James Bonecrusher Smith knocks out Frank Bruno

I taped that fight off NBC Sports World back in circa--'83 on my first VHS machine... I still got the tape in a box tucked away...

Franky Bruno boxed like a master against slow as ****, but powerful as hell, Bonecrusher Smith for 9 whole rds... Come the 10th and final rd, Bones Smith went for broke and forced an all out attack to drop and stop Franky Bruno in wicked fashion... Smith needed the KO win to help obtain a shot at Larry Holmes in 1984...

MR.BILL

 

At 230 pounds, Smith was in terrific shape with no loose flesh at all, an unusual physical specimen by the standards of that era.

Bruno established him in the public mind as a slugger with staying power, something of an anti Shavers and anti Foreman. It was a real career changer for Bonecrusher. Although he'd never be an ATG, he became recognized as someone who could go the distance, be dangerous throughout, and win over the long haul. He was already 31 years old. Considering the advanced age he began at, he accomplished a remarkable amount, as Lyle had before him. (Unlike Ron though, James did break through to capture the WBA Title.)

 

I thought Bones Smith looked great and fit anywhere between 227 to 245 pounds as he progressed in his career during the 80s... But that goddamn 275 pounds he weighed years later in 1999 against Larry Holmes was just gross looking... Bones Smith had the love handles and man boobs going on... It was gross... Hell, even 49 year old Larry Holmes was heavy by his standards at 250 pounds, but he looked better and even younger than the 46 year old Smith did in that fight on PPV... I have the tape...

MR.BILL

 

If Bruno just held he'd have been alright, I blame the trainer

 

Bruno basically got stopped similar to this in all his losses. He just froze when he got hit cleanly and usually became defenseless on the ropes. THis is probably the worse he ever went down, but he just didnt have the ability to take a really hard shot his body just shut down. Not really the trainers fault.

 

I've never seen it, but I'm rather surprised that he eventually let himself go like that. Statistics show that most who undertake a fitness regimen and sustain it successfully are those with discipline and follow through in other life endeavors. Bonecrusher was easily the most academically credentialed heavyweight title claimant in history to that time. He was 39 years old and under 230 for the loss to Page, but then ballooned as he entered his 40s. (That weight gain of over 50 pounds in the six years between Page and Bugner couldn't be doing his health any good, and that's when he was competing. I'd hate to think of what he weighs now, over ten years later. If he's not careful, he'll wind up in a diabetic coma over 400 pounds like Buster Douglas.)

 

....classic ko & commentary. Bruno fell straight into his trainers arms when he got to his feet.

Bonecrusher may have been slow & limited but he sure was one big powerful mofo :yep.

 

that to me was by far the most vicious ko id ever seen from bonecrusher...good stuff

 

Bones Smith claimed he trained his ass off to make 275 for Holmes in 1999... According to Smith, he was 310 pounds when he begun training in early 1999.... He dropped 35 pounds in three months while preparing for the Holmes Rematch in June...... CHRIST!!

MR.BILL

 

brutal

 

I've been in Raleigh, NC. for 6 years now, and I swear, if you go into a bar / pub for a beer or two, nobody ever takls about Bones Smith or Calvin Brock.... Them guys aren't hero's to North Carolina..... Rednecks here just don't care...... Here its all "The Panthers" and "Nascar" bull****....
atsch

MR.BILL:hat


Note:

OH! College basketball is huge.... ZZZZ!!:rofl:verysad