Franklin Roy Bruno, (born 16 November 1961) is a British former
professional boxer
Professional boxing, or prizefighting, is regulated, sanctioned boxing. Professional boxing bouts are fought for a purse that is divided between the boxers as determined by contract. Most professional bouts are supervised by a regulatory autho ...
who competed from 1982 to 1996. He had a highly publicised and eventful career, both in and out of the ring. The pinnacle of Bruno's boxing career was winning the
WBC heavyweight
Heavyweight is a weight class in combat sports and professional wrestling.
Boxing Professional
Boxers who weigh over are considered heavyweights by 3 of the 4 major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation, the Wo ...
title from
Oliver McCall at a packed
Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium (branded as Wembley Stadium connected by EE for sponsorship reasons) is a football stadium in Wembley, London. It opened in 2007 on the site of the Wembley Stadium (1923), original Wembley Stadium, which was demolished from 200 ...
in 1995, in what was his fourth world championship challenge. Bruno faced multiple top-rated heavyweights throughout his career, including two defeats against
Mike Tyson
Michael Gerard Tyson (born June 30, 1966) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1985 to 2005. Nicknamed "Iron Mike" and "Kid Dynamite" in his early career, and later known as "The Baddest Man on the Planet", Tyson is cons ...
in 1989 and 1996, and a defeat against fellow Briton
Lennox Lewis in 1993.
He was also known for his exceptional punching power, scoring 38
knockout
A knockout (abbreviated to KO or K.O.) is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, muay thai, mixed martial arts, karate, some forms of taekwondo and other sports involving striking, a ...
s in 40 wins and giving him a 95% knockout-to-win ratio; his overall knockout percentage was 84.44%. Bruno has been ranked among
BoxRec
BoxRec or boxrec.com is a website dedicated to holding updated records of professional and amateur boxers, both male and female. It also maintains a MediaWiki-based encyclopaedia of boxing.
The objective of the site is to document every profess ...
's 10 best heavyweights in the world 12 times, reaching his career-high ranking of world No.3 at the conclusion of 1984.
Like
Henry Cooper
Sir Henry Cooper (3 May 19341 May 2011) was a British heavyweight boxer, best remembered internationally for a 1963 fight in which he knocked down a young Cassius Clay before the fight was stopped because of a cut eye from Clay's punches. Coo ...
before him, Bruno has remained a popular celebrity with the British public following his retirement from boxing, including his well-documented struggles with mental health.
Professional career
Bruno became a professional boxer in 1981, quickly achieving 21 consecutive wins by
knockout
A knockout (abbreviated to KO or K.O.) is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, muay thai, mixed martial arts, karate, some forms of taekwondo and other sports involving striking, a ...
. This streak caught the attention of international boxing magazines, such as ''
The Ring'', ''
KO Magazine
''KO Magazine'' was a popular United States boxing magazine. It was first published in 1980, to compete with '' The Ring''.
It was founded by Stanley Weston, long-time publisher of numerous boxing and pro wrestling titles.
''KO Magazine'', nickn ...
'', ''Boxing Illustrated'' and ''
Ring En Español
The Ring En Español is a Spanish version of boxing publication '' The Ring'' magazine. ''Ring En Español'' was originally published from 1977 to 1985. Originally published from Caracas and later from Panama, it moved in 1981 to Miami, to Editoria ...
''. During this period Bruno defeated former world title contender
Scott LeDoux
Alan Scott LeDoux, nicknamed "The Fighting Frenchman," (January 7, 1949 – August 11, 2011) was a politician, professional heavyweight boxer, professional wrestler, and referee.
Career
Boxing
LeDoux began his professional boxing career in 1 ...
, the fringe contender
Floyd Cummings
Floyd "Jumbo" Cummings (born 20 December 1949) is an American former professional boxer best known for his fight with Joe Frazier.
Cummings served 12 years in prison for murder in the Stateville Correctional Center, Illinois, and upon his release ...
who had was controversially stopped from gaining his own stoppage victory when the referee unfairly protected Bruno, Belgian champion
Rudy Gauwe
Rudy Gauwe (born 14 June 1951) is a Belgian former professional boxer. As an amateur, he competed in the men's heavyweight event at the 1976 Summer Olympics
Events January
* January 3 – The International Covenant on Economic, Soc ...
, British contenders Tony Moore and Eddie Nielson, and opponents such as
Bill Sharkey
William Thomas Sharkey (20 September 1873 – 15 May 1946) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Carlton in the Victorian Football League
The Victorian Football League (VFL) is an Australian rules football league in Aus ...
