Former boxing world champion gives knock-out performance

FORMER world heavyweight champion boxer Frank Bruno MBE gave a knockout performance in Newquay on Saturday night.

Big Frank gave a talk about his eventful life during an interview with Lewis Nicholls and boxer Harley Benn in front of a packed audience at the Atlantic Hotel.

He spoke candidly about being sent to borstal age the age of 12, how he turned his life around to become a boxing champion and his battles outside the ring with mental health issues following his retirement.

Bruno said: “I came from a close-knit family, but I was rebellious. I had troubles at school. I was dyslexic. I could not read or write.

“I started hanging around with the wrong crowd and got sent to borstal. It was good for me as I had to get out of London.”

Bruno showed his trademark fierce determination, resilience and knock-out power to become the youngest-ever Amateur Boxing Association heavyweight champion at the age of 18.

He went on to have an illustrious professional boxing career with 38 knockouts from his 40 wins and fulfil a lifetime’s ambition by becoming the world champion in 1995 after defeating American Oliver McCall.

“I tried to keep my feet on the ground throughout my boxing career, he said. “To stay humble and be more hungry than my opponent.

“My mother was a lay preacher. She went to only one of my fights and spent the time in the toilet. She used to get my boxing gloves blessed in church. Sometimes you need a bit of back up.”

Bruno talked about a number of the difficult opponents he faced during his boxing career.

He said: “I think my defeat to James ‘Bonecrusher’ Smith was good for my career. He was a good fighter, and I had to go back to the drawing board and learn the trade.

“Tyson was a serious character, but I think my toughest opponent was Tim Witherspoon. I think he was a better fighter than people give him credit for. In my fight with Lennox Lewis I was doing okay until the seventh round when I got caught for not having my hands up.

“My happiest moment in my boxing career has to be winning the world title. My mother was happy for me, but she wanted me to retire but I said I’ve got to earn some money.”

Bruno lost his world title to Mike Tyson in his first defence in 1996 and decided to retire on medical advice due to the threat of a detached retina and potential permanent blindness if he continued to fight. He became even more a national treasure following his retirement from boxing after transitioning as a television personality, entertainer, and stage actor, but he also had his struggles with mental health.

He went on to establish The Frank Bruno Foundation to support men's mental health through non-contact boxing and therapy.

Bruno said: “The foundation is a nice touch. Everybody needs some help sometimes. So, if you can help, give a little bit of love back there is no crime in that.”

Bruno enjoyed his time in Newquay, but he did not fancy trying out surfing during his stay.

“I might meet Jaw’s cousin,” he joked. I’m a bit of a chicken when it comes to swimming. But the NICI Newquay is definitely one of the best hotels I’ve stayed in, and all the staff were really friendly and helpful.”