Frank Bruno-A mismanaged career?

Maybe because he wasnt really that good. Good puncher and a good jab, but kind of robotic and mechanical, and even moreso as he got heavier. His chin was never that great nor was his stamina, so really he wasnt mismanaaged, but brought along very well to get the biggest money fights in Lewis and Tyson twice. I dont think he could have done much more.

 

I remember Bruno v Berbick being set for September or October 1987.
But Berbick pulled out.

 

Bruno was the heavyweight Quartey, just not quite as good.

Too slow and didn't react to being punched in the face like a world class boxer should.Not a natural fighter at all.

 

Bruno was protected by management and cashed out on. I think he could have done with more learning fights, the thing is he didnt learn how to be in a fight because he knocked over everyone in quick time and then got dropped in the deep end where it was sink or swim. That simply isnt the way for a figther to learn. Really could have done with some US Sparring to, needed to be taught defense and survival skills.

If he fought Bowe/Holy instead of LEwis in 93 he might just have pulled out the win

 

:rofl

 

Yeah kind of crazy powerpuncher based on how he performed in prior fights. He really wasnt mismanaged, and more perfectly managed. He just wasnt that good, and had a very successful career for how good he was. He would have been easily beaten by both Holyfield and Bowe.

 

Yes, but we're forgetting the central maxim that every fighter Lewis beat would have done better against Bowe and Holyfield.

 

This is actually what I like about Bruno. He had a lot of natural flaws (stamina, mentality, speed) and I wouldn't say his management was THAT good; not mismanaged, but not as well managed as Lewis, Bowe, Tyson, the Klitschkos, Ruiz and the like. He was brought along in the old British tradition of smaller, slower, fatter and then thrown to the dogs.

HOWEVER, Bruno had a huge amount of determination and heart, as well as a tremendous willingness to learn. That was the key to his success. He had the bravery to try for the title time after time and the likeable personality to secure chance after chance.

Incidentally, I think Bruno is one of Tyson's best wins, now I think about it. If you didn't know much about Tyson's career, but just his basic style, you'd say that a strong puncher with a hard jab would be the best style to beat him; the Foreman to Tyson's Frazier. Yet Tyson dealt with Bruno decisively twice and in the first fight came back from being hurt (and taking some very hard punches over the course of the fight) to win in brutal fashion.

Some people say that Tyson was regressing already by that point, but I don't see that; Tyson showed unusual flexibility by using just his head-movement to get inside, rather than his jab which might have left him open to Bruno's trademark right hand. He also worked the body well, threw combinations and kept his cool when Bruno scored with his own punches.

 

Fixed.

 

Holyfield went on to lose to Moorer and Bowe got handled by Golota, both were worse than Bruno as HWs. Bruno's jab is very hard to get past, his power is very telling and neither Holy or Bowe were massive punchers. Your forgetting Bruno was up against Lennox/Witherspoon/Smith before running out of gas and hurting Tyson early. Bruno's power is the most underestimated in history, in an 80s PSI test he rated higher than Foreman and Tyson, he hurt McCall early and put him in a shell for the most the fight. The past prime win against McCall is also a good 1

 

There's no way can Bruno beat a 1993 Holyfield of the second Bowe fight.

 

You said in 93. Different fighters different circumstances. Holyfield ate up fighters like Bruno. He would have killed Bruno with speed. Being that Holyfield wasnt a big banger the Moorer that fought Holyfield in the first fight presented a technically challenging fight for Holyfield. Southpaw with a good jab and outside game. I cant see Bruno offering much of a problem for Holy, he could handle Bruno's power and get to him easy, especially in 93.

 

Good points, but I dont see how he could have done anymore. His flaws which you mentioned always came out against the better opposition, even in the fights he was ahead in. He had what, four title shots? Thats pretty dam good, and I think some of those shots were given to him because of his tremendous popularity and following in the UK.
As far as Tyson, I ddint see that. I saw a guy fighting very reckless with less head movement, standing straight up and allowing Bruno to tee off on the side of his head on the inside something he didnt let happen as much in the second fight.