly cut eye. However, Bugner decided to continue his comeback, stopping the useful John Denis and fringe contender Danny Sutton, as well as domestic contenders Winston Allen and Eddie Neilson. In 1983, a subdued and unmotivated Bugner lost to [[Marvis Frazier]], showing little ambition throughout the bout.<ref name="ringside"/> He followed this with a decision over future European champion [[Anders Eklund (boxer)|Anders Eklund]] and a controversial loss to future world title challenger [[Steffen Tangstad]]. Bugner appeared to have done enough to win the Tangstad fight, however, like with the Frazier and Eklund bouts, he appeared unmotivated and uninterested throughout.<ref name="ringside"/>

====Comeback in Australia====
In 1986 Bugner moved to Australia, where he adopted the nickname ''Aussie Joe'' after becoming an Australian citizen.<ref name="b-m">{{cite web|url=http://www.boxing-monthly.co.uk/content/9908/two.htm |title=Article Two – August 1999 |work=Boxing Monthly |access-date=25 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120620182922/http://www.boxing-monthly.co.uk/content/9908/two.htm |archive-date=20 June 2012 }}</ref> In Australia, Bugner launched a fairly successful comeback, earning good victories over world title contenders [[James Tillis]] and [[David Bey]] and an impressive victory over former [[World Boxing Association|WBA]] heavyweight champion [[Greg Page (boxer)|Greg Page]], gaining a world ranking in the process, after which he spoke of challenging reigning heavyweight champion [[Mike Tyson]].<ref>{{cite magazine | date=3 August 1987 | url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1066234/1/index.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025173256/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1066234/1/index.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=25 October 2012 | title=Scorecard | magazine=Sports Illustrated | access-date=26 November 2009 }}</ref> However, there was great clamour for a fight with fellow Briton [[Frank Bruno]]. The bout was touted as the biggest all-British heavyweight bout since Cooper Vs Bugner in 1971. The bout took place on 24 October 1987, and Bugner suffered an eighth-round TKO loss to the much younger and fresher world title contender for the Commonwealth championship in front of a huge crowd at [[White Hart Lane]] football stadium. Bugner promptly retired again following this defeat, only his third stoppage defeat in 20 years.<ref name="ringside"/>

===1990s===
Inspired by the 45-year-old [[George Foreman]]'s recapture of the heavyweight title, Bugner made a final comeback in 1995, beating Vince Cervi to win the Australian heavyweight title, followed by a win over West Turner. Bugner then fought fellow Briton and world title contender [[Scott Welch]] for the WBO Intercontinental Heavyweight Title.<ref name="ringside"/> Welch proved too young and fresh for the now 46-year-old Bugner, handing him a TKO defeat in the 6th round.<ref name="ringside"/>

Bugner continued to fight on against far younger opponents. In 1996 he defeated the respectable Young Haumona for the Pacific and Australasian Heavyweight title, retained it against Waisiki Ligaloa in 1997, added the Australian title by defeating the tough Colin Wilson and defending both titles against [[Bob Mirovic]] in 1998.<ref name="ringside"/>

In 1998 Bugner's long-term tenacity finally gave him a world crown – the WBF version of the heavyweight crown – by defeating former WBA World Heavyweight Champion [[James "Bonecrusher" Smith]]. At the age of 48 years and 110 days, it made Bugner the oldest ever boxer to hold a world [[championship belt]].<ref>[http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/sports/2006/jan/24/sports-24-1-2006-005.htm] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070821020646/http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/sports/2006/jan/24/sports-24-1-2006-005.htm|date=21 August 2007}}</ref><ref name="heavyweight">{{Cite web|url= http://members.fortunecity.com/taletape/bugner.htm |title= The Heavyweight Records Archive - Joe Bugnor |work= fortunecity.com |date=13 October 2004|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20041013035245/http://members.fortunecity.com/taletape/bugner.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date= 13 October 2004}}</ref>

Bugner fought just once more. In June 1999, at the age of 49, he defeated the durable fringe contender Levi Billups, who was disqualified for [[Groin attack|low blow]]s.<ref name="Archived copy">{{cite news | url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4196/is_19990614/ai_n10512737 | title=Archived copy | access-date=24 January 2007 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150924121640/http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4196/is_19990614/ai_n10512737 | archive-date=24 September 2015 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Fight record==
His record for 83 professional fights is 69 wins (41 on knockouts), 13 losses and 1 draw.<ref name="Archived copy"/>

