Could Bruno have been a champ in 1986?

Yes. He would have had a chance against both Berbick and Spinks. Would he be favored to do it? Not so sure.

 

Sure, he could have beaten either one. But, of course, Tyson was always coming and Bruno was never winning that fight.

 

I think he could have beaten Berbick. Spinks is questionable. Neither hit as hard as Witherspoon.

 

Berbick-Bruno would have been a good fight. I'd favor Bruno slightly. Spinks is harder to call....I'd favor Michael, but not by much.

 

I'd definitely favour Spinks to beat him. Berbick-Bruno would be a 50-50 fight.
Witherspoon turned up fat and beat him.

Bruno's promoters did actually try to get Berbick over in September/October 1987 to fight Bruno, it was scheduled, but Berbick pulled out "with an injury".

 

Let's look at all of the 80's Champs except for Holmes, Tyson, Witherspoon, and Smith. Holmes beat Witherspoon and Smith x2. Tyson beat Smith. Witherspoon and Smith went 1-1 vs. each other. Bruno lost to Tyson x2, Witherspoon, and Smith.

Tate
Weaver
Dokes
Coetzee
Page
Tubbs

Thomas
Berbick

Spinks
Tucker

I think Bruno could have beat a lot of them... the key word being could".

 

I could not understand why they fought spoon .at the time he was the most dangerous belt holder.Berbeck would have been much easier I think Frank KOs him early .not sure about spinks he might be to smart for Bruno.fighting tim was a really bad idea .Bruno could have beaten a lot of the top ten back then spoon was one he couldn't.

 

The WBA sanctioned the Bruno-Coetzee fight as a final elminator. So the WBA champion (Witherspoon) was targeted for the summer at Wembley stadium.

The other champion at the time was actually PINKLON THOMAS, who was regarded as the best of the lot. Thomas didn't lose to Berbick until about 2 weeks or more after Bruno's defeat of Coetzee.

For Berbick to beat Thomas, he must have been pretty good.
And Witherspoon didn't exactly looked great winning the title from Tubbs.
I think Berbick was looking for a fight with C00ney at the time anyway.

 

Spinks would have stopped him late or won on points.

Bruno would have beat Berbick though IMO.

 

No idea why people are favouring Bruno over Berbick.

Trevor was tough, rugged and surprisingly crafty. He would have ripped Bruno apart.

 

If you go back and look at the press; Bruno was 'desperate' for his title shot to be against Spinks; he/his team really fancied that. Bruno figuring Spinks would be too small.

I remember an article in late 85 where it was mentioned although unbeaten, it would be better for Bomber if Tubbs beat Witherspoon in their upcoming match. In this day and age Tubbs would have fought Bruno, because Witherspoon would have been stripped and the fight with Tubbs made a No Contest after his failed drugs test.

Now an out of shape Tubbs against Frank in the Summer of 86; that might have been very interesting... still leaning towards the American though.

 

Yeah, that's probably what Bruno's managers would have figured too at the time. But the only reason I call it a 50-50 fight was because Berbick was inconsistent (losses to S.T. Gordon, Renaldo Snipes, and early on to Bernardo Mercado).
Yet he'd won his last 8 or 9 fights, and had just beat the fighter rated as the best in the division.
So you've got a point.

Berbick was as good as Witherspoon anyway.

 

I do not think Bruno and his team were worried about Berbick, the fight was meant to happen in 87. The reason Bruno/Berbick for the title was not an option is that Bruno wanted nothing to do with Pinky, and by the time Thomas lost to Berbick, Bruno/Witherspoon was already sorted.