Frank Bruno vs. David Tua

At their peaks, Bruno would have never made it to the bell ending the first round.

 

Tua is a perfect match up for Bruno. The Bruno that Bugner fought, would be able to keep the jab going for 12 rounds, to win possibly a shut out win.

Bruno did have stamina issues no doubt. But that was when he was under pressure, when he could dominate with the jab (Brown and Bugner) he had no problem going more than 6 rounds.

Tua's left hook would to a point be an issue, but I still think Tua's lack of sharpness would mean Bruno would be able to survive any one punch bombs as Tua would lack the speed to follow up.

Bruno WU12 (10-2)

 

I could see Bruno win by UD McCall style or I could see him getting knocked out in the mid-late rounds.

Bruno did OK against a Tyson who was 10x the technician and had 20x the speed of Tua. He certainly couldn't do any worse against Tua. I'll have to think about it.

 

Bruno gets Bonecrusher'ed

 

I can see Bruno starting well with his jab, might even win a few rounds before getting TKOd.

 

Yeah no way Bruno makes it to the end against a well conditioned Tua. Tua made a living at chopping down guys and guys who had way better stamina and chins than Bruno. Tua TKO 8

 

Stamina I will give you, but there were not too many Heavies in the 80/90s with a better chin than Bruno.

 

Tua Rahman I all over.

 

I would be curious as to how Tua would react to a couple of Franks big right hands

Tua may well go into his shell after eating a few of those, its not inconceivable that Tua could be TKO'd

It seems consensus that Frank would not be able to survive after he gasses - But Frank was able to survive after learning the hard way from Smith and Spoon - I think Bruno could take a decision

 

I think Bruno's strength and punching power could see an early TKO on Tua

Wouldn't be a pretty fight - lots of clinching from Bruno's end.

 

Peak Tua is a far easier target than '89 Tyson & if Bruno opened up early with bombs, plus vicious holding & hitting tactics like he did to Tyson, i'm reasonably confident that Tua would be hurt, get discouraged & fight too tenatively to win for the remainder of the bout, as he did against Lewis. Often people will claim that Tua is "unstoppable", but for instance I believe Lewis would have KO'd him if he had been aggresively charging forward like the brave, beyond-shot Tyson did, rather than losing his will to win & fearful of being badly hurt again, not even attempting to press the fight. I envisage Bruno dominating Tua with the jab (Tua's bane) on the way to a clear UD & discouraging him from opening up with the threat of heavy artillery. Tua's chance is landing a big left hook late, when Bruno is tiring & following up ferociously to TKO him against the ropes.

 

I dont think Bruno is as atheletic as Lewis nor do I think he could maintain the type of lateral movement and punch output needed to keep Tua off of him for 12 rounds. I see Tua catching up to mid to late fight and freezing him on the ropes for a TKO.

 

Depending on who is more focused/better conditioned on the night, either Bruno by a decision or Tua by a late KO.