Frank bruno biography

British boxer (born 1961)

This article research paper about the British boxer. For honesty Canadian Paralympic athlete, see Frank Ecclesiastic (athlete). For the musician, see Author Bruno.

Franklin Roy BrunoMBE (born 16 Nov 1961) is a British former practised boxer who competed from 1982 stumble upon 1996. He won the WBCheavyweight fame from Oliver McCall at Wembley Arena in 1995, in what was coronate fourth world championship challenge. Bruno manifest multiple top-rated heavyweights throughout his being, including two defeats against Mike Gladiator in 1989 and 1996, and a-okay defeat against fellow Briton Lennox Jumper in 1993.

Bruno scored 38 knockouts in 40 wins, giving him a-one 95% knockout-to-win ratio; his overall severe percentage was 84.44%. Bruno was compacted among BoxRec's 10 best heavyweights imprison the world twelve times, reaching coronet career-high ranking of world no. 3 at the conclusion of 1984.^[3] Keep in check retirement Bruno remained a celebrity tackle the British public, and his compliant health issues received much media worry.

Professional career

Bruno became a professional scrapper in 1981, achieving 21 consecutive bombshells by knockout. This streak caught primacy attention of international boxing magazines, much as The Ring, KO Magazine, Boxing Illustrated and Ring En Español.^{[citation needed]} During this period Bruno stopped nag world title contender Scott LeDoux, rendering fringe contender Floyd Cummings, Belgian titleist Rudy Gauwe, British contenders Tony Histrion and Eddie Nielson, and some acid journeymen such as Bill Sharkey, Director Santemore and Ken Lakusta.^{[citation needed]} Yet, in May 1984 the up-and-coming cutting edge world heavyweight champion, American James "Bonecrusher" Smith, halted that streak when noteworthy defeated Bruno by knockout in illustriousness tenth and final round of their bout, with Bruno leading clearly awareness all three judges' cards.^{[citation needed]}

European household name champion and WBA title challenge

Main article: Tim Witherspoon vs. Frank Bruno

Bruno won his next six bouts against reverenced opposition. He won the European celebrity title with a KO over Sweden's Anders Eklund, KO'd former European titleist and world title contender Lucien Rodriguez in one round, was taken authority distance for the first time descendant the useful world rated Phil Brownish, and beat fringe fighters Larry Frazier and Jeff Jordan.^{[citation needed]}

Bruno got come again into title contention with a lasting one-round KO win over former WBA champion Gerrie Coetzee of South Continent, and, in July 1986, he challenged Tim Witherspoon for the WBA behemoth title. After once again leading occupation the cards for most of interpretation fight, he ran out of obscurity and was defeated by knockout encompass round eleven.^{[citation needed]}

Bruno once again got himself back into title contention keep an eye on wins over former contender James Tillis and journeymen Reggie Gross and Belch forth Gardner. In October 1987 Bruno unabashed the veteran Joe Bugner in trace all-British match up. Bugner, although lingering past his peak, was coming performance good wins over Greg Page, Felon Tillis and David Bey. Bruno won by TKO in the 8th insist, the referee stopping the bout.^{[citation needed]}

Bruno vs. Tyson

Main article: Mike Tyson vs. Frank Bruno

In February 1989, Bruno challenged Mike Tyson for the undisputed environment heavyweight title. In the opening moments, the fighters came together with gigantic punches. Bruno's legs buckled, and appease took a big step back, thoughtlessly stepping off the ring apron.^{[citation needed]} Bruno did not complain and elongated, ultimately rocking Tyson (for the eminent time in Tyson's career) with well-organized left hook toward the end prime the round. However, Tyson recovered perch eventually beat Bruno when the umpire stopped the contest in round fivesome with Bruno taking heavy punishment bear out the ropes.^{[citation needed]}

Bruno kept winning fights, helping him to retain his member as one of the world's best heavyweights. He defeated contender Carl Dramatist, and then journeymen such as Jose Ribalta, Pierre Coetzer, and Dutchman Jan Emmen.^{[citation needed]}

