[8.5] FRANK BRUNO: TSThe Sun - Frank Bruno - Spitting Image TV - Bruno v Tyson 2021 - Dispatches TV - Four Kings 2024 -
Bonkers Bruno Banged Up. The Sun headline
Boxing is just show business with blood. Frank Bruno, Guardian 19th November 1991
People are saying, Frankie, that you was brought on too fast; you wasn’t quite ready yet to be put in the ring with a boxer. Spitting Image s1e11, Henry Cooper to Frank Bruno in sauna, ITV 1984
Inexperience of knowing what a punch felt like. ibid.
Frank Bruno to Henry Cooper: Yeah well the way I see it, Henry, I’m like British champion, right. Which must rank me, what, seven hundred in the world? Spitting Image s2e6
But what I don’t like, Henry – and I’m sorry to go on about it – is getting hit. ibid.
I can hit that bag all day long. But have I once met a bag in the ring? ibid.
Frank Bruno has been knocked out by a paper bag. Spitting Image s9e5
Magnus Magnusson: Could I have the first contestant please. Your name?
Bruno: Frank Bruno.
Magnus Magnusson: And your specialist chosen subject.
Bruno: Dialectical materialism and its influence on twentieth century philosophers. Spitting Image s12e6, Mastermind
Harry Carpenter: Good evening and you join us here for Bruno’s crucial title fight with Lennox Lewis. But the big question is can Frank put his three-year Panto career behind him? Spitting Image s14e1
The thing is, I don’t approve of physical violence. Spitting Image s15e5, Frank Bruno to daughter complaining of being bullied at school
I would have reign supreme if I wasn’t behind Mike Tyson. Bruno v Tyson, Bruno, Sky Documentaries 2021
Mike Tyson, he had a tough upbringing. He had been arrested 38 times by the age of 13. And when legendary trainer Cus d’Amato met him, he had no parents and no home. So he adopted him as his son. ibid. Steve Lott, assistant manager
The ’80s were boring until Mike Tyson came along. ibid. Lennox Lewis
It was humiliating. Tyson’s demons were being laid bare on national TV and he just sat there and did nothing. ibid. Lott
As good as he [Tyson] performed against Bruno, there was this sense of impending chaos all around him. ibid. UK commentator
Champ Tyson Goes Berserk. ibid. The Sun front page 3 October 1988
Bruno’s twelve-year career has been brilliantly if cynically sustained by Duff. Dispatches: The Fight Game, Channel 4 1993
During one week in 1993 a global audience of half a billion watched four men from the same city fight for the biggest honours in boxing. Four Kings I: Rise of the Kings, Amazon 2024
I looked up to Frank. He was loved by so many. ibid. Lennox Lewis
25th February 1989 Las Vegas: Tyson v Bruno, Heavyweight title fight. ibid. caption
As long as you give it your all, they’ll love you for it. ibid. Lennox Lewis, in praise of Frank Bruno
Lennox Lewis: My team is West Ham for life. ibid. Lewis
When I won the Olympics, that was my ticket into the pros. ibid. Lewis
Frank was loving the celebrity lifestyle. But there’s no way in a million years he can stay away from boxing. Four Kings II: The Battle of Britain, Nelson
This is going to be the biggest week in Boxing: Lewis v Bruno, Heavyweight; Eubank v Benn, Middleweight. ibid.
I called him [Bruno] an Uncle Tom. ibid. Lewis
1st October 1993, Cardiff: Lewis v Bruno, Heavyweight title fight. ibid. caption
9th October 1993, Manchester: Eubank v Benn II, Super-Middleweight title fight. ibid.
115-113 Eubank; 114-113 Benn; 114-114 even, a draw. ibid.
Frank Bruno can knock anybody out, he’s got that much strength. Four Kings III: On the Ropes, Lewis
Can we ever get this again? ibid. Nelson
Come 1994 Britain ruled the boxing world. ibid.
24th September 1994, London: Lewis v McCall, Heavyweight title fight.