In an interview in 2004, Bugner said that the hardest puncher he had ever faced was [[Earnie Shavers]] and the biggest beating he took was from [[Ron Lyle]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=663&more=1 |title=Interview with Joe Bugner |publisher=Eastsideboxing.com |date=18 February 2004 |access-date=25 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730143319/http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=663&more=1 |archive-date=30 July 2012 }}</ref>

==Life outside boxing==
After moving to Australia, Bugner and his wife, Marlene, opened a vineyard. It failed in 1989, and he lost an estimated two million Australian dollars.<ref name="b-m"/>

Bugner worked in the [[film industry]]. During the 1970s, he appeared in one of several PSAs themed ''Be Smart, Be Safe''; these dealt with instructing children on how to safely cross a road or a street. In 1979, Bugner featured in an Italian film, ''[[Io sto con gli ippopotami]]'', with [[Bud Spencer]] and [[Terence Hill]], and he worked again with Spencer throughout the 1980s. He worked as the expert adviser on the [[Russell Crowe]] film ''[[Cinderella Man]]'', which was a film about the heavyweight boxer [[James J. Braddock]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/CROWE%20GETS%20BOXING%20LESSONS |title=Russell Crowe &#124; Crowe Gets Boxing Lessons |work=Contactmusic.com |date=12 August 2003 |access-date=25 October 2012}}</ref> Bugner was dropped partway through the project, which prompted him to call Crowe "a gutless worm and a f*****g girl".<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,4-1359566,00.html | archive-url=https://archive.today/20110604123727/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,4-1359566,00.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=4 June 2011 | work=The Times | location=London | title=Cinderella Man who went to the ball and conquered | first=Rick | last=Broadbent | date=15 November 2004 | access-date=6 May 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2006/may/07/boxing.features1 | work=The Guardian | location=London | title=Five still fighting at forty | date=7 May 2006 | access-date=6 May 2010}}</ref>

Bugner suffered from a serious back injury he sustained from training for fights in his middle years. Financial problems prompted him to re-enter the ring at such an advanced age. A benefit was held for Bugner in 2008 by [[Kevin Lueshing]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/ten-things-you-need-to-know-431901 | title=Ten things you need to know about new I'm a Celebrity contestant Joe Bugner| website=[[Daily Mirror]]| date=18 November 2009}}</ref>

In November 2009, Bugner replaced [[Camilla Dallerup]] on day 4 of the British TV show ''[[I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! (British TV series)|I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!]]''. He left the show on day 16 after losing a [[bush tucker]] trial called 'Jungle Jail' to fellow celebrity [[Stuart Manning]].<ref>{{cite news |date=30 November 2009 |title=Boxer Joe Bugner voted off I'm A Celebrity |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8385792.stm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091203122133/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8385792.stm |archive-date=3 December 2009 |access-date=1 September 2025 |work=BBC News}}</ref>

Bugner had three children: James, Joe Jr. and Amy, with his ex-wife Melody.<ref>[https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/joe-bugner-having-the-boxer-as-a-dad-433450 Joe Bugner: Having the boxer as a dad made my life hell, says his son James] 26 November 2009. ''[[Daily Mirror]]''</ref>

Bugner's autobiography, ''Joe Bugner – My Story'', was published by [[New Holland Publishers|New Holland Publishing (Australia)]] on 14 November 2013.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Bugner |first1=Joe |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Wg-ongEACAAJ |title=My Story |last2=Mullins |first2=Stuart |date=2013 |publisher=New Holland |isbn=978-1-74257-458-5 |language=en}}</ref>

Bugner spent his final years with dementia and died at a care home in [[Brisbane]], Australia, on 1 September 2025, at the age of 75.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Joe Bugner: Former world heavyweight title opponent for Muhammad Ali dies aged 75 |url=https://www.skysports.com/boxing/news/12183/13423098/joe-bugner-former-world-heavyweight-title-opponent-for-muhammad-ali-dies-aged-75 |access-date=2025-09-01 |website=Sky Sports |language=en}}</ref><ref name="gdnobit">{{cite news |last1=Rawling |first1=John |title=Joe Bugner obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/sep/01/joe-bugner-obituary |access-date=1 September 2025 |work=The Guardian |date=1 September 2025}}</ref>

