Rudi Lubbers


Rudi Lubbers is a Dutch retired professional boxer who competed at the 1964 and 1968 Summer Olympics. In 1964 he finished ninth as a light heavyweight and in 1968 fifth as a heavyweight.

Amateur career

1964 Olympic record

Below are the results of Rudi Lubbers, as a Light Heavyweight at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics:

1968 Olympic record

Below are the results of Rudi Lubbers, as heavyweight at the 1968 Mexico Olympics:
  • First round-bout won against Talaat Dahshan via DQ
  • Second round-bout lost to Joaquin Rocha via points decision

Professional career

Lubbers turned pro in 1970, and won the Dutch heavyweight title in 1971, which he held until his retirement in 1981. Lubbers competed twice for the European heavyweight title, the first time in 1973, against Joe Bugner and the second time in 1975, versus the Italian Domenico Adinolfi but fell short both times. His most notable fight happened on October 20, 1973, against Muhammad Ali in Jakarta. It was evident during the fight, Lubbers was clearly no match to Ali; Lubbers lasted the full 12 rounds and lost via Decision. Lubbers last fought Gordon Racette on November 27, 1981, when he lost via Technical knockout in the third round and retired soon after.

Personal life

After retiring Lubbers moved to Portugal, he was falsely arrested in 1986 on charges of drug smuggling. He served a sentence of four years and was released from prison in 1990. Upon his release, he tried to make a living working in carnivals with his wife Ria. In his later years Lubbers became homeless and in 2009 he was living in a run-down caravan with his 20 dogs. As of 2018, Lubbers was living in Bulgaria with Ria and their 16 stray dogs in a malfunctioning van which lacks water, electricity and sanitary facilities.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
36Loss28–8Gordon RacetteTKO3, 1:5527 Nov 1981Civic Arena, Nanaimo, Canada
35Win28–7Uwe MeinickeKO1 23 Nov 1981Rodahal, Kerkrade, Netherlands
34Win27–7Jean-Pierre CoopmanTKO5 29 Sep 1980Energiehal, Rotterdam, Netherlands
33Win26–7Robert DesnouckPTS81 Sep 1980Energiehal, Rotterdam, Netherlands
32Win25–7Hennie ThoonenDQ7 19 May 1980Ton Menkenhal, Rotterdam, NetherlandsWon Dutch heavyweight title
31Loss24–7Ibelo MoanoSD828 Apr 1980Jaap Edenhal, Amsterdam, Netherlands
30Win24–6Terry O'ConnorPTS831 Mar 1980Sportpaleis Ahoy', Rotterdam, Netherlands
29Loss23–6Alfredo EvangelistaTKO3 8 Oct 1976Palacio de los Deportes, Madrid, Spain
28Loss23–5Mile SchutteKO3 22 May 1976Rand Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa
27Loss23–4Domenico AdinolfiKO2 31 Oct 1975Turin, Piedmont, ItalyFor European light heavyweight title
26Win23–3Avenamar PeraltaDQ5 14 Oct 1974Sportpaleis Ahoy', Rotterdam, Netherlands
25Loss22–3Hal CarollUD1023 Sep 1974Sportpaleis Ahoy', Rotterdam, Netherlands
24Win22–2Jean-Pierre CoopmanPTS1027 Apr 1974Ghent, East Flanders, Belgium
23Loss21–2Muhammad AliUD1220 Oct 1973Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, Indonesia
22Loss21–1Joe BugnerUD1516 Jan 1973Royal Albert Hall, London, EnglandFor European heavyweight title
21Win21–0Expedit MoutchouPTS1013 Mar 1972Sporthal de Vliegermolen, Voorburg, Netherlands
20Win20–0Piero Del PapaPTS1031 Jan 1972Sportpaleis Ahoy', Rotterdam, Netherlands
19Win19–0Macan KeitaKO2 26 Dec 1971Hallenstadion, Zurich, Switzerland
18Win18–0Dave BaileyKO4 7 Dec 1971Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
17Win17–0Bas van DuivenbodeKO5 8 Nov 1971Sportpaleis Ahoy', Rotterdam, NetherlandsRetained Dutch heavyweight title
16Win16–0Henri FerjuleKO4 27 May 1971Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
15Win15–0Bas van DuivenbodePTS1217 May 1971Theatre Carré, Amsterdam, NetherlandsWon vacant Dutch heavyweight title
14Win14–0Manfred AckersTKO8 18 Apr 1971Uithoorn, North Holland, Netherlands
13Win13–0Mohamed HassanTKO6 2 Apr 1971Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
12Win12–0Detlef NasebandPTS82 Jan 1971Sportpalast, Berlin, Germany
11Win11–0Lloyd WalfordPTS87 Dec 1970Theatre Carré, Amsterdam, Netherlands
10Win10–0Willy KarallTKO6 2 Oct 1970Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany
9Win9–0Jean TshikunaPTS828 Sep 1970Congresgebouw, The Hague, Netherlands
8Win8–0Detlef NasebandPTS814 Sep 1970Rivièrahal, Rotterdam, Netherlands
7Win7–0Horst VolpertKO1 18 Jul 1970De Vereeniging, Nijmegen, Netherlands
6Win6–0José GuilloisTKO1 27 Apr 1970Rivièrahal, Rotterdam, Netherlands
5Win5–0Henry KerrauenPTS631 Mar 1970Congresgebouw, The Hague, Netherlands
4Win4–0Herbert WickPTS616 Mar 1970RAI, Amsterdam, Netherlands
3Win3–0Andre HaudrechyTKO3 12 Mar 1970Schouwburg Kunstmin, Dordrecht, Netherlands
2Win2–0Mohamed SahibTKO2 28 Feb 1970Philips Jubileumhal, Eindhoven, Netherlands
1Win1–0José GuilloisPTS624 Feb 1970Rivièrahal, Rotterdam, Netherlands