Big Frank Part Six: Fear & Loathing In Vegas and Essex

 Frank Bruno

Unknown to anyone else, apart from Frank Bruno and his trainer, George Francis, Bruno would enter his rematch against Mike Tyson with only one good eye. Oliver McCall caught Bruno in the opening round of his title-winning fight with a punch to his right eye, scratching his eyeball. Bruno knew something was wrong straight away and it would not stop flickering. It went on for months and it was still giving him grief when he travelled to Las Vegas. Bruno refused to see a doctor about his problem - he knew the diagnosis would mean the end of his career and the opportunity of a $6 million payday.

Bruno prepared for his lucrative rematch at the World Gym for weeks, but the buildup was a messy affair. Team Tyson was doing its utmost to unsettle the WBC champion. Steve ‘Crocodile’ Fitch and other members of Tyson’s entourage were getting in Bruno’s face - they were even there when Bruno was going on his early morning runs. The mood was more aggressive than normal and the press conferences were hell, with nonstop screaming and shouting. Don King was also doing his best to mess with Bruno’s mind.

Bruno and George Francis were close friends and trusted each other immensely, and they decided not to tell anyone about the eye injury. The new champion was always in great shape, his heart and lungs were always in top condition and his brain scans were always deemed satisfactory, but he was dreading the eye test during his medical to pass him fit to fight. “We’re going to have to be a bit clever here, Frank,” said George Francis on their way to the Nevada State Athletic Commission medical. “Leave it to me.”

When it came to the dreaded eye test, Francis did his best to distract the doctor. He made small talk about the weather, casinos and anything but boxing. Whatever the trainer did worked a treat, as the doctor passed Bruno fit to fight.

A lot had happened since their first encounter, where Mike Tyson was the undisputed champion and stopped Bruno in the fifth round. Tyson went on to make a 93-second first-round knockout over Carl ‘The Truth’ Williams in July 1989, before sensationally losing his title and aura of invincibility when James ‘Buster’ Douglas knocked him out in the tenth round at Japan’s Tokyo Dome in February 1990.

Tyson returned with two first-round knockouts over Henry Tillman and Alex Stewart to end 1990, before facing the undisputed number two contender Donovan ‘Razor’ Ruddock in March 1991 in a title eliminator to face heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield. Tyson stopped the Canadian in controversial circumstances when referee Richard Steele prematurely waved off the finish in the seventh round.

The rematch took place on 28th June 1991. In a foul-littered contest, Tyson, as in the first fight, floored Ruddock twice, before winning a unanimous decision. Tyson was due to face Holyfield in November 1991, but the former champion suffered an injury during training. He was also indicted on charges of raping beauty pageant contestant Desiree Washington and the proposed January date of the rescheduled Holyfield fight was too close to his rape trial, so the big-money fight never happened.

Tyson was convicted of rape on 10th February 1992 and was released from prison in March 1995. Tyson returned to the ring five months later, winning within 89 seconds of the opening round against Peter McNeeley. Tyson won his second comeback fight in December 1995, stopping Buster Mathis Jr in the third round. 

Tyson looked sloppy, missing punches he would never miss during his pre-prison days. Bruno-Tyson was scheduled for 16th March 1996, with the defending champion supremely confident he could retain his title and end his career with the WBC belt securely around his waist. In his dressing room at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Bruno was feeling good, with his body, apart from his eye, ready for battle. George Francis was keeping his muscles loose and everyone in his camp was upbeat. “You can do this, Frank. This is your time. You’re the champion, you’re the man,” said his manager Frank Warren.

In his autobiography Frank: Fighting Back, Bruno described his feelings: “Then something strange happens. There’s a knock at the door. A guy pokes his head in: ‘Five minutes. Get ready for the ring walk.’

“I can’t explain it but something goes pop in my head. The energy drains from my body. I feel empty and alone. It’s not fear, I’m used to handling that. I’ve been a fighter for so long I know fear will arrive before a fight. Usually I turn it away. This is something else. I’ve lost my peace of mind. I can’t block out the worries and doubts and anger. Everything that’s gone wrong over the past few months fills my head. The belief I’d had only a few moments ago is slipping away.”

The champion made his way to the ring with his usual massive crowd of supporters chanting “Broono! Broono!” as he continually crossed himself - around twelve to seventeen times.

Tyson started fast at the bell, clubbing Bruno with a right hand. The champion tried to get his left lead going, but found his opponent was too quick for him, unleashing left and right swings. The punches were fast and sharp, as he swarmed all over Bruno, who struggled to get set as he failed to keep Tyson off him. More disaster for the Londoner as he finished the opening round cut over his good left eye.  

The challenger went up another gear in the second round as Bruno had no choice but to go into survival mode. Referee Mills Lane began to get impatient with Bruno’s persistent holding and deducted a point from him. George Francis berated his man between rounds, telling Bruno he needed to be quicker.

Tyson continued his rampage in the third and a right to the body began Bruno’s demise. The champion absorbed many unanswered punches before finally collapsing by the ropes at the 50-second mark, with the referee stopping the action without administering a count. Tyson regained the heavyweight title he won almost a decade before, as Bruno returned home $6 million richer and knowing he would never fight again.

Despite retiring, Bruno kept up his training regimen as he did not want to get fat. He didn’t miss the headlines nor the limelight, though he desperately missed boxing, the sport he dedicated most of his adult life to.

His behaviour began to change, he became erratic and unreliable. He also spent money on useless things and even gave money away to strangers. In November 1997, it was stated through his lawyer Henri Brandman that he and his wife were having “difficulties” but were not contemplating divorce. The tabloid press was having a field day and was looking for a juicy story to sell more of their red-top papers.

Bruno kept himself busy with media work and TV appearances, he even went back to pantomime, starring in Goldilocks and the Three Bears over the next three years. He also took up DJing, but that opened him up to the nightlife and substances like skunk and cocaine.

In 1998 he was diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder, but he refused the medication he was given, making his condition worse. He took cocaine for the first time in 2000 whilst in Las Vegas, saying he loved the buzz it gave him but hated the comedown.

He and Laura separated in 2000 after twenty years together, before divorcing in 2001. In April 2002 George Francis committed suicide. Francis retired with Bruno, saying he did not want to train anybody else. Francis lost his wife and son in quick succession to cancer. The trainer could not cope with the double bereavement and sadly took his own life. The news devastated Bruno and the boxing community.  

Bruno’s demons had worsened, and he checked into the Priory to get himself back on track. The former fighter did not enjoy his time there and was later sectioned under the Mental Health Act to Goodmayes Hospital in Ilford, East London, one of the best psychiatric units in the country. The Sun newspaper, which had built him up during his career, led with the headline Bonkers Bruno Locked Up. After a backlash the paper later launched a mental health charity campaign.

Bruno was discharged from Goodmayes after about four weeks. He eventually sold his mansion and now lives on the outskirts of Bedfordshire. He and Laura remain good friends, and although Bruno never remarried he has been in an on-off long-term relationship. He also runs and actively supports The Frank Bruno Foundation, which provides non-contact boxing programmes to help people recover from mental health difficulties. www.thefrankbrunofoundation.co.uk

Frank Bruno, former European and WBC heavyweight champion, will always be remembered as one of Britain’s most popular sportsmen. 

“Know what I mean, ‘Arry?”

All the best fight fans

Lea

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