Farewell, Joe... a boxer who was all box office

WHEN I look back at my youth the late Joe Bugner was as big a star as any - a huge character in 70s Britain and Ireland and better known than some of the world champions we had.

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He was on all the talk shows and, with his impressive dimensions and striking blue-eyed looks, he was all box office.

Bugner could not have had a better platform to rule the world. Things came easy to him because he was so naturally talented, big and strong.

Yet the one thing you need to succeed, he did not possess. Without fire in your belly it is not going to work. Bugner was a prime example of that. Yes he moved to Australia and had some success fighting as Aussie Joe but it's about levels and despite taking some great fighters the distance at his peak, the greatness on offer proved beyond him.