Frank Bruno-A mismanaged career?

He hurt Lewis badly, and was trying to finish him on the ropes. Lewis landed a desperation haymaker that nailed Bruno. I dont think the mean streak could ever be removed from a fighter, its inate to go for the kill when you have your opponent hurt, and the disrespect Lewis showed Bruno before the fight only fueled it further.

 

Bruno's jab is a far better weapon than Moorers, he has a 83inch reach too if I remember right and the jab was 1 of the heavest in HW history and very effective with it. No easy fight for Holyfield or Bowe

I'd pick Holyfield over Bruno but in boxing anything can happen, people have bad nights, big punches change the course of fights, Cooper nearly had Holy out, if Bruno was landing instead he may KO Holy

 

At the time, most American heavyweights were following the same path of fighting easy opponents and waiting for their shot at Tyson too. Maybe they could have got Bruno a match with a Carl Williams or a Witherspoon rematch or Mike Weaver, but would it have helped or ruined him ? i dont know.
He used American sparring partners for most of his fights, and had Gary Mason and Horace Notice in the same stable, so I dont know exactly how much a move to America would have done.

 

Ok maybe not badly hurt, but I think he did hurt him with the righthand, lewis went into the corner and covered up. See for yourself. 8:15

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFJOYgu4s7I[/ame]

 

Bruno was too mechanical but he hit like a mule!!!

 

What the hell am i reading here??? Bruno maybe beating bowe/holyfield and ****? If Frank Bruno had have been born in any other country except England, we wouldnt be having this thread. Does anyone think he would have got 4 shots at a heavyweight title if he was american or french or whatever? He was the stereotypical horizontal britsh heavyweight who was fed bums consistantly (and even then he was near KO'd. jumbo cummings?) and the britsh public took to his likability factor (and at the same time, forgetting his actual boxing ability). Any half decent guy he fought KO'd him(and dont mention coetzee who was there for beer money).He was like the priest out of 'The Exorcist' when he fought tyson the second time with all the blessing he done. No no no, im not having it. A 3rd rate fighter at best who made a very comfortable living out of an extremely limited talent

 

I agree, kind of funny really, and I think he had a very nice run. How many guys with far better skills get as many title shots and make as much money?

 

You're right.
I think Bruno was an incredible physical specimen, but wasn't a natural fighter at all. I think he did well to master the basics, and it worked to some extent - against 4th rate opposition mostly.
Tim Witherspoon didn't even train much for Bruno, and beat him on sheer will and cool-headedness.
Bruno was badly beaten by Tyson TWICE.
He gave Lewis a good fight for 6 rounds (half a championship fight) - I think Lewis is overrated a bit - but I think they could have fought 10 times and Lewis would have always found a way to knock him out.
Bruno seemed like a guy who needed to make such an intense mental and deliberate effort to box even as well as he did, and he couldn't afford to go behind in the fight, a frontrunner who was just bound to implode in a tough top-level fight.
Bruno was the epitome of a "manufactured" fighter.

 

:good. I always cheered on Big Frank and by Christ he packed a wallop, but whenever he fought a decent fighter you just knew he was gonna get stopped! And as for him getting 4 title shots, I guess that proves just how well he was managed! At the time I was delighted but in retrospect there were no doubt others who deserved a shot more and probably never got one!! His career is also an example of what you can achieve if The Great British public likes you! But I am pleased he did so well out of boxing and is over his problems. Stay healthy Frank!

 

:good

 

Ray Mercer

 

Agreed. Hope hes got over his problems. And he was VERY well managed. Brian Epstein and colonel Tom Parker would have struggled to manage him better. Great example is the Witherspoon fight. He got the champion in his own backyard and got paid 900k gross as opposed to Witherspoons 500k gross (90k after carl and don got their cut). Nearly DOUBLE the champ? He wouldnt have got it anywhere else.

 

I think Bruno was very well managed and promoted by Terry Lawless and Mickey Duff.
He received about 4 times more for his challenge to Witherspoon than Witherspoon did for defending his title,at the end of the day ,that's what its about £££££ 's getting punched in the face tends to hurt a bit , no one does it for fun.