Two-time Ali Challenger Bugner Dies Aged 75

Former heavyweight boxer Joe Bugner has died astatine nan property of 75.

Bugner doubly held nan British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles and was a three-time European heavyweight champion.

He faced Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier successful back-to-back bouts successful 1973, earlier facing Ali again successful 1975.

"It is pinch awesome sadness that nan erstwhile British, European and Commonwealth heavyweight champion, and world title contender Joe Bugner has passed distant astatine his attraction location successful Brisbane, Australia", nan British Boxing Board of Control said.

"The British Boxing Board of Control passes connected its condolences to Joe's family."

Bugner was consistently classed among nan world's apical 10 heavyweights passim nan 1970s and was known for method ability, toughness, durability and willingness to return connected nan best.

During his 83-fight career, he besides shared nan ringing pinch different notable heavyweights specified arsenic Earnie Shavers, Henry Cooper, and Frank Bruno.

Born Jozsef Kreul Bugner successful Szoreg, Hungary, successful 1950, he and his family fled nan state aft nan 1956 Soviet penetration and yet settled successful nan United Kingdom.

Bugner began boxing arsenic a teen and quickly roseate done nan amateur ranks, winning nan ABA ray heavyweight title astatine conscionable 17.

As a professional, Bugner claimed a notable triumph complete Cooper astatine Wembley successful 1971 to triumph some nan British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles.

His fights against Ali and Frazier further cemented his estimation for toughness.

In their first bout, Ali controlled nan conflict pinch superior velocity and accuracy, but Bugner went nan distance, earning praise for his resilience.

Later that year, he faced Joe Frazier successful a gruelling match, yet being stopped successful nan 12th information aft different courageous performance. Bugner mislaid again connected points to Ali successful 1975.

Bugner retired a number of times passim his career. After first hanging up nan gloves successful 1976, he made respective comebacks.

He moved to Australia successful nan mid-1980s and continued to return connected top-level competition, including a conclusion by Bruno, who stopped him successful nan eighth information successful 1987.

Bugner retired again but returned astir 8 years later to seizure nan Australian heavyweight title successful 1995.

In 1998, astatine nan property of 48, he won nan lightly regarded World Boxing Federation (WBF) heavyweight title by defeating James 'Bonecrusher' Smith, earlier bowing retired of boxing for bully successful 1999 aft a triumph by disqualification against Levi Billups.

Outside of boxing, Bugner appeared successful films including nan 1994 action movie Street Fighter and worked arsenic a boxing advisor for nan Russell Crowe movie Cinderella Man. He was besides a contestant connected ITV's 'I'm a Celebrity' successful 2009.