Bruno's competition?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Brixton Bomber, Mar 9, 2022.



  1. Brixton Bomber

    Brixton Bomber Obsessed with Boxing banned Full Member

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    Who did he face that was good in the 80's?
    Who did he avoid in the 80's?
    What did you think of his career back then?
     
  2. lone star

    lone star Active Member Full Member

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    Terry Lawless ruined Bruno. All those 1st round knockouts then massive gaps between fights badly stunted his growth as a world class fighter. Look how well he did when he stepped up though apart from the second Tyson fight. Imagine if he’d gone through the hell of American gyms. Even Tim Witherspoon advised him to go to America to train after their fight. Not saying Bruno would have become champion but may of one an alphabet title sooner and been part of the Unification. And his record would look more respectable with some top names on it. Just my opinion. Had all the physical requirements and power and a good jab. Just fought too tight and could have done with some serious hard American sparring.
     
  3. Eddie Ezzard

    Eddie Ezzard Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Possibly in terms of his development as a fighter but, given Frank's mental health problems, it's fortunate that we don't have to add the damage that would have been done in the gym to what he already has to contend with.

    I think his competition was just fine. It was respectable enough to generate interest in him, make him look spectacular and allow his management team to capitalise on his popularity to earn him repeated title shots and earn good money that other, more talented fighters never enjoyed.

    If the purpose of managers is to make a fighter as much money as possible with the least damage, I actually think Frank was well looked after. In terms of making him as good a fighter as he could have been, maybe they didn't push Frank to his absolute ceiling.

    The fact is, Frank wasn't quite talented enough for all that additional sparring etc to compensate and make him the top dog at any point in his career. I don't think he would have achieved all that much more and at what cost to his wellbeing?
     
  4. lone star

    lone star Active Member Full Member

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    Good evaluation. Maybe he was as good as he ever was going to be.
     
  5. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    He had all the right stuff. Courage, toughness, excellent conditioning, power etc. but he lacked good defense and his jab-cross combination was a little one dimensional. A trainer like Manny Steward might have done a lot with him. And out of respect for Terry Lawless ( who was a good trainer ) he DID manage to get him into the world scene.

    As for his opposition it wasn’t the worst but he could have done better. In the 1980’s he beat faced versions of Scott Ledoux, Gerrie Coetzee, James Tillis and a resurgent Joe Bugner . In the 90s he beat Pierre Coetzer, Oliver McCall and a diminished Jose Ribalto
     
  6. Saad54

    Saad54 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    He was extremely well matched and well managed

    Bonecrusher was tougher then expected and had the chin to last until Frank gassed, and the power to finish the job

    Bonecrusher was exposed by a fading Holmes, Tubbs and Wiherspoon but had enough to beat a heretofore carefully matched Bruno

    You'd think the bubble had burst on Bruno but he was carefully matched and given a shot Coetzee as an opponent to guarantee a WBA title shot. He blew away Gerrie but even an out of shape Witherspoon was way too much and he pounded Frank senseless once Frank was taken to deep waters

    Ok now Frank is really done .

    Nope. He's very popular in England. They seem attached to the lovable loser

    He is fed a diet of a shot Tillis and way past is best but popular Bugner

    Viola. A shot at a disinterested and undisciplined but very powerful Tyson. Frank has a few good moments but his defense and chin are not nearly good enough and Mike cleans up in the 5th.

    Now Bruno is really done, right. Nope ..
     
    Last edited: Mar 10, 2022
  7. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

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    He was a banger, and came along at the right time for himself. No other British competition really.
    Lot of people thought he'd beat Tim Witherspoon, I'm guilty of it.
    But he did OK and did well.

    Tyson fight. Never stood a chance apart from a punchers chance, and you needed more than that again Tyson.

    Lennox fight. Blimey, he was doing great. But, just to good for him.

    McCall. He had to win this. I'm pretty certain that if he'd lost to him then there's no more title cracks.

    Tyson rematch. Frank's mental health issues were showing thru imo here. He had the look of a doomed man. Tyson fed on it and spat poor Frank
    He had a decent dig on him but I don't think he was in love with the game really. It was all about winning the title with Frank and his team.
     
  8. Brixton Bomber

    Brixton Bomber Obsessed with Boxing banned Full Member

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    Did his team duck anyone in the 80's?
     
  9. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    I’m honestly not sure. I’ve never read anything about him being challenged by anyone and passing up any opportunities. It should also be noted that he gave a prime Tim Witherspoon a good fight. He was leading until I believe the 11th round when Witherspoon was able to unload on him. He was beating Smith too when the same thing happened
     
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  10. Dynamicpuncher

    Dynamicpuncher Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    For British competition i would of liked to have seen him fight Gary Mason, i think Mason might of been able to spring an upset there. He had a pretty good set of whiskers and might of been able to weather the early storm to stop Bruno late.
     
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  11. JackSilver

    JackSilver Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Nah, Witherspoon was way outta shape for the Bruno but still showed far better stamina than the muscle bound Bruno who was gassed after the middle rounds. Witherspoon was wearing him down slowly but surely and was leading on the cards when Bruno collapsed. What the fights against Witherspoon showed was that while Bruno had fearsome power at brit and euro level, he was found lacking at the top level as I don’t think either Witherspoon or Smith who both had good chins were really badly affected by his power at any stage of their fights against him
     
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  12. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    Could be. I’m sure those punches didn’t feel good to either of them though
     
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  13. Dynamicpuncher

    Dynamicpuncher Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    What about his 1st round stoppage of Gerrie Coetzee ? just curious to how you rate that.
     
  14. JackSilver

    JackSilver Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Yeah that’s true but still, wish I was alive back then and in the crowd for those fights. It’s would have been so funny listening to the confused brit fans wondering why Smith an Witherspoon weren’t collapsing everytime Bruno hit them cos previously they had all watched him knock out everybody he hit like there was no tomorrow.
     
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  15. JackSilver

    JackSilver Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Honestly? Looking at the vid It looked like the fix was on that night.
     
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