Franklin Roy Bruno, MBE, is a retired professional boxer from the United Kingdom. He was active in the sport from 1982 to 1996 and gained significant attention throughout his career. Bruno was renowned for his powerful punches, with 38 of his 40 wins resulting in knockouts, equating to a 95% knockout-to-win ratio.
Personal Information
| Full name | Franklin Roy Bruno |
| Other name | True Brit |
| Date of birth | 16 November 1961 |
| Place of birth | Hammersmith, London, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Years active | 1982-1996 |
| Age | 61 |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) |
| Reach | 82 in (208 cm) |
| Net worth | $10 million |
| Mother’s name | Lynette Bruno |
| Father’s name | Robert Bruno |
In 1981, Frank Bruno started his professional boxing career. He has won 21 straight fights by knockout. International boxing publications like The Ring, KO Magazine, Boxing Illustrated, and Ring En Espaol were interested in this. Scott LeDoux, Floyd Cummings, Rudy Gauwe, Tony Moore, Eddie Nielson, Bill Sharkey, Walter Santemore, and Ken Lakusta were among the famous opponents he defeated. Nevertheless, James “Bonecrusher” Smith interrupted his winning streak in May 1984 by knocking him out in the last round despite Bruno having the advantage on all three judges’ scorecards.
A string of impressive wins over reputable opponents, including Anders Eklund and Lucien Rodriguez, marked Bruno’s rise to the top of the boxing world. His dominant first-round knockout of former WBA champion Gerrie Coetzee solidified his position as a championship contender. Although he lost to Tim Witherspoon, Bruno demonstrated grit and perseverance by coming back to defeat opponents like James Tillis, as well as seasoned pros Reggie Gross and Chuck Gardner. Bruno won a crucial fight against the seasoned Joe Bugner via TKO in the eighth round, ceding his position among the greatest British boxers.
In his pursuit of boxing glory, Bruno stepped up to challenge Mike Tyson for the undisputed world heavyweight title in February 1989. Despite an early knockdown, Bruno displayed his resilience by landing a powerful left hook that staggered Tyson, marking the first time the champion had ever been rocked in his career. Although Bruno couldn’t maintain his momentum, ultimately losing by TKO in the fifth round, he proved himself to be a worthy contender by subsequently defeating other notable fighters, such as Carl Williams, Jose Ribalta, Pierre Coetzer, and Jan Emmen.
In 1993, Bruno’s third attempt at a world title was against Lennox Lewis, which marked the first time that two British boxers had fought for the world heavyweight title. Although Bruno led the contest on points up until the final round, Lewis won by stoppage in the seventh round. Bruno rebounded by defeating Jesse Ferguson in one round, followed by Rodolfo Marin and Mike Evans with ease.
Bruno defeated Oliver McCall and won the WBC title in September 1995, fulfilling his goal of becoming a world champion. Bruno was only the second fighter to go to the judges, and despite losing steam towards the conclusion of the fight, he still managed to hold on and win on points by a unanimous decision. Bruno’s reign as champion was, however, short-lived because he had to take on Mike Tyson in his first defence, and Tyson stopped Bruno in the third round as a result of a serious eye injury that put an end to Bruno’s professional career. Terry Lawless oversaw Bruno’s business, and Norman Giller, with whom he co-wrote three books, served as his publicist.
In 2001, Frank and Laura ended their 13-year marriage when she had difficulty coping with the relationship. Since then, Bruno has been linked to several women, including Yvonne Clydesdale.
He has 5 children namely, Rachel, Freya, Luca, Nicole and Franklin.
As of January 2023, Frank Bruno’s estimated net worth is $10 million.
What is the Frank Bruno Foundation?
The Frank Bruno Foundation is committed to advancing the mental well-being of men around the world and is partially sustained by the funds gathered through the Get Close and Personal Platform led by Frank Bruno. As a staunch advocate for mental health, Bruno provides a chance for those interested to connect with him on a personal level via video call to discuss mental health concerns and gain insights from his own journey.
In which year did Frank make his professional debut?
Frank Bruno made his professional debut in 1982.
What is Frank’s boxing record?
Frank Bruno fought 45 times over the course of a 13-year, 11-month tenure, winning 40 of them and losing 5. Bruno’s boxing record at the time of his final match as a professional was 40-5 (38 KO victories, 5 KO defeats).
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