Hasim Rahman vs Frank Bruno

Bruno ko 8

 

Both are evenly matched, but I lean toward Rahman.
Frank has to get him early, the later rounds favour the other guy.

 

Rahman does the job in my opinion. He has higher highs than Bruno. Bruno has the much better jab, but he also has a strong tendency to gas.

 

Against McCall I knew the outcome and I still felt anxious watching Bruno try to survive the last few rounds with nothing left, he was lucky it was McCall and not someone who knew how to make you work.

 

Bruno outboxes him to a decision, much better on the outside with the jab, and would be able to tie him up up close.

 

I'm going with Rahman he beat Sanders in a war, KO'ed Lewis, should've had a win over Tua but was robbed. I don't think Bruno could beat Sanders or go 12 rounds vs Tua.

I think Rahman would stop him.

 

I think Bruno stops Rahman. He was simply a more disciplined fighter and hit harder, more regularly and with more efficency. I've often wondered how Frank's career would have turned out had he jumped on Tyson and stopped him or beat Lewis, as he was handily doing. Might we have seen exponential improvement like we have seen, so far, with Dubois. Whereas I think Rahman did exactly what he should have, there are no 'what ifs' about him....

 

All depends on where it takes place. Sure do not like Frank being the road warrior in this. But do like him with the homefield advantage.

 

I think you're over estimating Bruno and underrating Rahman.

Rahman won a war against the very dangerous hard hitting Southpaw in Corrie Sanders did Bruno ever win a battle of attrition ?

Rahman was robbed vs David Tua the 1st fight was a dubious stoppage after Rahman was a mile ahead on points and was clearly hit after the bell in the previous round. He then clearly out pointed Tua in the rematch and was robbed of a decision.

Obviously Rahman also KO'ed Lennox Lewis.

As for Bruno he would never of stopped Tyson in a million years the skill gap between the two was humongous. Bruno briefly stunned Tyson granted but he wasn't in serious trouble I think you're over estimating that moment. Tyson was briefly stunned by Tucker with an uppercut also and Tyson was never troubled. Tyson had a good chin and you had to beat him down over numerous rounds to get the job done which Bruno was never capable of.

Bruno just didn't have that real mean streak and he froze like a deer in the headlights anytime he got hurt. So no I don't think he could've made the same improvements like Dubois has. Bruno wouldn't of been able to survive getting hit with as many right hands as vs Hrgovic. And he wouldn't of chased down Joshua with mean intent simply because he didn’t have it in him.

 

Fairness to Sanders… he couldn’t run and had surgery before the bout, not sure about that win entirely.

 

It was a legit win for Rahman it was a great slugfest it's just Sanders gassed. But my point is though is that Rahman has atleast shown he could survive a war against a big punching dangerous opponent can you say the same for Bruno ?

Me personally I always thought Bruno was missing something which was a real mean streak that you need to reach top level. I think Mike Tyson once said Bruno was too nice to be a boxer and I think there is some truth to that.

 

All good points, but the reason Bruno didn't have to have wars of attrition was that he generally starched his opponents! I agree 100% what was missing was a natural killer instinct, because he was a natural athlete and not a natural fighter. And yet, you cite Rahman having a war with Sanders...but was that the best Sanders? A Sanders who history probably remembers kindly because of his 'off the golf course' win over Wlad? His draw with Tua...post Lewis Tua? A Tua who had become a poor imitation of the worst version of Tyson, in love with his power and woth none of the movement of speed he once had. I loved Tua but I think we saw what he might have been once, when he fought the President in one of the best heavyweight fights ever.

An intersting discussion for sure, and thanks so much for your input. I genuinely believe that history remembers Bruno unkindly because of his capitulation against Tyson the second time, but how far into his unwinnable battle with mental health demons was he then? For me, prime Bruno is a different animal than the best Rahman, but others see it differently and that's cool, that's what makes these discussions so enjoyable!!...and you are probably right, I do underestimate Rahman although I won money on both he and McCall knocking out Lewis! Tua lost me some though!!

 

Probably go with Rahman but Bruno is a live dog here.

 

I think Bruno's resolve gets under-estimated. He got through hell in the fight with Cummings; even decades later you watch it and still feel there's no way he gets out of the second round. Yes, it was only Cummings, but Bruno was green and he at least showed he could weather bad patches in fights.

I wouldn't get carried away and call Coetzer and Williams "wars", but they were tough fights where Bruno was able to wear the other guy down, contrary to the Bruno only being dangerous early criticism.

The common denominator with the guys who beat him (Tyson II aside) was that he did land good on all of them, and they were probably all more durable than Rahman.

I think there's a pretty healthy chance that Bruno lands a big right-hand on Rahman and gets him out of there. Obviously you'd never bet the house on it.