, Walter Santemore and Ken Lakusta. However, in May 1984 the up-and-coming future world heavyweight champion, American
James "Bonecrusher" Smith
James "Bonecrusher" Smith was born in April 13, 1953 at Mangolia, Nort Carolina, USA. James "Bonecrusher" Smith is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1981 to 1999, and held the WBA heavyweight title from 1986 to 1987.
Ea ...
, halted that streak when he defeated Bruno by knockout in the tenth and final round of their bout, with Bruno leading clearly on all three judges' cards.
European heavyweight champion and WBA title challenge
Bruno won his next six bouts against respected opposition. He won the
European
European, or Europeans, or Europeneans, may refer to:
In general
* ''European'', an adjective referring to something of, from, or related to Europe
** Ethnic groups in Europe
** Demographics of Europe
** European cuisine, the cuisines of Europe ...
heavyweight title with a KO over Sweden's
Anders Eklund Anders Eklund may refer to:
* Anders Eklund (boxer)
* Anders Eklund (murderer)
{{hndis, Eklund, Anders ...
, KO'd former European champion and world title contender Lucien Rodriguez in one round, was taken the distance for the first time by the useful world rated Phil Brown, and beat fringe fighters Larry Frazier and Jeff Jordan.
Bruno got back into title contention with an impressive one-round KO win over former
WBA champion
Gerrie Coetzee
Gerhardus Christian Coetzee (born 8 April 1955) is a South African former professional boxer who competed from 1974 to 1986, and in 1993 and 1997. He was the first African ever to fight for, and win, a world heavyweight championship, having hel ...
of South Africa, and, in July 1986, he challenged
Tim Witherspoon
Tim Witherspoon (born December 27, 1957) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1979 to 2003. He was a two-time world heavyweight champion, having held the WBC title in 1984, and the WBA title in 1986. Witherspoon also wo ...
for the WBA heavyweight title. After once again leading on the cards for most of the fight, he ran out of steam and was defeated by knockout in round eleven.
Bruno once again got himself back into title contention with wins over former contender
James Tillis
James Tillis (born July 5, 1957) is a retired American professional boxer and actor. Known as "Quick", he was known for his fast hand speed, quite astonishing for a man of his size and build. A natural southpaw, Tillis turned around to orthodo ...
and journeymen
Reggie Gross and Chuck Gardner. In October 1987 Bruno faced the veteran
Joe Bugner
József Kreul Bugner (born 13 March 1950) is a Hungarian-born British- Australian former heavyweight boxer and actor. He holds triple nationality, being a citizen of Hungary and a naturalised citizen of both Australia and the United King ...
in an all British match up. Bugner although long past his peak, was coming off impressive wins over
Greg Page,
James Tillis
James Tillis (born July 5, 1957) is a retired American professional boxer and actor. Known as "Quick", he was known for his fast hand speed, quite astonishing for a man of his size and build. A natural southpaw, Tillis turned around to orthodo ...
and
David Bey
David Bey (March 11, 1957 – September 13, 2017) was a heavyweight boxer who held the USBA title. He unsuccessfully challenged Larry Holmes for the heavyweight title in 1985.
Bey was an outstanding amateur boxer who had taken up the sport to ...
. Bruno won by TKO in the 8th round, the referee stopping the bout, although it appeared the protesting Bugner could have continued.
Bruno vs. Tyson
In February 1989, Bruno challenged
Mike Tyson
Michael Gerard Tyson (born June 30, 1966) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1985 to 2005. Nicknamed "Iron Mike" and "Kid Dynamite" in his early career, and later known as "The Baddest Man on the Planet", Tyson is cons ...
for the undisputed world heavyweight title. In the opening moments, the fighters came together with huge punches. Bruno's legs buckled, and he took a big step back, inadvertently stepping off the ring apron. Most agree that he would have gone down, at least to a knee in any event, and this was called a knockdown. Bruno did not complain, and instead gathered himself to continue, ultimately rocking Tyson (for the first time in Tyson's career) with a left hook toward the end of the round. However, Tyson recovered and eventually beat Bruno when the referee stopped the contest in round five with Bruno taking heavy punishment, lying helpless on the ropes.