==Professional boxing record==
<ref name="heavyweight"/>
{{BoxingRecordSummary
|draws=1
|ko-wins=41
|ko-losses=4
|dec-wins=26
|dec-losses=9
|dq-wins=2
}}
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!{{abbr|No.|Number}}
!Result
!Record
!Opponent
!Type
!Round, time
!Date
!Location
!Notes
|-
|83
|{{yes2}}Win
|69–13–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Levi Billups
|DQ
|9
|13 Jun 1999
|align=left|Broadbeach, Australia
|
|-
|82
|{{yes2}}Win
|68–13–1
|style="text-align:left;"|[[James "Bonecrusher" Smith|James Smith]]
|TKO
|1
|4 Jul 1998
|align=left|Carrara, Australia
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Won vacant [[World Boxing Federation (organization)|WBF (Federation)]] heavyweight title}}
|-
|81
|{{yes2}}Win
|67–13–1
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Bob Mirovic]]
|SD
|12
|20 Apr 1998
|align=left|Carrara, Australia
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained Australian heavyweight title;<br/>Won vacant PABA heavyweight title}}
|-
|80
|{{yes2}}Win
|66–13–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Colin Wilson
|UD
|12
|13 Jan 1998
|align=left|Broadbeach, Australia
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Won Australian heavyweight title}}
|-
|79
|{{yes2}}Win
|65–13–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Waisiki Ligaloa
|TKO
|7
|3 Jun 1997
|align=left|Southport, Australia
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained PABA heavyweight title}}
|-
|78
|{{yes2}}Win
|64–13–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Young Haumona
|KO
|5
|5 Jul 1996
|align=left|Carrara, Australia
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Won vacant [[Pan Asian Boxing Association|PABA]] heavyweight title}}
|-
|77
|{{no2}}Loss
|63–13–1
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Scott Welch]]
|TKO
|6 
|16 Mar 1996
|align=left|[[Berlin]], Germany
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|For vacant [[World Boxing Organization|WBO]] Inter-Continental heavyweight title}}
|-
|76
|{{yes2}}Win
|63–12–1
|style="text-align:left;"|West Turner
|KO
|3 
|2 Feb 1996
|align=left|[[Perth, Western Australia|Perth]], Australia
|
|-
|75
|{{yes2}}Win
|62–12–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Vince Cervi
|UD
|12 
|22 Sep 1995
|align=left|[[Carrara, Queensland|Carrara]], Australia
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Won [[List of Australian heavyweight boxing champions|Australian heavyweight title]]}}
|-
|74
|{{no2}}Loss
|61–12–1
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Frank Bruno]]
|TKO
|8 
|24 Oct 1987
|align=left|[[White Hart Lane]], London
|
|-
|73
|{{yes2}}Win
|61–11–1
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Greg Page (boxer)|Greg Page]]
|UD
|10 
|24 Jul 1987
|align=left|Sydney, Australia
|
|-
|72
|{{yes2}}Win
|60–11–1
|style="text-align:left;"|[[David Bey]]
|UD
|10 
|14 Nov 1986
|align=left|Sydney, Australia
|
|-
|71
|{{yes2}}Win
|59–11–1
|style="text-align:left;"|[[James Tillis]]
|PTS
|10 
|15 Sep 1986
|align=left|[[Sydney]], Australia
|
|-
|70
|{{no2}}Loss
|58–11–1
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Steffen Tangstad]]
|SD
|10 
|18 Feb 1984
|align=left|Copenhagen, Denmark
|
|-
|69
|{{yes2}}Win
|58–10–1
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Anders Eklund (boxer)|Anders Eklund]]
|MD
|10 
|13 Jan 1984
|align=left|[[Randers]], Denmark
|
|-
|68
|{{no2}}Loss
|57–10–1
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Marvis Frazier]]
|UD
|10 
|4 Jun 1983
|align=left|[[Atlantic City]], [[New Jersey]]
|
|-
|67
|{{yes2}}Win
|57–9–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Danny Sutton
|TKO
|9 
|20 Apr 1983
|align=left|[[Muswell Hill]], London
|
|-
|66
|{{yes2}}Win
|56–9–1
|style="text-align:left;"|John Dino Denis
|TKO
|3 
|16 Feb 1983
|align=left|[[Wood Green]], London
|
|-
|65
|{{yes2}}Win
|55–9–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Eddie Neilson
|TKO
|5 
|9 Dec 1982
|align=left|Bloomsbury, London
|
|-
|64
|{{yes2}}Win
|54–9–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Winston Allen
|KO
|3 
|28 Oct 1982
|align=left|[[Bloomsbury]], London
|
|-
|63
|{{no2}}Loss
|53–9–1
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Earnie Shavers]]
|TKO
|2 
|8 May 1982
|align=left|[[Reunion Arena]], [[Dallas]]
|
|-
|62
|{{yes2}}Win
|53–8–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Gilberto Acuna
|TKO
|6 
|23 Aug 1980
|align=left|[[Inglewood, California|Inglewood]], California
|
|-
|61
|{{no2}}Loss
|52–8–1
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Ron Lyle]]
|SD
|12 
|20 Mar 1977
|align=left|[[Caesars Palace]], [[Nevada]]
|

