Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Bugner II
{{short description|Boxing match}}
{{use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox boxing match
| Fight Name = The Fight of a Lifetime
| image = 250px
| caption =
| fight date = 1 July 1975
| location = Merdeka Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| titles = WBA, WBC and The Ring undisputed heavyweight championship
| fighter1 = {{flagicon|USA}} Muhammad Ali
| nickname1 = "The Greatest"
| hometown1 = Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
| purse1 = $2,000,000
| record1 = 47–2 (34 KO)
| age1 = {{age in years and months |January 17, 1942 |1 July 1975}}
| height1 = 6 ft 3 in
| weight1 = 224+1/2 lb
| style1 = Orthodox
| recognition1 = WBA, WBC and The Ring undisputed
Heavyweight Champion
| fighter2 = {{flagicon|GBR}} Joe Bugner
| nickname2 =
| hometown2 = Szőreg, Southern Great Plain, Hungary
| purse2 = $500,000
| record2 = 51–6–1 (30 KO)
| age2 = {{age in years and months |13 March 1950 |1 July 1975}}
| height2 = 6 ft 4 in
| weight2 = 230 lb
| style2 = Orthodox
| recognition2 = WBC
No. 2 Ranked Heavyweight
European
Heavyweight Champion
| result = Ali defeated Bugner by 15th round Unanimous Decision
}}
Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Bugner II, billed as The Fight of a Lifetime, was a professional boxing match contested on 1 July 1975, for the undisputed heavyweight championship.{{cite web |title=Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Bugner (2nd meeting) |url=https://boxrec.com/wiki/index.php/Muhammad_Ali_vs._Joe_Bugner_(2nd_meeting) |website=boxrec.com |publisher=BoxRec |access-date=3 June 2024}}
Background
The 1975 title fight with Bugner was Ali's third title defense since 1974, and was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and remains the only world heavyweight championship fight hosted in the nation's history. Being held in June, the location of the fight was very hot, creating difficulties for both men.{{cite book|title=Muhammad Ali: The Glory Years|author1=Felix Dennis |author2=Don Atyeo |publisher=miramax books|page = 238|year=2003}} The two had fought two years earlier with Ali winning a competitive 12 round Unanimous Decision.
The fight
Despite the heat, Ali performed very well, fighting aggressively against the bigger challenger, forcing Joe against the ropes and clinching to prevent counters and also used his now famous rope-a-dope tactic minimally. Bugner lasted the 15 round distance, and once again neither man was knocked down, but Ali won the fight on points by a comfortable margin.{{cite news|url=http://www.boxingnewsonline.net/on/ |title=On This Day: Muhammad Ali outclassed Joe Bugner to set up third fight with Joe Frazier |work=Boxing News |date=1 July 2016|access-date=5 October 2016}}
Aftermath
This was Ali's last fight before the famous Thrilla in Manila, a third fight with Ali's arch-rival Joe Frazier.{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/how-i-gave-ali-a-white-eye/2007/01/26/1169788692250.html |title=How I gave Ali a white eye |work=Sydney Morning Herald |date=27 January 2007|access-date=5 October 2016}}{{cite book|title=Facing Ali|author=Stephen Brunt |publisher=The Lyons Press|pages = 149–56|year=2002}}
Undercard
Confirmed bouts:{{cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/event/15995|title=BoxRec - event|publisher=}}
| class=wikitable
!Winner !! Loser!! Weight division/title belt(s) disputed !! Result |
| {{flagicon|AUS}} Lionel Rose
|{{flagicon|JAP}} Bomber Uchida |Super Feather (10 rounds) |Unanimous decision. |
| {{flagicon|NOR}} Bjorn Rudi
|{{flagicon|USA}} Levi Forte |Heavyweight (6 rounds) |3rd round KO. |
Broadcasting
| class="wikitable" | |
| align=center | Country
! align=center | Broadcaster | |
|---|---|
| {{flag|Mexico}} | Televisa |
| {{flag|Philippines}} | KBS 9 |
| {{flag|United Kingdom}} | BBC{{cite web |title=Ali v Bugner |url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/c36aca65846945c6a4ec3f71e00f2d4e |website=bbc.co.uk/ |publisher=BBC Programme Index |access-date=3 June 2024 |date=1 July 1975}} |
References
{{reflist}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-bef | before=vs. Ron Lyle}}
{{s-ttl | title=Muhammad Ali's bouts |years=1 July 1975}}
{{s-aft | after=vs. Joe Frazier III}}
{{s-bef | before=vs. Dante Cane}}
{{s-ttl | title=Joe Bugner's bouts |years=1 July 1975}}
{{s-aft | after=vs. Richard Dunn}}
{{s-end}}
{{Muhammad Ali}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ali, Bugner II}}
Category:1970s in Kuala Lumpur
Category:July 1975 sports events in Asia
Category:World Boxing Association heavyweight championship matches
Category:World Boxing Council heavyweight championship matches