Frank Bruno has given an honest assessment of how he would measure up against today’s leading heavyweights and who he would have liked to have faced.
The popular Londoner had three cracks at the whip – losing to Tim Witherspoon, Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis – before claiming world honours against Oliver McCall in 1995.
It was a unanimous decision victory at Wembley Stadium that saw him capture the WBC title, before suffering a third-round stoppage defeat in his rematch with Tyson the following year.
Bruno had also been halted by Witherspoon, Lewis and James ‘Bonecrusher’ Smith, while the first Tyson fight resulted in a brutal fifth-round finish in 1989.
But while Bruno was often accused of lacking sufficient durability to triumph at the highest level, he nonetheless showed lots of heart and commitment to eventually secure his WBC heavyweight title.
Now looking across the current heavyweight landscape, the 64-year-old has considered how a prime version of himself might fare against the likes of Fury and Joshua.
While speaking with Boxing Now, Bruno also highlighted Arslanbek Makhmudov, who will face Fury on April 11, as an opponent that would have potentially brought the best out of him.
“I think I’d be up there with them boys. I fancy me chances. I think [fights with] Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and [Makhmudov would interest me].
“When you go in there [with people who can] hit you, hurt you and knock you down, you’ve got to be on your toes.”
While Fury and Joshua represent accomplished former world champions in the four-belt era, it must be said that Oleksandr Usyk has cemented himself as the greatest heavyweight of this generation.
Bruno did not mention the Ukrainian but, by saying he would be “up there” with the top dogs, perhaps he would also fancy his chances against Usyk.
