About Joe Bugner

Born March 13, 1950 In Szoreg, Hungary
Currently resides in Queensland, Australia
Career record: 69 wins (43 KO), 13 defeats, 1 draw
"Aussie Joe"

Bugner and his family fled to England after the 1956 Soviet invasion of Hungary and he holds triple nationality: he is a citizen of Hungary and a naturalized citizen of both the United Kingdom and Australia. He was the British Heavyweight Champion twice and the European Heavyweight Champion once. He fought Ali a total of 27 rounds and Ali couldn't stop him, though Bugner lost both fights by unanimous decision. It was said that the flashiest thing in their first match-up was the robe that Ali wore into the ring, a jewel-encrusted gift from Elvis Presley. Their second fight was a title match that's been described as one of the most boring championship bouts of all time. Bugner was widely criticized after the fight for his demeanor in the ring. To quote one American reporter: "To win a world title, a boxer has to be prepared to die, but Bugner wasn't even prepared to try".

Bugner and his wife Marlene moved to Australia in 1986 to open a vineyard. Its failure and Bugner's loss of over a million dollars prompted yet another boxing comeback in which he enjoyed some success. He won the Australian Heavyweight Title in 1995 and the WBF Heavyweight Championship in 1998 at the age of 48. He retired for good in 1999, suffering from a serious back injury believed to be the result of training for fights at an advanced age. Though hired as an expert adviser on the Russell Crowe film "Cinderella Man", Bugner was fired halfway through the production. He continues to have financial difficulties, and former British Welterweight Champion Kevin Lueshing held a benefit for him in 2008.

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