|-
|60
|{{yes2}}Won
|52–7–1
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Richard Dunn (boxer)|Richard Dunn]]
|KO
|1 
|12 Oct 1976
|align=left|Wembley, London
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Won European, British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles}}
|-
|59
|{{no2}}Loss
|51–7–1
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Muhammad Ali]]
|UD
|15 
|[[Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Bugner II|1 Jul 1975]]<!-- This is often reported as happening on June 30 because it was still June 30 in much of the world when the fight started on July 1 in Malaysia --><ref>{{cite web |title=ESPN Classic – Muhammad Ali's ring record |url=https://www.espn.com/classic/s/Ali_record.html |website=espn.com |access-date=6 July 2021}}</ref>
|align=left|[[Merdeka Stadium]], Kuala Lumpur
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|For, [[List of WBA world champions#Heavyweight|WBA]], [[List of WBC world champions#Heavyweight|WBC]] and [[List of The Ring world champions#Heavyweight|''The Ring'' heavyweight titles]]}}
|-
|58
|{{yes2}}Win
|51–6–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Dante Cane
|TKO
|5 
|28 Feb 1975
|align=left|[[Bologna]], Italy
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained European heavyweight title}}
|-
|57
|{{yes2}}Win
|50–6–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Santiago Alberto Lovell
|TKO
|2 
|3 Dec 1974
|align=left|Royal [[Albert Hall]], London
|
|-
|56
|{{yes2}}Win
|49–6–1
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Jimmy Ellis (boxer)|Jimmy Ellis]]
|PTS
|10 
|12 Nov 1974
|align=left|Wembley, London
|
|-
|55
|{{yes2}}Win
|48–6–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Jose Luis Garcia
|KO
|2 
|1 Oct 1974
|align=left|Wembley, London
|
|-
|54
|{{yes2}}Win
|47–6–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Piermario Baruzzi
|TKO
|10 
|29 May 1974
|align=left|[[Copenhagen]], Denmark
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained European heavyweight title}}
|-
|53
|{{yes2}}Win
|46–6–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Pat Duncan
|PTS
|10 
|12 Mar 1974
|align=left|Wembley, London
|
|-
|52
|{{yes2}}Win
|45–6–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Mac Foster
|PTS
|10 
|13 Nov 1973
|align=left|Wembley, London
|
|-
|51
|{{yes2}}Win
|44–6–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Giuseppe Ros
|PTS
|15 
|2 Oct 1973
|align=left|Royal Albert Hall, London
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained European heavyweight title}}
|-
|50
|{{no2}}Loss
|43–6–1
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Joe Frazier]]
|PTS
|12 
|2 Jul 1973
|align=left|[[Earls Court]], London
|
|-
|49
|{{no2}}Loss
|43–5–1
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Muhammad Ali]]
|UD
|12 
|[[Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Bugner|14 Feb 1973]]
|align=left|[[Las Vegas Strip|Las Vegas]], [[Nevada]]
|
|-
|48
|{{yes2}}Win
|43–4–1
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Rudie Lubbers]]
|UD
|15 
|16 Jan 1973
|align=left|Royal Albert Hall, London
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained European heavyweight title}}
|-
|47
|{{yes2}}Win
|42–4–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Dante Cane
|TKO
|6 
|28 Nov 1972
|align=left|Ice Rink, Nottingham
|
|-
|46
|{{yes2}}Win
|41–4–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Tony Doyle
|TKO
|8 
|14 Nov 1972
|align=left|Wembley, London
|
|-
|45
|{{yes2}}Win
|40–4–1
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Jürgen Blin]]
|KO
|8 
|10 Oct 1972
|align=left|Royal Albert Hall, London
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Won European heavyweight title}}
|-
|44
|{{yes2}}Win
|39–4–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Paul Nielsen
|TKO
|6 
|[[Muhammad Ali vs. Al Lewis|19 Jul 1972]]
|align=left|[[Croke Park]], Dublin
|
|-
|43
|{{yes2}}Win
|38–4–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Doug Kirk
