A boxing giant who went the distance with Ali

Tributes paid to veteran slugger

- BY ANDY LINES

JOE Bugner, one of Britain's toughest boxers, held his own in the sport's greatest era, going the distance twice against Muhammad Ali and once against Joe Frazier.

Yet despite a courageous 32-year career in which he won 69 of his 83 fights, the Hungary-born immigrant, who has died aged 75, never managed to win the world heavyweight title.

Nor did he ever seem to win the adoration of the British public.

He often found himself unfairly cast as the bad guy after scoring a controversial narrow points defeat over fan favourite Henry Cooper in 1971.

Many people thought Cooper, who retired shortly afterwards, was robbed.

By the time Bugner fought an up-and-coming Frank Bruno in 1987's so-called Battle of Britain on a raucous, highly charged night at Tottenham's White Hart Lane stadium - he was dubbed Aussie Joe and entered the ring to his new adopted country's national anthem.

Bruno, 63, who beat him by TKO in the eighth round, led tributes to the 6ft 4ins boxer, saying: "Just heard sad news of the passing of Joe.

"We spent quite a bit of time together around the time of our fight. He was a character and played Mr Bad Guy when we did promotion for the fight.

"He had a long career and fought many great heavyweights including Muhammad Ali twice, Joe Frazier, Henry Cooper. Sad day for boxing."

It was announced yesterday that Bugner died in a care home in Australia.