SPORT
HARPO ’ s MARKS
Throughout the bulk of the 1980s and into the early 90s , I was a committeeman at Newtown Police Boys Club where the great Johnny Lewis taught men and boys how to box and become good citizens .
I also trained alongside a host of classy boxers including world champions Jeff Fenech , Kostya Tszyu and Jeff Harding and Australian titleholders Shane Knox , Justin Rowsell and Peter Mitrevski .
And no , I didn ’ t ever fancy getting into the ring and sparring with them !
Johnny always joked that if ever I took up boxing , I should sell advertising on the soles of my shoes ! Well , I think he was joking . Which brings me to Joe Bugner , not that anyone would ever have the audacity to suggest to him that Reschs Pilsener or Holden Commodore or whatever should be advertised on the soles of his size 14s !
“ Aussie ” Joe has been back in the news recently with the sad announcement that he is a victim of the dreaded Alzheimer ’ s Disease and is now living in a Queensland aged care facility .
I haven ’ t seen Joe for over a dozen years - the last time I was in the man ’ s presence was at a boxing tournament at Jupiter ’ s Casino on the Gold Coast .
We weren ’ t “ great ” friends but friends just the same and he was a man I came to admire , not only for his tremendous – and they were tremendous – boxing skills , but his intelligence and kindness and generosity offered to all .
Joe had a great intellect and if it wasn ’ t for his athletics skills , he could have earned a living as an academic – he really had the smarts ! So , it breaks my heart to learn that his amazing mind is now failing him , my little ticker goes out to him and his
“ true love ”, wife , Marlene .
Down the years , I ’ ve crossed paths with many folk who believed Joe Bugner was a “ boxing Palooka ” – a second-rate fighter .
This about a man who went 15 world championship rounds with two of heavyweight boxing ’ s greatest , Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier !
Sure , he didn ’ t get the bikkies in those memorable clashes , but his great boxing skills ensured he stayed out of trouble – yes , even against the lightning fast , will o ’ wisp Ali .
Joe fought the very best of his generation and his successes included wins against top-rated men such as Brian London , Jimmy Ellis , Chuck Wepner and another fellow Briton , Henry “ The Hammer ” Cooper , the first man to put Ali onto his blurter .
That victory against Cooper on March 16 , 1971 , was his first success at the elite level and earned him three heavyweight belts – Commonwealth , European and British .
Joe had his first bout , a four rounder against a bloke called Paul Brown in London on December 20 , 1967 .
I couldn ’ t find out much about the bout , but Joe was stopped by the short
Joe lands a body blow to Muhammad Ali during their 1973 bout in Las Vegas . route , so it wouldn ’ t have been much of a Merry Christmas for him five days later !
Joe did get square with Brown six fights on , scoring a technical knockout ( TKO ) during a 18 bout winning streak . Joe linked with Johnny Lewis in early 1996 after a two year “ retirement ” following a split decision loss to Swede , Steffen Tangstand in Copenhagen . Joe was carrying a bit of puddin ’ when he arrived at Newtown PCYC , but the 36-year-old worked his butt off to get himself back into fighting trim .
Promoter , “ Bluegum ” Bill Mordey , found three opponents for Joe over the ensuing 10 months and he scored unanimous points decisions over Americans James Tillis , David Bey and Greg Page – none of whom were bums .
Joe then had a three month break before heading over to Sunny Lunny to fight the next-big-thing in British Boxing , the 11 years younger , Frank Bruno .
Always bit of a socialite , Joe and Marlene headed to England a month before Johnny Lewis could join him and a week before the scheduled bout .
Unfortunately , Joe put more time into promoting the bout and being man-abouttown than in the gym ! And paid the price , Bruno winning on a TKO in the ninth round , although Joe kept protesting to the referee that he could have fought on .
Joe then retired for the second time , but the lure of the ring was too strong , and he came back to the fray in 1995 . Over the next four years , he had nine bouts against journeymen , winning all but one of them .
His last stoush was at Jupiter ’ s Casino on June 13 , 1999 , when he won on disqualification against American , Levi Billups – the loser ’ s eighth defeat on the trot and also his boxing swansong .
Joe Bugner toed the line in 83 fights in a career spanning 22 years .
His 63 victories included 41 by the short route , losses tallied 13 and he had one draw . Those who had their arms raised in victory against Joe included Ali ( twice ), Frazier , Ron Lyle , Ernie Shavers and another classy Briton , Jack Bodell . “ Aussie ” Joe Bugner , thanks for the memories .
SAD MARKS 1 : The passing of Stephen “ Tuck ” Tuckwell whose overriding claim to fame in sport was to continue to support the St George Dragons long after he came on board during their string of 11 successive premierships . Great mate to all who had the pleasure of his company .
SAD MARKS 2 : Vern Hough was this magazine ’ s Hawkesbury ’ s Finest subject in March , 2018 . A superb athlete , he excelled across numerous sports and was a much-respected schoolteacher and bloke throughout his long life .
HIGH MARKS : Remembering Joe entering Newtown PCYC , meeting Johnny Lewis and commencing a successful comeback .
Windsor Wolves celebrate 110 years
by Greg Martin
Mark Geyer ’ s football skills were undeniable , but if you think he was good out on the paddock , you should hear him behind a microphone .
MG was the special guest speaker at the “ Windsor Wolves Celebrating 110 Years of Rugby League Sponsors Dinner ” at their licensed club on May 28 . Representatives of the Wolves ’ 61 sponsors rocked up to enjoy a delicious three-course meal , rub shoulders with sponsors and club officials and be thoroughly entertained by those fronting the dais .
The Hawkesbury Independent is proud to be a Gold Sponsor and rocking up to join in the celebrations were the Hawkesbury Independent ’ s publisher , Julie Ryan , her footy fanatic husband , Malcolm , and yours truly .
Other guests included the popular Federal Member for Macquarie , Susan Templeman , Penrith Panthers longtime recruitment guru , Jim Jones , and Windsor Wolves Life Members , Paul Wayling and Ross Jones .
Mark Geyer ’ s all-round football skills and renowned shoulder charge tackles ( before they were put on the banned list ) terrified and decimated ball carriers . All rugby league fans would have
to admit that MG was a true entertainer with or without a football in his hands .
But since hanging up the boots , a host of other skills have superseded his sporting feats .
He has gone on to make a name for himself in all arms of the media and through numerous charitable works .
In 2013 , Mark received an Order Of Australia medal for « service to the sport of Rugby League football , and to the community through a range of charitable organisations ”.
He loves getting his giant mitts on a microphone and it certainly showed at the dinner when he entertained the crowd for around 45 minutes , taking them on his journey through football and the media .
The big crowd listened quietly to his every word but many times throughout Mark ’ s spiel , there were many periods of
Mark Geyer entertaining sponsors at the 110 year celebration with Andrew Maroon .
uproarious laughter to his anecdotes . The MC for the evening was Mark ’ s old mate and veteran radio commentator , Andrew Maroon , who did a terrific job interviewing two
Wolves legends , Kenny Webb and Steve Cameron . Wolves officials and club staff are to be lauded for ensuring the gala dinner went off without a hitch and all attending had a memorable evening .
36 ISSUE 145 // JUNE 2022 theindependentmagazine . com . au THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT