Knocked Out: An Evening with Frank Bruno

I just came back from an Evening with Frank Bruno at the Wandsworth Civic Centre. It was part of the Happy Soul Festival, a charity that is running free events in south west London. Below is a bit of a review

It was an entertaining evening. Frank Bruno was very candid and very funny, perhaps not as serious as he should have been considering that the focus was on his mental health struggles, but that didn't bother me because I was there as boxing fan first and foremost

He spoke about his childhood, growing up in stable family with loving brothers and sisters etc. He talked about how he first got into boxing (standard got his ass kicked story) and mentioned that he was the youngest ABA heavyweight champion

Asked what was his toughest fight.He said "The Taxman" and then Mike Tyson. When asked what the best thing about winning was he was like @the cheque@. The interviewer asked one absolutely idiotic question (IMO) along the lines of "Did you ever get hit and want to take off your gloves and go home because it hurt". Frank looked a bit bewildered by the question and went o to say this is boxing. You beat the man or you get beaten etc etc

Most of the interview focussed on his mental health issues and coming out of it the other side. Despite the many laughs, he had a lot of good things to say and I'm sure he would prove an inspiration to those in attendance currently going through their own issues

Once the main interview had concluded they had a Q&A. There were 5 boxing related questions

The first one predictably asked him about his relationship with Harry Carpenter. He was gushing in his praise for the man. Talked about how great a guy he was and that you could take h out like one of the boys to a lap..top computer club

The 2nd boxing question was mine. I asked him a question on the heavyweight boxing scene at the moment and how he thought the Haye v Klit fight would go. He remarked that he fought the heavyweight scene feels a bit quiet and as for the Haye fight, he complimented Haye on his athleticism and rhythm and said that he thinks he can do it, but that he should be wary as they might try and send ladies to his room or put something in his food that will make him go to toilet more often than he wants to

The 3rd question was from Spanish woman who I think was put in the ring in a white cllar boxing match when she wasn't ready and was asking Frank about the regulations regarding White Collar boxing. It was an odd question that didn't really get answered because the woman started off by calling it White Boxing and Frank latched onto that
talking about how you cant say that, it's racist etc

The 4th question was from a dad whose son wants to take up boxing(his mum is dead against it) and was asking advice about how his mum handled the fact she was a boxer. He mentionned that his mum never wanted him to take up boxing and that he would invite her to the fights and she would be in the toilet etc. He also mentionned that his boy does Rugby and in some cases that seems even tougher than boxing so would prefer his son to take up boxing. He ended by saying, its just a mothers prerogative. "They don't want nobody touching their son, even girls" (at this point everyone cracked up)

The last question was not well received. One bespectacled man asked him about his regrets in boxing and does he wish he tried harder against Tyson when he had him hurt in the 2nd. Frank did not like this question one litttle bit. Told the guy he needs to go Specsavers and then he come to his place watch the DVD an slow pause it and then ask him again if he didn't try. Said he was a boy from Wandsworth in Vegas and that he didn't go to make the Tea

A few other mental health questions later and the night came to a close. People stayed for photographs etc but i didn't have a camera and more importantly I had nuclear BO so I wanted to get the hell out of there

A great evenings entertainment indeed