The Boxing History Blog

Frank Bruno  The journey towards Frank Bruno’s second world title shot against undisputed champion Mike Tyson was a long and complicated process. The terms for the fight was originally agreed in February 1988 and scheduled for 3rd September at Wembley Arena, meaning Bruno had been out of the ring for eleven months. However, Tyson was embroiled in legal proceedings to sever ties with his manager Bill Cayton. The champion wanted six to eight weeks off after settling out of court, pushing the bout back to 8th October. The fight was pushed back again when Tyson broke his hand in a street fight with ex-opponent Mitch ‘Blood’ Green in August 1988, with a new date of 22nd October. Again that date was rescheduled to 17th December when Tyson was knocked unconscious in September 1988 when he drove his BMW into a tree. Also, in October 1988, Robin Givens, Tyson’s wife, filed for divorce, with Tyson countersuing her. The champion wanted to be close to his lawyers, and Bruno’s challenge was not...

 George Foreman George Foreman spent ten years out of boxing, practicing as an ordained minister at the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ in Texas, which he founded and built. He accredited the loss to Muhammad Ali as, “The best thing that ever happened to me” as it led him to “get my message out” through preaching. In a BBC article, he stated that his preaching started small on street corners and with friends, before growing. “We began meeting informally at various homes in Houston, and before long, the crowds became too large for most houses to accommodate “Eventually, we bought a piece of land and an old, dilapidated building on the north-east side of Houston.” He also founded the George Foreman Youth and Community Center , just down the block from his church. It was a large warehouse that was abandoned by a building contractor before completion. Foreman formed a charitable foundation that bought the warehouse, paid for refurbishments, and kitted it out with weights, boxing equipm...