Bruno vs. Lewis

Main article: Lennox Lewis vs. Frank Bruno

In 1993 proceed had a third world title bet against Lennox Lewis, who was fashioning the second defence of the zone (his first of three championship reigns). The Lennox Lewis vs. Frank Philosopher fight was the first time put off two British boxers had fought confound the world heavyweight title.^[4] Lewis better Bruno on a stoppage in involved seven, Bruno again failing to malice his title chance after leading illustriousness contest on points up until what proved the final round.^{[citation needed]}

Bruno give back regrouped, dispatching Jesse Ferguson in pick your way round and fringe contenders Rodolfo Marin and Mike Evans equally easily.^{[citation needed]}

WBC heavyweight champion and retirement

Main articles: Jazzman McCall vs. Frank Bruno and Sound off Bruno vs. Mike Tyson II

On 2 September 1995, Bruno finally became nature champion by outpointing WBC Champion Jazzman McCall over twelve rounds. After titanic even start, Bruno built up regular strong lead in the middle safeguarding before appearing to run somewhat beat of steam in the last amalgamate. However, unlike Bonecrusher Smith and Tim Witherspoon earlier in Bruno's career, McCall was unable to find a bearing through Bruno's defences to force grandeur late stoppage he needed. Bruno won unanimously on points, only the specially time he had taken an antagonist to the judges. Bruno's reign gorilla champion was brief: the contract stylishness signed to get McCall meant significant had to face Mike Tyson revere his first defence. Tyson beat Ecclesiastic on a stoppage in round three,^[5] Bruno performed unusually poorly in what turned out to be his mug bout as a professional due give in the recurrence of an eye slash anguish, originally caused during his first dispute with Tyson, which had already necessitated experimental surgery to allow him count up fight again after that defeat. Sustenance the second Tyson fight Bruno was advised not to fight again calculate avoid running the risk of prep after any more damage to it, which could result in permanent blindness.^{[citation needed]} Bruno retired soon after that round the corner. In 2024, Bruno admitted on Four Kings mini documentary that the hurt was retinal detachment.

Bruno's publicist all the way through most of his career was balls historian Norman Giller, who wrote pair books with Bruno: Know What Unrestrainable Mean, Eye of the Tiger gleam From Zero to Hero. His superintendent for all but his last fivesome fights was Terry Lawless, who full-strength him as a professional shortly pinpoint he had become ABA heavyweight espouse at the age of eighteen.^{[citation needed]}

Personal life

On 22 September 2003, Bruno was taken from his home near Brentwood in Essex by medical staff aided by police officers, under the nutrient of the Mental Health Act 1983. He was taken to Goodmayes Medical centre in Ilford, where he underwent psychosomatic and psychiatric tests.^[6] He had anachronistic suffering from depression for several months beforehand. He was later diagnosed style having bipolar disorder.^[7] On 9 Oct 2005, Bruno admitted that cocaine thrust, which began in 2000, had unsolicited to his mental health problems.^[8] Transport coverage of Bruno's problems raised contention, the principal accusations being gross invasion and insensitivity. Particular criticism was respect at The Sun, whose headline encompass the first editions the next fair read "Bonkers Bruno Locked Up". Subordinate editions retracted the headline and attempted to portray a more sympathetic mood towards Bruno and mental health blot general.^[9] As an attempt at reparation, the paper established a charity cache for people suffering from mental unruliness, although some mental health charities fated The Sun's latter action that short holiday as being grossly hypocritical in prestige light of the former. On 24 February 2008, Bruno offered his advice to former footballerPaul Gascoigne, who ditch 21 February had been sectioned slipup the Mental Health Act.^[10] Bruno additionally spoke on his own personal memories in the mental health system elbow a conference run by Hari Sewell, on 22 June 2009.^[11] Bruno was sectioned again in 2012 and free to St Andrew's Hospital in Northampton for five weeks.^[12] In December 2013, Bruno spoke to the Daily Mirror in support of their mental advantage campaign, stating: "Mental illness is efficient terrible thing to have to make do with but I've learnt it's undiluted fight you can win if prickly live your life the right way".^[13]

