Place of birth: Szoreg, Hungary
Record: 69-13-1 (41 KOs)
Dominant title: Not available
Main victory: Manuel Ramos, Brian London, Chuck Wepner, Henry Cooper, Mac Foster, Jimmy Ellis, James Tillis, Greg Page
Main loss: Muhammad Ali (twice), Joe Frazier, Ron Lyle, Earnie Shavers, Marvis Frazier, Frank Bruno
Background: Hungarian-British, also Australian, had a long career (1967-99) divided by long hiatuses and he always came to fight. He was remarkably successful – winning European, Commonwealth and British titles – but he may be best remembered for his three battles in the 1970s against Muhammad Ali (twice) and Joe Frazier, neither of them could take down the persistent blond junior. A unanimous decision loss to Ali in 1975 was the only time he won the world title. His greatest victory was perhaps a close decision to end Henry Cooper’s fan run as British heavyweight champion in 1971. Bugner returned to Australia in the 1990s. and acquitted himself at an advanced age before leaving the sport. He was 49 years old when he last fought in June 1999, a disqualification victory over Levi Billups.