Oliver McCall was the last chance. ibid. Bruno
Over the next 14 months, after suffering defeats, Benn, Bruno & Eubank all retired. ibid. caption
Hollyfield v Lewis: I think the whole world could tell I got shafted. ibid. Lewis
Dad’s divorce, it must have been hard. ibid. daughter
Bonkers Bruno Locked Up. ibid. newspaper headline
30) Tim Witherspoon Lost TKO11: UK Fight Commentary TV -
v Tim Witherspoon 19 July 1986 WBA Heavyweight Wembley Stadium: [r1] … Witherspoon comes straight out punching … Bruno goes to the belly … A very fast pace for two big men … Left hook and the right from Witherspoon … Good attack by Bruno … good left hook downstairs … good combination … [r2] … Witherspoon an angry attack … Another right hand bomb [Bruno] … Good right from Bruno and Witherspoon staggers … Good round for Bruno … [r3] … Good attack by Bruno … Good right and that hurt Bruno … Good right from Bruno … some of his best punches … and take some as well … Bruno looking a little puzzled … [r4] … Witherspoon’s in trouble on the ropes … Bruno can’t get leverage … [r5] … The pace has slowed … Good left from Witherspoon … Witherspoon a tough street fighter from Philadelphia … [r6] … I’ve got them dead level … [Witherspoon] walking through the Bruno punches … Controlled fight [Bruno] and plenty of work … [r7] … [Witherspoon] wild with his right hands … cut slightly … He’s hurting Bruno … [Bruno] two good punches … hurt again … [r8] … Witherspoon’s work has slowed … Good right from Bruno … Good right from Witherspoon … Good left hook … storming on … [r9] … Witherspoon is hanging on inside … Witherspoon comes forward with the big attack … good punch … [r10] … Good right and left from Witherspoon … Bruno’s left eye looking in some trouble … These two punching themselves out … [r11] … Bruno now finding it hard to mount an attack … Bruno is hurt … He’s under terrible attack … It’s all over. UK fight commentary, Harry Carpenter
35) Mike Tyson Lost TKO5: US Fight Commentary TV -
v Frank Bruno 25th February 1989 Nevada [r1] … Bruno is already tagged with the right hand and down goes Bruno … Tyson pummels him with a right hand … Bruno ties him up inside … Frank Bruno is trying to make a fight of it … Tyson nails him with the uppercut … Tyson looks wobbly … Tyson was caught and wobbled! … The crowd loves is! … [r2] … Bruno vulnerable to that right hand in close … He catches Bruno with a nice left uppercut … Right hand catches Bruno, left hook … [3] … A better fight than we expected … Big vicious body shot! … Mike catches him with a good left hook … Some real good shots there … [r4] … TYson has a whole new corner … Bruno could be hurt a bit … Tyson bores in like a madman almost … Vicious body shot … Another right hand gets through … [5] … Tyson attacks immediately … You almost feel for Bruno … Bruno is caught that time … Scores with the uppercut … Bruno trying to hand on … The right hand catches him … Tyson is punishing Frank Bruno … It’s all over! ESPN US ESPN fight commentary
40) Lennox Lewis Lost TKO7: UK Fight Commentary TV -
v Lennox Lewis WBC 1st October 1993 Cardiff Wales [r1] … Big sharp jab from Lennox Lewis … three times … Nice stiff jab from Frank … three times … [r2] … [Bruno] pumping out his jab … left hook … catches Lewis again … Bruno’s round … [r3] … Good [Lewis] double jab and right hand … Good overhand right from Bruno … Good moments for Frank … [r4] … A battle of the jabs … Big bombs from both men … [r5] … Very determined [Bruno] … Two jabs and then a fast right hand [Lewis] … Bruno takes the shots and comes back … Good shots from Lewis … [r6] … Lewis is really letting the big shots go … [r7] … A left hook catches him and Bruno was hurt … Bruno is in big trouble … This time it is stopped. UK Sky TV commentary