Heavyweight boxing legend Joe Bugner, a Hungarian-born British-Australian who famously went the distance with Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, has died at the age of 75.
Bugner and his family fled Hungary during the 1956 Soviet invasion and settled in Britain.
He became a professional boxer at 17, and in 1971, he won the British, Commonwealth, and European titles after a controversial points victory over Henry Cooper.
Despite a career that included sharing the ring with some of the greatest heavyweights in history, Bugner struggled to win the affection of British fans. He later moved to Australia in the 1980s, where he was affectionately known as “Aussie Joe.”
Bugner’s professional record stands at 69 wins (41 by knockout), 13 losses, and one draw.6 After his boxing career, he appeared in films, including Street Fighter, and was a contestant on the reality show I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!
The British Boxing Board of Control confirmed his passing, stating he died at a care home in Brisbane, Australia. The boxing world has paid tribute, with promoter Frank Warren calling him “a great man who will be missed.”
