Charting the Highs and Lows of Frank Bruno's Career
Frank Bruno shocked the boxing world when he confessed a desire to fight again.
Appearing on ITV show This Morning, the 54-year-old said (h/t Matthew Weaver in the Guardian): "I've got to get back into boxing, to get this out of my system, because I don't want to end up in Broadmoor (psychiatric) hospital. I've been in the gym all the time, that’s why I want to come back into boxing."
The response on social media was overwhelming: Frank, please don't do it.
Since the televised interview, the former heavyweight world champion—who has battled with his bi-polar disorder since retiring in 1996—released an open letter to his fans.
Per Nick Owens of the Mirror, Bruno wrote: "I want to reassure people I'd never, ever want to put myself in a position where I would get hurt—I would not put my family and friends through any of that."
Phew, that's a relief.
The outpouring of emotion over the prospect of a comeback showed how much the Brits still love Bruno, even though it is nearly two decades since his last fight.
Here, Bleacher Report has picked out some of the highs and lows "Big Frank" experienced in the ring.
High: The Early Days
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The youngest of six children, London-born Bruno often found trouble before finding boxing.
He won the ABA heavyweight title before turning pro on March 17, 1982.
Lupe Guerra was the first of many victims—Bruno reeled off 21 straight victories inside the distance in the space of two years, although he had to overcome an early wobble against Floyd Cummings in 1983.
However, Bruno's first setback arrived came on May 13, 1984.
American James "Bonecrusher" Smith launched a late assault in Round 10 to stop the home favourite at the Empire Pool, Wembley, London.
Still, Bruno recovered from the defeat in impressive fashion, reeling off seven successive wins.
He claimed the European belt by knocking out Anders Eklund in Oct. 1985, while former world champion Gerrie Coetzee failed to last beyond two minutes the following year.
The platform was set—Bruno was handed a first world-title challenge in the summer of 1986.
Low: The Title Fights in the 1980s
2 of 5Part of the reason Bruno has always been so popular with the public is because he upheld the very British sporting tradition of falling short on the biggest stage.
With each failed attempt to become a world champion, the plucky loser gained a little more love.
WBA champion Tim Witherspoon was the first fighter to deny Bruno fulfilling his boxing dream, as the American stopped his challenger in Round 11 at Wembley Stadium in London on July 19, 1986.
Bruno was brutally dropped to the canvas in a corner after taking a succession of heavy right hands. The towel was thrown in by his corner—they realised the fight had been beaten out of their man.
Undeterred, Bruno responded with four TKO victories in a row, the last of them coming against veteran Australian Joe Bugner.
He then travelled to the United States to take on unbeaten IBF, WBA and WBC champion Mike Tyson on Feb. 25, 1989.
There was a moment of brief hope for the Brit when he seemed to wobble his unbeaten rival in Round 1.
However, Tyson—never previously troubled in his pro career—recovered quickly. He went on to wrap up victory in Round 5, leaving Bruno beaten, bloodied and bruised.
Low: Losing to Lennox Lewis
3 of 5No one could ever say Bruno lacked heart.
Defeats to Witherspoon and Tyson left him with mental scars, but the heavyweight refused to give up on his quest to become a world champion.
His third attempt came against Lennox Lewis in Cardiff, Wales, on Oct. 1, 1993. It was the first time two British heavyweights had gone up against each other for a world title.
Lewis, who was born in London but won a gold medal for Canada at the 1988 Olympics, had been handed the WBC belt after previous holder Riddick Bowe refused to fight him.
Per BoxRec, he was the heavy favourite with the bookmakers. However, he was definitely the outsider with the crowd in the Welsh capital.
Bruno started brightly behind his jab, yet Lewis unleashed a left hook in Round 7 that made all of the challenger's early work obsolete.
Lewis told Sky Sports News in 2010 (h/t the Daily Record): "I was a bit cold in the first few rounds but he really turned it on. Then I warmed up and gave it to him."
What he gave Bruno was another heartbreaking loss.
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High: 4th Time Lucky
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It seemed Bruno was destined to be a nearly man at the very highest level.
But after three previous failed attempts to become a world champion, it turned out to be fourth time lucky for the Englishman.
On Sept. 2, 1995, Big Frank's big moment finally arrived.
He found himself up against Oliver McCall, who had taken the WBC title from Lewis in London just under a year earlier with a stunning stoppage win.
However, Bruno knew it was now or never. He had gone up against McCall before, the pair having sparred together back in 1997, according to Matt Christie of Boxing News.
The fight was far from a classic, but that didn't matter to the challenger.
As he had done in his previous defeats in world-title fights, the Brit started brightly. The difference against McCall was that he also managed to make it through to the final bell.
Bruno was forced to cling on for dear life during Round 12 but survived. All three judges awarded him the fight, two by scores of 117-111 with the other making it 115-113.
After all the setbacks, Bruno was a world champion at last. An entire nation rejoiced with him.
Low: The Last Hurrah
5 of 5Bruno's first defence of the WBC belt came against a familiar foe—Tyson.
The American was two fights into his comeback after serving a prison sentence for rape. Having faced Peter McNeeley and Buster Mathis Jr., he was awarded a shot at a major belt.
Bruno travelled for the bout at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on March 16, 1996 in the unusual position of being the defending champion.
However, his reign proved to be a short one.
Tyson tore through the Englishman. He recorded a stoppage win in Round 3, referee Mills Lane stepping in to end the onslaught after six minutes and 50 seconds.
The quick defeat proved to be the end of the line for Bruno.
Warned he risked losing sight in one eye if he carried on, Big Frank hung up his gloves: "I shed a tear when I was told, but life goes on. One door shuts and another opens, that's what you hope.''
Bruno finished with a career record of 50-6 (44 KOs). Hopefully, it stays that way.
What are you memories of Bruno's career? How would he go against Britain's current crop of heavyweights?
As ever, Bleacher Report welcomes your thoughts via the comments section.
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