Does anyone think that Frank Bruno has become underrated?

It bloody well should have done.

 

In a word, no.

 

He was clever with publicity, and so was his team; remember this is a man who was expelled from school for laying out a teacher, so me thinks there was a dark side to him.

He kept it simple with his cliche you not what I mean 'arry and I am going on 'oliday to top up me tan.

And he looked impressive blowing out the opposition, but even in them days he took a lot of heat for some very poor opposition; his fight with Chuck Gardner topping the lot, but the public always forgave him, because of that simple everyman charm of his.

Also losing bravely got him as much kudos as any of his victories.

I think by 1986, most boxing analysts had worked him out, and I cannot think of a top 5 fighter he would of been favoured to beat.

If that is considered being underrated, then Bruno was indeed underrated. Personally I do not see any post WWII eras, where Bruno would of been a stand out top three fighter, even today....

 

Not top 3 today? I don't see what he has to fear from most today, not many punchers, not many with good packages as a whole. He'd dominate Chagaev, KO Peter, smash Valuev. He might even take out Wlad and Haye with the state of their chins

 

Very underrated. Stunningly hard, fast, accurate jab. Strong backhand, good boxing skills and v. strong.

 

In the 80s, the big occasions got to Bruno, not necessarily the opponent. Bruno had it in him to beat Smith, and possible even Whitherspoon. But self doubt and tension got to him, and he lost.

I think Bruno in theory has an excellent chance against any of today's heavies. But put in a high pressured event against any of the top five, and I take the opposition every time. Bruno specialized in losing bravely, not winning ugly.....