Legendary Boxer Who Fought Muhammad Ali Twice Dies, Tributes Pour in
- Former heavyweight boxer Joe Bugner has passed away at the age of 75 to leave the boxing world in mourning
- Bugner was a two-time holder of the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles and a three-time champion of Europe
- He famously shared the ring with legends Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier in 1973, before challenging Ali again for the world title in 1975
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Former British, European, and Commonwealth heavyweight champion Joe Bugner has passed away at the age of 75.
He famously went the distance with Muhammad Ali on two occasions, losing on points in 1973 and 1975, and fought many of the sport’s biggest names.
Shortly after his first bout with Ali, Bugner also faced Joe Frazier in London’s Earls Court, where he was defeated.
Source: Getty Images
Bugner’s death was confirmed in a statement released by the British Boxing Board of Control, which read via Daily Mail:
"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."
In 1971, Bugner defeated Henry Cooper on points to capture the British, European, and Commonwealth heavyweight titles, firmly establishing himself in the sport.
Just two months later, he successfully defended his European crown against Jurgen Blin, though he would go on to lose all three belts to Jack Bodell that September.
Bugner also endured gruelling battles with heavyweight greats, taking Joe Frazier the distance in London in 1973 and later losing a 15-round rematch with Muhammad Ali for the WBC title in Kuala Lumpur in 1975.
Watch highlights of Muhammad Ali vs Joe Bugner below:
While Bugner fell short against power punchers like Earnie Shavers and Frank Bruno, he secured notable victories over respected contenders James Tillis and Greg Page.
See Frank Bruno's heartfelt tribute on X below:
Joe Bugner boxing achievements
Bugner, born Jozsef Kreul Bugner in Szoreg, Hungary, in 1950, fled to Britain following the Russian invasion.
Joe Bugner closed his boxing career with an impressive record of 69 wins, 41 by knockout, alongside 13 defeats and one draw.
The Hungarian-born British-Australian retained his European heavyweight title against Jurgen Blin but later lost his belts to Jack Bodell.
Source: Getty Images
He went the distance with Joe Frazier in 1973, faced Muhammad Ali in a 15-round WBC title clash two years later, and tested himself against heavy hitters like Earnie Shavers, while also securing notable victories over James Tillis and Greg Page.
Over the course of his 83-fight career, he also went toe-to-toe with renowned heavyweights like Shavers and Bruno, as reported by the BBC.
Bugner was ranked in the world’s top 10 heavyweights during the 1970s, earning a reputation for his technical skill, toughness, durability, and readiness to face elite opponents.
His death comes barely a month after the tragic deaths of Japanese fighters Shigetoshi Kotari and Hiromasa Urakawa, both of whom sustained fatal brain injuries while competing on the same event card.
The death of Jamaican boxing legend Mike McCallum
Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that the world of boxing mourned the loss of one of its greatest champions, Mike McCallum, the legendary Jamaican boxer, who died at the age of 68.
According to reports, McCallum, popularly known as "The Bodysnatcher," was en route to the gym in Las Vegas on Saturday when he suddenly fell ill.
Source: YEN.com.gh
