Joe Bugner, the boxer who stood toe-to-toe with Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, has died at 75 in Australia. The Hungarian-born fighter left a mark on the heavyweight division of the 1970s and later found success as an actor.
Born Jozsef Kreul Bugner in 1950 in Szoreg, Hungary, he escaped the 1956 Soviet invasion with his family. They took a bus to the Yugoslav border and walked through the countryside, moving through multiple refugee camps. Though initially bound for Argentina, they ended up in England due to his brother's weakness.
As a teenager in the UK, Bugner quickly rose through the amateur boxing ranks. He turned pro and grabbed attention in 1971 with a win over Henry Cooper at Wembley. This victory kicked off a career that saw him become British heavyweight champion twice, Commonwealth champion twice, and European champion three times.
Bugner's toughness and endurance became legendary. He faced Muhammad Ali twice, losing both times but finishing on his feet. In 1973, he went the distance with Joe Frazier, again losing but staying upright. His 1975 world title fight against Ali lasted all 15 rounds.
"He could become champion," Ali once said of Bugner.
After retiring from boxing in 1977, Bugner took an unexpected turn into acting. Italian actor Franco Nero advised him to forget Hollywood and introduced him to an Italian agent. This led to a series of cult films co-starring Bud Spencer, where Bugner played his natural rival due to his size.
His acting credits include "They Called Him Bulldozer" (1978), "The Sheriff and the Satellite Kid" (1979), and "Street Fighter" (1994). He narrowly missed playing Ivan Drago in "Rocky IV" due to disagreements with Sylvester Stallone. Later, he worked as a boxing advisor for Russell Crowe in "Cinderella Man."
Bugner's journey from refugee to boxing champion to actor started with a spark of inspiration. In a refugee camp in 1958, he saw a "Hercules" film that left a lasting impression.
In his later years, Bugner settled in Australia and became a winemaker, owning a vineyard. His life story spans continents and careers, from escaping Soviet tanks to facing boxing legends to sharing the screen with action stars.
Bugner leaves behind a legacy as a tough competitor who always ranked in the heavyweight top 10 during boxing's golden era. His ability to go the distance with the greatest fighters of his time, combined with his successful transition to film, makes Joe Bugner a unique figure in sports and entertainment history.