Bruno kept winning fights, helping him to retain his spot as one of the world's leading heavyweights. He defeated contender
Carl Williams, and then
journeymen
A journeyman, journeywoman, or journeyperson is a worker, skilled in a given building trade or craft, who has successfully completed an official apprenticeship qualification. Journeymen are considered competent and authorized to work in that fie ...
such as
Jose Ribalta,
Pierre Coetzer
Pierre Coetzer (born 6 December 1961) is a former heavyweight boxer from Pretoria, South Africa. Coetzer's most notable fights include those against Johnny du Plooy, Riddick Bowe, Frank Bruno and George Foreman.
Professional career
Coetzer ...
, and Dutchman Jan Emmen.
Bruno vs. Lewis
In 1993 he had a third world title chance against
Lennox Lewis, who was making the second defence of the belt (his first of three championship reigns). The
Lennox Lewis vs. Frank Bruno fight was the first time that two British boxers had fought for the world heavyweight title. Lewis beat Bruno on a stoppage in round seven, Bruno again failing to take his title chance after leading the contest on points up until what proved the final round.
Bruno again regrouped, dispatching trialhorse
Jesse Ferguson
Jesse Ferguson (born March 20, 1957) is a retired American boxer who fought in several noteworthy boxing matches in the 1980s and 1990s. His professional career is filled with matches with champions and contenders and his name is linked with nu ...
in one round, and the fringe contenders Rodolfo Marin and
Mike Evans equally easily.
WBC heavyweight champion and retirement
On 2 September 1995, Bruno finally became world champion by outpointing WBC Champion
Oliver McCall over twelve rounds. After an even start, Bruno built up a strong lead in the middle rounds, and seemed to run somewhat out of steam in the last couple: however, unlike Bonecrusher Smith and Tim Witherspoon earlier in Bruno's career, McCall was unable to find a way through Bruno's defences to force the late stoppage he needed, and a tired Bruno hung on to win unanimously on points, only the second time he had taken an opponent to the judges. Bruno did not last long as champion – the contract he signed to get McCall meant he had to face Mike Tyson in his first defence. Tyson beat Bruno on a stoppage in round three, Bruno performed unusually poorly in what turned out to be his last bout as a professional due to a severe eye injury caused by Tyson. Bruno was advised not to fight again to avoid running the risk of causing any more damage to it, which could result in permanent blindness. Bruno retired soon after the fight.
Bruno's publicist throughout most of his career was sports historian
Norman Giller, who wrote three books with Bruno: ''Know What I Mean'', ''Eye of the Tiger'' and ''From Zero to Hero''. His manager for all but his last five fights was
Terry Lawless
Terry Lawless (29 March 1933 – 24 December 2009) was an English boxing manager and trainer who worked in London, most successfully during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.
Biography
Born in West Ham, Lawless started his coaching and management ca ...
, who signed him as a professional shortly after he had become ABA heavyweight champion at the age of eighteen.
Personal life
On 22 September 2003, Bruno was taken from his home near
Brentwood in Essex by medical staff assisted by police officers, under the provisions of the
Mental Health Act 1983
The Mental Health Act 1983 (c.20) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It covers the reception, care and treatment of mentally disordered people, the management of their property and other related matters, forming part of the men ...
. He was taken to
Goodmayes Hospital
Goodmayes Hospital is a mental health facility in Goodmayes in the London Borough of Redbridge. It is managed by the North East London NHS Foundation Trust.
History
The site selected had previously been occupied by Blue House Farm. The hospital ...
in
Ilford, where he underwent psychological and psychiatric tests. He had been suffering from depression for several months beforehand. He was later diagnosed as having
bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder, previously known as manic depression, is a mental disorder characterized by periods of depression and periods of abnormally elevated mood that last from days to weeks each. If the elevated mood is severe or associated with ...
. On 9 October 2005, Bruno admitted that cocaine use, which began in 2000, had contributed to his mental health problems. Media coverage of Bruno's problems raised controversy, the principal accusations being gross intrusion and insensitivity. Particular criticism was aimed at ''
The Sun'', whose headline in the first editions the next day read "Bonkers Bruno Locked Up". Second editions retracted the headline and attempted to portray a more sympathetic attitude towards Bruno and mental health in general. As an attempt at atonement, the paper established a charity fund for people suffering from mental illness, although some mental health charities condemned ''The Sun'' latter action that day as being grossly cynical in the light of the former. On 24 February 2008, Bruno offered his support to former
footballer
A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby ...