|TKO
|5 
|6 Jun 1972
|align=left|Royal Albert Hall, London
|
|-
|42
|{{yes2}}Win
|37–4–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Marc Hans
|TKO
|3 
|9 May 1972
|align=left|Wembley, London
|
|-
|41
|{{yes2}}Win
|36–4–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Leroy Caldwell
|DQ
|5 
|25 Apr 1972
|align=left|Royal Albert Hall, London
|
|-
|40
|{{yes2}}Win
|35–4–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Brian O'Melia
|TKO
|2 
|28 Mar 1972
|align=left|Wembley, London
|
|-
|39
|{{no2}}Loss
|34–4–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Larry Middleton
|PTS
|10 
|24 Nov 1971
|align=left|Ice Rink, Nottingham
|
|-
|38
|{{yes2}}Win
|34–3–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Mike Boswell
|UD
|10 
|17 Nov 1971
|align=left|[[Houston]], Texas
|
|-
|37
|{{no2}}Loss
|33–3–1
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Jack Bodell]]
|PTS
|15 
|27 Sep 1971
|align=left|Wembley, London
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Lost European, British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles}}
|-
|36
|{{yes2}}Win
|33–2–1
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Jürgen Blin]]
|PTS
|15 
|11 May 1971
|align=left|Wembley, London
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained European heavyweight title}}
|-
|35
|{{yes2}}Win
|32–2–1
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Henry Cooper (boxer)|Henry Cooper]]
|PTS
|15 
|16 Mar 1971
|align=left|Wembley, London
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Won [[list of European Boxing Union champions#Heavyweight|European]], [[list of British heavyweight boxing champions|British]] and [[list of Commonwealth Boxing Council champions#Heavyweight|Commonwealth heavyweight titles]]}}
|-
|34
|style="background: #B0C4DE"|Draw
|31–2–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Bill Drover
|PTS
|10 
|10 Feb 1971
|align=left|Bethnal Green, London
|
|-
|33
|{{yes2}}Win
|31–2
|style="text-align:left;"|Carl Gizzi
|PTS
|10 
|19 Jan 1971
|align=left|Royal Albert Hall, London
|
|-
|32
|{{yes2}}Win
|30–2
|style="text-align:left;"|Miguel Angel Paez
|TKO
|3 
|8 Dec 1970
|align=left|Royal Albert Hall, London
|
|-
|31
|{{yes2}}Win
|29–2
|style="text-align:left;"|George Johnson
|PTS
|10 
|3 Nov 1970
|align=left|Royal Albert Hall, London
|
|-
|30
|{{yes2}}Win
|28–2
|style="text-align:left;"|Hector Eduardo Corletti
|PTS
|10 
|6 Oct 1970
|align=left|Royal Albert Hall, London
|
|-
|29
|{{yes2}}Win
|27–2
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Chuck Wepner]]
|TKO
|3 
|8 Sep 1970
|align=left|Wembley, London
|
|-
|28
|{{yes2}}Win
|26–2
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Brian London]]
|TKO
|5 
|12 May 1970
|align=left|Wembley, London
|
|-
|27
|{{yes2}}Win
|25–2
|style="text-align:left;"|Ray Patterson
|PTS
|8 
|21 Apr 1970
|align=left|Royal Albert Hall, London
|
|-
|26
|{{yes2}}Win
|24–2
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Manuel Ramos (boxer)|Manuel Ramos]]
|PTS
|4 
|23 Mar 1970
|align=left|Wembley, London
|
|-
|25
|{{yes2}}Win
|23–2
|style="text-align:left;"|Roberto Davila
|TKO
|4 
|10 Feb 1970
|align=left|Picadilly, London
|
|-
|24
|{{yes2}}Win
|22–2
|style="text-align:left;"|Johnny Prescott
|PTS
|8 
|20 Jan 1970
|align=left|Royal Albert Hall, London
|
|-
|23
|{{yes2}}Win
|21–2
|style="text-align:left;"|Charley Polite
|TKO
|3 
|9 Dec 1969
|align=left|Royal Albert Hall, London
|
|-
|22
|{{yes2}}Win
|20–2
|style="text-align:left;"|Eddie Talhami
|TKO
|4 
|11 Nov 1969
|align=left|Royal Albert Hall, London
|
|-
|21
|{{yes2}}Win
|19–2
|style="text-align:left;"|Phil Smith
|TKO
|2 
|14 Oct 1969
|align=left|Royal Albert Hall, London
|
|-
|20
|{{no2}}Loss
|18–2
|style="text-align:left;"|Dick Hall
|PTS
|8 
|4 Aug 1969
|align=left|Hotel Piccadilly, Manchester
|
|-
|19
|{{yes2}}Win
|18–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Moses Harrell
|PTS
|8 
|9 Jun 1969
|align=left|[[Belle Vue, Manchester|Belle Vue]], Manchester
