Frank Bruno best night ?

Lennox Lewis fight. He surprised a lot of people and the look on Lewis face when getting outboxed by frank was priceless

 

I like the way he dispatched Coetzee, though Gerrie was basically finished.

 

I am not sure Gerrie was that finished. in his last four fights he fought Tillis, Page, Dokes and Thomas. Only Page beat him. Outside of Larry Holmes there was nobody better for Coetzee to fight.

Tillis was coming off a close fight with marvis Frazier (who he almost knocked out) and in his next fights after Coetzee would give unbeaten Tyrell Biggs and Mike Tyson life and death.

The scorring for the Tillis fight was a lot clearer for Coetzee than it was for Tyson two fights later. Back then only champions or challengers had beat quick Tillis who was still very decent class.

Although the Bruno fight finished Coetzee it's only in hindsight that he could look so poor. Bruno v Coetzee was an eliminator for the WBA title.

 

Nice sales pitch. But by 1986 Coetzee had only scored one win since 1983, and it came against a man who everybody and their brother was beating. Factor in multiple hand surgeries, management disputes with his father and showing up well over his best fight weight, and its no wonder why he took a 7 year vacation from boxing after the Bruno fight.

 

Its strange but Bruno actually performed well when he stepped up, even though he lost.

He was the first guy who fought competitively with Tyson, he put in a very good performance against Lewis, he beat Mcall and im sure he was winning either the Spoon or Smith fights before he was stopped?

the only time he really got his clock cleaned was Tyson 2

 

Tillis was 31-6 he was hardly being beaten by everyone and their brother he was actually going through quite a hot spell.

Tillis decked Truth Williams two times more than Larry Holmes ever did one fight before WIlliams almost became champion. Then Tillis was robbed of a knockout against Marvis Frazier just before his Coetzee fight. This was good form. Tillis was a real handfull in 1984, 85 and 86. Nobody beat him easy, most of all Tyson.

Coetzee scorring a near shut out on two of the judges cards with Tillis was decent when James was knocking down Williams, Frazier then giving Tyson life and death.

 

I agree Coetzee was toast by then

 

Agreed. The Coetzee fight was a classic bit of masterful matchmaking by Mickey Duff - get the name opponent in when the name still looks good but at the same time, when they are washed up.

Coetzee was overweight and in London with his wife & kids to do some sightseeing and pick up a nice payday - this was picked up on at the time by the late great Boxing News editor Harry Mullan, who said as much in his preview, predicted a Bruno win in 1 to 3 rounds and even stated in his preview that he was going to the bookies to place a bet on this outcome - & Harry was not a gambler!

Having said that, Bruno did look the part in this one; from a pure puncher's point of view, I don't think Frank ever looked better. Bruno, who often in big fights crucially lacked self'-belief, really fancied his chances in this one...perhaps he also knew what Harry Mullan knew...

 

The Chuck Gardner 'fight' comes to mind....

 

Chuck would get a rating today

 

I was at the Coetzee fight he looked flabby and untrained to me.

 

Yes, I am coming round to that conclusion now. On paper Coetzee was still up there and his recent form decent. It's the kind of fight that had Bruno struggled or lost it would not have been too bad but by blowing him out its easier to say it was not the real Coetzee.

In all probability the cartel landed the highest placed fighter who they heard had lost his desire. One thing for sure Bruno would have had to have been ready and he was.

 

Lennox Lewis fight was Frank Bruno's best performance. Frank completely out-boxed and out-jabbed Lewis. Frank was on the verge of a knock out victory when Lewis with his head down lashed out and caught Bruno with a left-hook which put Frank on ***** street.

 

This is really all that needs to be said. no need to try and make a case for Coetzee being anywhere near prime by building up Quick Tillis.