Frank Bruno facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Frank Bruno
Bruno in 2022
Statistics
Real name	Franklin Roy Bruno
Nickname(s)	True Brit
Rated at	Heavyweight
Height	6 ft 3 in
Reach	82 in
Born	(1961-11-16) 16 November 1961 (age 63) Hammersmith, London, England
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	45
Wins	40
Wins by KO	38
Losses	5
Medal record Men's amateur boxing Representing  England English National Championships Gold 1980 London Heavyweight

Franklin Roy Bruno (born November 16, 1961) is a famous British former professional boxer. He competed from 1982 to 1996. Frank Bruno won the WBC heavyweight title in 1995. He beat Oliver McCall at Wembley Stadium. This was his fourth try for a world championship.

Bruno fought many top heavyweights during his career. He lost to Mike Tyson twice, in 1989 and 1996. He also lost to fellow British boxer Lennox Lewis in 1993. Bruno won 38 of his 40 fights by knockout. This means he knocked out his opponents in 95% of his wins. He was often ranked among the world's top 10 heavyweights. In 1984, he reached his highest ranking at number 3 in the world. After retiring, Frank Bruno remained a well-known person in Britain. His journey with mental health challenges also received a lot of public attention.

Frank Bruno's Boxing Career

Bruno started his professional boxing career in 1981. He won his first 21 fights, all by knockout. This amazing start got him noticed by boxing magazines around the world. During this time, Bruno defeated several strong boxers. These included former world title contender Scott LeDoux and Belgian champion Rudy Gauwe.

However, in May 1984, his winning streak ended. He was knocked out by American boxer James "Bonecrusher" Smith. Bruno had been ahead on points in that fight.

Becoming European Champion

After his first loss, Bruno won his next six fights. He became the European heavyweight champion. He knocked out Sweden's Anders Eklund to win the title. He also knocked out former European champion Lucien Rodriguez in just one round.

Bruno then had a quick knockout win over former WBA champion Gerrie Coetzee. In July 1986, he challenged Tim Witherspoon for the WBA heavyweight title. Bruno was ahead on points for most of the fight. But he got tired and was knocked out in the eleventh round.

Bruno continued to win fights to get another title chance. He beat James Tillis and Joe Bugner. In October 1987, Bruno fought Bugner in an all-British match. Bruno won by TKO (Technical Knockout) in the 8th round.

Bruno vs. Mike Tyson Fights

In February 1989, Bruno challenged Mike Tyson for the undisputed world heavyweight title. Both fighters started with powerful punches. Bruno was briefly knocked off balance. He even surprised Tyson with a strong left hook later in the round. However, Tyson recovered and eventually won. The referee stopped the fight in round five because Bruno was taking too many hits.

After this loss, Bruno kept winning fights. This helped him stay one of the world's best heavyweights. He defeated boxers like Carl Williams and Jose Ribalta.

Bruno vs. Lennox Lewis Fight

In 1993, Bruno got his third chance at a world title. He fought Lennox Lewis, who was defending his WBC title. This was a special fight because it was the first time two British boxers fought for the world heavyweight title. Lewis beat Bruno in the seventh round. Bruno had been ahead on points until the fight was stopped.

Bruno again worked his way back up. He quickly defeated Jesse Ferguson and other boxers.

Winning the WBC Heavyweight Title

On September 2, 1995, Frank Bruno finally became a world champion! He beat WBC Champion Oliver McCall over twelve rounds. Bruno built a strong lead in the middle rounds. He got tired towards the end, but McCall couldn't knock him out. Bruno won the fight by a unanimous decision from the judges. This was only the second time Bruno had gone the full distance in a fight.

Bruno's time as champion was short. His contract meant he had to fight Mike Tyson in his first defense. Tyson beat Bruno in the third round. Bruno suffered a serious eye injury in this fight. Doctors advised him not to fight again to protect his eyesight. Bruno retired from boxing soon after.

Frank Bruno's publicist for most of his career was Norman Giller. His manager was Terry Lawless.

Frank Bruno's Life Outside Boxing

Bruno (left) and Errol Christie (right)

In 2003, Frank Bruno received special care for his mental health. He had been dealing with depression for several months. He was later diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The media coverage of his health challenges caused some debate. Many felt the media was too intrusive and insensitive.

Frank Bruno has since spoken openly about his experiences. He supports others dealing with mental health issues. He said, "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 2005, Bruno announced he would become a father for the fourth time. He had a baby girl named Freya in 2006 with Yvonne Clydesdale. In 2006, Bruno published his autobiography, Frank: Fighting Back. It won an award for Best Autobiography.

Bruno has also joined a platform called "Get Close and Personal." He uses it to raise money for The Frank Bruno Foundation. This foundation helps improve mental health for men around the world. Bruno offers video calls to discuss mental health and his own journey.

Media and Other Interests

Frank Bruno became even more popular through his TV appearances. He often appeared with BBC boxing commentator Harry Carpenter. Bruno's famous phrase, "Know what I mean, Harry?", came from these interviews. He also appeared on Comic Relief shows and in pantomime (a type of musical play).

In 1991, he opened "The Ultimate" roller coaster. At the time, it was the longest roller coaster in the world. Bruno joked it was "scarier than Mike Tyson"! He also appeared on TV shows like Finders Keepers and This is Your Life.

In 1995, the year he became world champion, Bruno released a song. It was a cover of "Eye of the Tiger" from the movie Rocky III. The song reached No. 28 in the UK music charts.

Bruno has also supported charities. He ran the London Marathon three times. He is a patron for The Shannon Bradshaw Trust, a children's charity. In 2020, during the COVID-19 crisis, Frank Bruno joined a group of celebrities called The Celebs. They recorded a song to raise money for charities like Alzheimer's Society and Action for Children.

Professional boxing record

See also

In Spanish: Frank Bruno para niños