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By Glenn Moore
September 2, 2025 — 7.33am
Former heavyweight boxing champ Joe Bugner was born in Hungary and made his name in Britain, but only in Australia did he feel accepted, living more than half his life on the Gold Coast and fighting under the name “Aussie Joe”.
Bugner, who died in a Brisbane care home at the age of 75, won the Australian, British, European and Commonwealth belts, capping his career by becoming the oldest world heavyweight champion, albeit with one of the lower-profile titles of several on offer in the sport.
“Aussie” Joe Bugner in his gym on the Gold Coast in 2000.Credit: Reuters
At his peak, he fought Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier in back-to-back fights in 1973, and faced Ali again for his WBA and WBC world championships in 1975. He lost all three bouts on points, being the only man both fought but neither KO’d.
His blond locks, brash talking and pugilistic excellence made him a household name in Britain in the 1970s, but he felt he was never forgiven for ending the career of national treasure Henry Cooper and emigrated.
After moving to Australia in 1986, he made several comebacks, partly motivated by financial issues after a vineyard investment went awry.
He became the Australian heavyweight champ in 1995, then beat James “Bonecrusher” Smith to win the World Boxing Federation title at the age of 48 three years later.
Muhammed Ali, right, launches an attack on Bugner in Las Vegas 1973.Credit: AP
He also appeared in the 1994 action-thriller Street Fighter alongside Jean-Claude Van Damme and Kylie Minogue, and was a contestant in the television show I’m A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here in 2009.
Born Jozsef Kreul Bugner in Szoreg, southern Hungary, on March 13, 1950, he left aged six with his four siblings after the 1956 Soviet invasion. His single mother, Margaret, whisked them away via a bus to Yugoslavia and a nighttime walk through a forest.
Settling as refugees in Britain, he made an impact in sport at school and turned professional at 17.
Knocked out on his debut by a bus driver, he won 31 of his next 33 bouts before beating Cooper by a quarter of a point in 1971.
Bugner in 1972.Credit: AP
Bugner lamented years later: “I wish I had never ruddy fought Henry Cooper. It got me chased out of England. In the eyes of the press, I was a refugee who had come to Britain and made a fortune by beating people up.”
His sculpted face and torso, plus a defensive approach that relied heavily on a ramrod jab, led to sportswriter Hugh McIlvanney remarking Bugner possessed “the physique of a Greek statue but with fewer moves”.
Ali was more impressed. After Bugner survived 15 rounds in steaming heat in Kuala Lumpur, he said: “Watch out for Bugner. He’ll be the champion a couple of years from now.”
That proved wrong, but Bugner kept fighting on and off for another two decades, ending with 69 wins, 13 defeats and one draw.
Bugner, right, with American boxer Joe Frazier in 1973.Credit: AP
In 1995, he came out of retirement to beat Vince Cervi in Carrara and win the Australian title. The following year, he defeated Young Haumona for the Pacific and Australasian title. In 1997, he defeated Colin Wilson to regain the Australian title, which he had relinquished, and defended both titles in 1998 before retiring for good in 1999.
Bugner spent the final years of his life in a Brisbane care home after being diagnosed with dementia. He is survived by his three children: James, Joe jnr and Amy.
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