Paul Gascoigne, who on 21 February had been sectioned under the Mental Health Act. Bruno also spoke on his own personal experiences in the mental health system at a conference run by Hari Sewell, on 22 June 2009. Bruno was sectioned again in 2012 and taken to
St Andrew's Hospital in
Northampton
Northampton () is a market town and civil parish in the East Midlands of England, on the River Nene, north-west of London and south-east of Birmingham. The county town of Northamptonshire, Northampton is one of the largest towns in England; ...
for five weeks. In December 2013, Bruno spoke to the ''
Daily Mirror
The ''Daily Mirror'' is a British national daily tabloid. Founded in 1903, it is owned by parent company Reach plc. From 1985 to 1987, and from 1997 to 2002, the title on its masthead was simply ''The Mirror''. It had an average daily print ...
'' in support of their mental health campaign, stating: "Mental illness is a terrible thing to have to cope with but I’ve learnt it’s a fight you can win if you live your life the right way".
In December 2005, Bruno announced that he was to become a father for the fourth time since finding new romance with old friend Yvonne Clydesdale. The couple, who first met five years previously at a health resort, began dating months after bumping into each other at a wine bar near his home. Yvonne gave birth to baby Freya on 10 May 2006. On 10 October 2006, Bruno and Clydesdale were jointly awarded £50,000 damages for
libel
Defamation is the act of communicating to a third party false statements about a person, place or thing that results in damage to its reputation. It can be spoken (slander) or written (libel). It constitutes a tort or a crime. The legal defini ...
against ''
The People
The ''Sunday People'' is a British tabloid Sunday newspaper. It was founded as ''The People'' on 16 October 1881.
At one point owned by Odhams Press, The ''People'' was acquired along with Odhams by the Mirror Group in 1961, along with the ...
'' newspaper and publishers
MGN in respect of false claims made about their relationship. In 2006, Bruno published an autobiography ''Frank: Fighting Back''. It won the Best Autobiography category of the
British Sports Book Awards. As of May 2012, Bruno was living in
Glasgow
Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...
with his new hairdresser girlfriend, Nina Coletta in the
Gorbals
The Gorbals is an area in the city of Glasgow, Scotland, on the south bank of the River Clyde. By the late 19th century, it had become densely populated; rural migrants and immigrants were attracted by the new industries and employment opportun ...
area of the city.
Bruno has joined the Get Close and Personal Platform to raise funds to support The Frank Bruno Foundation, dedicated to improving the mental health of men around the world. Bruno offers one-to-one video calls with anybody wanting to discuss issues related to mental health and Bruno's own journey.
Media appearances and non-boxing interests
Bruno's image was enhanced by his relationship with the
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC
Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...
, which, in their many interviews, was generated Bruno's best-known and most-quoted phrases "Know what I mean, Harry?", his appearances on
programmes in the early-1980s and his frequent appearances thereafter on television and on stage (in
which was, at the time, the longest roller coaster in the world. He described the ride "scarier than
". In 1993, Bruno briefly appeared as a guest on
. The episode aired on Tuesday 30 March that year. He was the subject of a ''
. In 1995, the year of his world championship, he released a cover version of "
''. It reached No. 28 in the UK charts. In 1999, he featured on the celebrity special in the second season of ''
''.
In January 2001, prior to that year's general election, Bruno announced that he wanted to stand as the
. His proposed slogan was "Don't be a plank, vote for Frank!" However, this idea was quickly dismissed by Conservative Central Office. In an interview with BBC Sport at the time, Bruno laughed at the story and denied he had any intention of standing. In 2006, he was one of a number of celebrities who were recorded on the World Cup song, "
". On 15 August 2009, he appeared on ''
in the final for £12,800. He had a small role in the 2008 British crime drama ''
''. Bruno made brief guest appearances in episodes of the
'' in February and October 2011. On 21 April 2011, Bruno appeared on the
'', where he was candid about his previous health issues. In 2011, he made a guest appearance in ''
''. On 20 April 2012, Bruno was featured in the ITV series ''
. Bruno completed the 2011
which is the third marathon he has run successfully. He has also run numerous half marathons. He is also a patron for The Shannon Bradshaw Trust, a children's charity.
Bruno regularly makes personal appearances and also sells autographed items of memorabilia. On 23 July 2013, Bruno was featured in the
documentary with his daughter Rachel in ''Rachel Bruno: My Dad and Me''.
In 2020 amid the
. They recorded a new rendition of "
. The music video debuted exclusively on ''
'' the day before release. The song peaked at number two on the iTunes pop chart.
Frank Bruno legend and loved by the British public, always well remembered and people's champion
*
*