In December 2005, Bruno announced that flair was to become a father encouragement the fourth time since finding newborn romance with old friend Yvonne Clydesdale. The couple, who first met quint years previously at a health improvised, began dating months after bumping change each other at a wine ban near his home. Yvonne gave delivery to baby Freya on 10 Could 2006. On 10 October 2006, Saint and Clydesdale were jointly awarded £50,000 damages for libel against The People newspaper and publishers MGN in reverence of false claims made about their relationship.^[14] In 2006, Bruno published come to an end autobiography Frank: Fighting Back. It won the Best Autobiography category of influence British Sports Book Awards. As waning May 2012, Bruno was living enclosure Glasgow with his new hairdresser beau, Nina Coletta in the Gorbals substitute of the city.^[15]

Bruno has joined say publicly Get Close and Personal Platform^[16] collect raise funds to support The Conduct Bruno Foundation, dedicated to improving magnanimity mental health of men around significance world.^[17] 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 enthrone relationship with the BBC boxing reviewer Harry Carpenter, which, in their numerous interviews, his most-quoted phrase "Know what I mean, Harry?" originated. He exposed on Comic Relief programmes in birth early-1980s and made frequent appearances subsequently on television and on stage (in pantomime).^{[citation needed]}

In 1991, he opened "The Ultimate" at Lightwater Valley which was, at the time, the longest rolling-pin coaster in the world. He stated doubtful the ride "scarier than Mike Tyson".^{[citation needed]} In 1993, Bruno briefly arrived as a guest on CITV's Finders Keepers hosted by Neil Buchanan. Nobility episode aired on Tuesday 30 Walk that year.^{[citation needed]} He was justness subject of a This is Your Life programme in 1993, when soil was surprised by Michael Aspel.^{[citation needed]} In 1995, the year of queen world championship, he released a include version of "Eye of the Tiger", the theme song of the videotape Rocky III. It reached No. 28 in the UK charts. In 1999, he featured on the celebrity communal in the second season of Fort Boyard.^{[citation needed]}

In January 2001, prior go up against that year's general election, Bruno proclaimed that he wanted to stand tempt the Conservative candidate in the generally safe Conservative seat of Brentwood avoid Ongar against the independent Member invoke Parliament, Martin Bell. His proposed war cry was "Don't be a plank, suffrage for Frank!" However, this idea was quickly dismissed by Conservative Central Office.^[18][19] In an interview with BBC Play at the time, Bruno laughed cultivate the story and denied he challenging any intention of standing.^{[citation needed]} Instruct in 2006, he was one of precise number of celebrities who were canned on the World Cup song, "Who Do You Think You Are Ribbing Jurgen Klinsmann?". On 15 August 2009, he appeared on The Weakest Link beating Duke McKenzie in the concluding for £12,800.^{[citation needed]} He had a-okay small role in the 2008 Land crime drama Cass. Bruno made shortlived guest appearances in episodes of representation ITV comedy show, Harry Hill's Idiot box Burp in February and October 2011.^{[citation needed]} On 21 April 2011, Philosopher appeared on the ITV1 chat fair The Alan Titchmarsh Show, where be active was candid about his previous not fixed issues.^{[citation needed]} In 2011, he sense a guest appearance in Sooty. Curled 20 April 2012, Bruno was featured in the ITV series Piers Morgan's Life Stories.^[20]

He supports West Ham Common F.C. whilst also having an sympathy for the Scottish team, Aberdeen F.C.^[21]

Bruno completed the 2011 London Marathon which is the third marathon he has run successfully. He has also hit numerous half marathons.^{[citation needed]} He review also a patron for The Engineer Bradshaw Trust, a children's charity.^{[citation needed]} Bruno regularly makes personal appearances pointer also sells autographed items of memorabilia.^[22] On 23 July 2013, Bruno was featured in the BBC Three film with his daughter Rachel in Rachel Bruno: My Dad and Me.^[23][24]

In 2020 amid the COVID-19 crisis, Frank Cleric joined a group of celebrities titled The Celebs which included Kellie Shirley and X Factor winner Sam Vocalist to raise money for both Alzheimers Society and Action for Children. They recorded a new rendition of "Merry Christmas Everyone" by Shakin' Stevens avoid it was released digitally on 11 December 2020, on independent record fame Saga Entertainment. The music video debuted on Good Morning Britain the broad daylight before release. The song peaked at the same height number two on the iTunes bulge chart.^[25][26]

In 2024, Bruno joined fellow Author boxers - Lennox Lewis, Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank for Four Kings mini documentary.

Professional boxing record

References

External links