Joe Bugner, Who Fought Muhammad Ali And Joe Frazier, Dies At 75

Last Updated:September 01, 2025, 21:32 IST

Joe Bugner, Hungary-born British heavyweight who fought Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, passed away at 75 in Brisbane. He was a British, European, and Commonwealth champion.

Boxer Jog Bugner is no more. (PC: X)

Former British heavyweight boxer Joe Bugner, who went the distance with Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier in the 1970s, has passed away at the age of 75.

The Hungary-born fighter faced Ali and Frazier in 1973 and took on Ali again in a world title bout in Kuala Lumpur in 1975, losing each contest on points.

Bugner’s other notable opponents included American Earnie Shavers and British rivals Henry Cooper and Frank Bruno.

His career, which spanned 32 years, ended in 1999. By then, he had relocated to Australia, where he spent his final years in a care home after being diagnosed with dementia.

The British Boxing Board of Control expressed its condolences: “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."

Bugner, who moved to Britain as a child refugee after his family fled the 1956 Soviet invasion of Hungary, won 69 of his 83 contests, with 13 defeats and one draw.

He held the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles twice and was a three-time European champion.

Although he retired after a defeat to Bruno in 1987, financial difficulties led to a comeback after eight years, during which he won the Australian title and later secured the lightly regarded World Boxing Federation crown at the age of 48.

Post-boxing, Bugner was involved in the film industry and appeared on the British TV show ‘I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!’ in 2009.

Promoter Frank Warren wrote on X: “Sad news to hear of the passing of Joe Bugner, former British, European and Commonwealth Champion, and a man who went the distance with both Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier."

(With AFP Inputs)

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First Published:

September 01, 2025, 21:32 IST

News sports Joe Bugner, Who Fought Muhammad Ali And Joe Frazier, Dies At 75

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