Fans concerned for Bruno

Press, 25 February 1989, Page 92

Fans concerned for Bruno

NZPA-AAP London British boxing fans hold no illusions about the chance of their man, Frank Bruno, in the World Heavyweight title fight against Mike Tyson, in Las Vegas, this week-end. It will be enough if he stays alive. “You won’t let Frank get hurt, will you?” is reportedly the question most asked of Bruno’s trainer and coach. Despite Bruno being given no chance to defeat the American, Britain is gearing up for a weekend of nationalistic fervour, with millions forecast to stay up late on Saturday night (Sunday New Zealand time) to watch the fight on television and British bookmakers reporting record takings for a boxing match.

“It is all, rather, an orgy of national masochism,” the “Guardian” newspaper said in an editorial this week. The paper, an opponent of boxing, said there is no reason to suggest Bruno could win the fight. In the event that Bruno is on the end of a ferocious, bloody beating it may finally convince television to withdraw support, from boxing, which may lead to the end of boxing altogether, it said.

Critics say that Bruno’s challenge for the title, which will make him £1.5 million (SNZ4.S million) is more to do with hype and politicking in the boxing world than with a balanced sporting contest.

They say Bruno has made his

way up the boxing ladder by fighting opponents who never have been much good, or were little good any longer. The only American boxers he has fought in the top ten — James “Bonecrusher” Smith and Tim Witherspoon — knocked him out.

Bruno may be bigger than, and have a longer reach than Tyson, but he is unable to weather head punches, from much slower than the merciless Tyson. He has not been in the ring since he defeated an ageing “Aussie” Joe Bugner in eight rounds 18 months ago. Bruno’s former trainer, Jimmy Tibbs, said: “Frank is very determined, and willing, and works hard at anything he’s shown. But there’s no natural ability.”