Heartbreaking story of Muhammad Ali’s former opponent who lives in care home with dementia and doesn’t remember fight

JOE BUGNER will be completely unaware that Tuesday will be the 50th anniversary of his first fight with Muhammad Ali, at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

A few days ago I tried calling Bugner in Australia, where he’s lived for 36 years, to reminisce with him about that 12-round non-title clash that grabbed the attention of the nation.

GettyJoe Bugner up against Muhammad Ali in Las Vegas in 1973[/caption]

GettyBugner fought Ali for the world title in Kuala Lumpur two years later but lost[/caption]

Though I haven’t spoken to him for some time I was surprised to discover his telephone had been disconnected.

Looking forward to my usual banter with him, I was horrified and saddened when I contacted his eldest son Joe Jr, 53, and learned why – his father is living in a Brisbane care home suffering from severe dementia.

Joe Jr said: “I’m afraid there’s no point in giving you Dad’s mobile number because I’m afraid he remembers nothing about his boxing career.

“I found it heart-breaking when I visited him just before Christmas because he didn’t seem to know who I was. 

“Physically he’s in great shape and looks years younger than his age. He will be 73 next month yet believes he’s only 38.

“He happens to be in his own little world. While we were chatting he told me his wife Marlene was out shopping and would be back soon – Marlene passed away more than a year ago.”

Hungarian-born Bugner dominated British boxing in the 70s like Frank Bruno and Lennox Lewis did in the 80s and 90s.

At 6ft 4in with blond curly hair, he looked like a modern day Adonis. He was twice British heavyweight champion and three times European champ and was much better than he was given credit for.

If Bugner had been fighting outside the Ali era – the Golden Age of heavyweights – he would have won one of the world championship belts

Colin Hart

Unfortunately he was never that popular with the fans, who never forgave the 21-year-old for getting a highly controversial points decision over national treasure Henry Cooper – which I thought was justified – that ended his career.

But his greatest achievements were twice going the distance with Ali and once with Joe Frazier – not many of our heavyweights would have been good enough to have done that.

And I have no doubt that if he had been fighting outside the Ali era – the Golden Age of heavyweights – he would have won one of the world championship belts given his speed, stamina and exceptional defensive skills.

But when he did fight Ali for the title in in Kuala Lumpur he hardly covered himself in glory.  It was in the open air and though it started at 9.30 in the morning it was extremely hot and humid.

Bugner didn’t try to win and was simply hell-bent on surviving the 15 rounds. In my SunSport report I scathingly called him a “Harmless Hercules.” I must say he accepted that he deserved the criticism and he never let it affect our friendship.

After chasing Joe for 45 minutes Ali was confined to bed suffering from heat exhaustion while we watched Joe swimming in his hotel pool sipping champagne after every lap.

Disgusted with him, promoter Mickey Duff said “I suppose Joe at the end of the day, money is the name of the game.”

Bugner replied “Yes – and being able to count it.”

The boxing community will be as upset as I was to learn of Joe’s memory loss. 

But Joe Jr added “Please let everyone know Dad isn’t unhappy. He is in luxury accommodation and the staff at the home are taking excellent care of him.

GettyBugner poses with the Lonsdale Belt after beating Henry Cooper[/caption]

“I thought of bringing him back to England but his carers advised against it – they said he is used to a certain routine and it wouldn’t be fair to uproot him at this stage of his life.”

I always felt Bugner, despite his many successes was never really in love with boxing – which makes his record of 83 fights, 69 wins with 43 knockouts – even more remarkable.