|
|-
|18
|{{yes2}}Win
|17–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Tony Ventura
|PTS
|8 
|20 May 1969
|align=left|Royal Albert Hall, London
|
|-
|17
|{{yes2}}Win
|16–1
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Jack O'Halloran]]
|PTS
|8 
|15 Apr 1969
|align=left|Royal Albert Hall, London
|
|-
|16
|{{yes2}}Win
|15–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Lion Ven
|TKO
|5 
|25 Mar 1969
|align=left|Wembley, London
|
|-
|15
|{{yes2}}Win
|14–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Ulric Regis
|PTS
|8 
|11 Mar 1969
|align=left|Shoreditch, London
|
|-
|14
|{{yes2}}Win
|13–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Terry Feeley
|TKO
|1 
|25 Feb 1969
|align=left|Royal Albert Hall, London
|
|-
|13
|{{yes2}}Win
|12–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Rudolph Vaughan
|TKO
|2 
|21 Jan 1969
|align=left|[[Kensington]], London
|
|-
|12
|{{yes2}}Win
|11–1
|style="text-align:left;"|George Dulaire
|TKO
|4 
|19 Dec 1968
|align=left|Bethnal Green, London
|
|-
|11
|{{yes2}}Win
|10–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Gene Innocent
|TKO
|3 
|12 Nov 1968
|align=left|Wembley, London
|
|-
|10
|{{yes2}}Win
|9–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Paul Brown
|TKO
|3 
|4 Nov 1968
|align=left|[[Connaught Rooms]], London
|
|-
|9
|{{yes2}}Win
|8–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Vic Moore
|TKO
|1 
|8 Oct 1968
|align=left|Royal Albert Hall, London
|
|-
|8
|{{yes2}}Win
|7–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Obe Hepburn
|TKO
|1 
|18 Aug 1968
|align=left|[[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley]], London
|
|-
|7
|{{yes2}}Win
|6–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Paul Brown
|TKO
|4 
|28 May 1968
|align=left|[[Royal Albert Hall]], London
|
|-
|6
|{{yes2}}Win
|5–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Billy Wynter
|PTS
|6 
|21 May 1968
|align=left|Bethnal Green, London
|
|-
|5
|{{yes2}}Win
|4–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Mick Oliver
|RTD
|3 
|6 May 1968
|align=left|Mayfair, London
|
|-
|4
|{{yes2}}Win
|3–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Bert Johnson
|KO
|3 
|26 Mar 1968
|align=left|Bethnal Green, London
|
|-
|3
|{{yes2}}Win
|2–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Jim McIlvaney
|TKO
|2 
|27 Feb 1968
|align=left|Bethnal Green, London
|
|-
|2
|{{yes2}}Win
|1–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Paul Cassidy
|TKO
|2 
|30 Jan 1968
|align=left|[[Bethnal Green]], London
|
|-
|1
|{{no2}}Loss
|0–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Paul Brown
|KO
|3 
|20 Dec 1967
|align=left|[[Mayfair]], London
|
{{s-end}}

==Exhibition boxing record==
{{BoxingRecordSummary
|draws=
|ko–wins=
|ko–losses=
|dec–wins=
|dec–losses=
|nonscore=2
}}
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!{{abbr|No.|Number}}
!Result
!Record
!Opponent
!Type
!Round, time
!Date
!Location
!Notes
|-
|2
|{{N/A}}
|0–0 {{small|(2)}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Boxing career of Muhammad Ali|Muhammad Ali]]
|{{N/A}}
|?
|Feb 8, 1979
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|NZ}} {{small|[[Western Springs (Auckland suburb)|Western Springs]], [[Auckland]], New Zealand}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Non-scored bout}}
|-
|1
|{{N/A}}
|0–0 {{small|(1)}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Boxing career of Muhammad Ali|Muhammad Ali]]
|{{N/A}}
|?
|Dec 3, 1974
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|UK}} {{small|[[Royal Albert Hall]], London, England}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Non-scored bout}}
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{boxrec|id=000924}}
* [http://www.stives-town.info/citizens/boxing/joes_fights.htm Career Record Extended]
* {{IMDb name|0119522}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bugner, Joe}}
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