Tyson-Bruno 1

[Pickle]

Hello everyone. I've noticed over the years that a lot of people have criticized Mike Tyson's performance in this fight, but in my opinion he did just fine. He worked the body and had good head movement. I know he took that hard shot in the first round, but he had been hit in other fights before this. Overall, it wasn't a good fight, but that's because of Bruno's constant holding.

[dempseyfire]

I agree. The Tyson fans who can't admit he was in his prime for Douglas claim he lost a step after Spinks, but that's BS. He looked as good in Bruno I as he did vs Tucker, Smith, Holmes etc.

[polecateddy]

Tyson was in his prime but a bit out if condition and rusty after a long lay off and probably blowing up in weight between fights.

[Ezzard]

How do Tyson fans who talk about his prime know if he was in his prime or not for Spinks? It was over so quick it was impossible to judge.

[evrenb]

Tysos worst performance to date at that time....

[Heartbreak_Kid79]

Mike had replaced his original training team (Rooney and company) by the Bruno fight.... I think Tyson was at his best when he had Cus's old team behind him.

Most people were surprised that Bruno lasted untill the 5th ..... A post-jail Tyson made quicker work of Frank in 3 rounds in their 1996 rematch

[polecateddy]

Mike had replaced his original training team (Rooney and company) by the Bruno fight.... I think Tyson was at his best when he had Cus's old team behind him.

Most people were surprised that Bruno lasted untill the 5th ..... A post-jail Tyson made quicker work of Frank in 3 rounds in their 1996 rematch

That comparison is meaningless as Bruno was having anxiety attacks in the 2nd fight, and was a stone heavier and slower. Basically far easier to hit.

[funso banjo baby]

Tyson was still supreme at this time

only bonecrusher, tucker, and bruno were able to get 1 decent shot in each.

thats a pretty impressive achievement.

tyson's title run from berbick to douglas was extraordinary....and will never be seen again.

[SamWise72]

Bruno was just better than people thought. Not good enough to beat Tyson, but people feel he was robotic and only had a punch, but in reality, he was robotic, but a decent, well schooled boxer. Nobody in the world was going to smoke Frank in a couple of rounds at that point; be had a good jab, a good chin (you heard me) , and a big right, and none of that encourages a man to run in and try to take him apart. Tyson won well, and deserves credit for it.

[evrenb]

Bruno was just better than people thought. Not good enough to beat Tyson, but people feel he was robotic and only had a punch, but in reality, he was robotic, but a decent, well schooled boxer. Nobody in the world was going to smoke Frank in a couple of rounds at that point; be had a good jab, a good chin (you heard me) , and a big right, and none of that encourages a man to run in and try to take him apart. Tyson won well, and deserves credit for it.

I think that Bruno was lowly thought of in the US but had more esteem in the UK. Now, I have watched this fight at least 100 times over the years and Bruno did have a few moments of success..most notably in the last minute of the first round. . . he did shake Tyson. back then if anyone landed a worthwhile punch on Tyson it was headline news. He had that Aura of invincibility that Ali did in his first reign. Unlike people like Holyfield for example. I do have to disagree that it was a good performance by Mike though...he was a little flabby (by Mikes standard) wild with his punches and the constant holding , elbowing and rabbit punches did affect him also. . . the finish was awesome. . in my opinion Tyson was better before and up to when he beat Berbick...quite possibly the greatest there ever was...

[polecateddy]

Bruno certainly had a huge sentimental following in the UK. I think at his peak he was in the second tier. Never really world top 5, but for a good few years hovering in the 6-10 banding. I would equate his ability to Mike Weaver perhaps. He had a reputation as a puncher but it's telling that in 5 world title fights he never scored a knock-down.

[SamWise72]

So, Tyson was at his best, and maybe the GOAT, when he was fighting bums? I wonder what changed......

[Pickle]

I take back what I posted. Look at Tyson's next fight with Carl Williams. Even though it lasted less than a round, Mike looks much better in this fight.

[SamWise72]

in my opinion Tyson was better before and up to when he beat Berbick...quite possibly the greatest there ever was...

The more I think about this, the dafter it is. Berbick himself was not highly regarded at the time he fought Tyson, and Tyson's career up til that point had mostly been blowing away Sammy Scaffs and Dave Jacos. When he had mixed in better class, like Tillis or Green, he hadn't been able to blow them away, despite winning comfortably. On what possible basis could you call him the greatest there ever was? Is it the nuking of cannon fodder, or the workaday points wins over perrenial trial horses? The reason he started to look less like the GOAT after that was that he was fighting the quality of the division. I still believe that if Tucker hadn't injured his shoulder, that would have been the end of the affair. Tyson was the best heavy of his era, but he was never as amazing or as fearsome as some of those early wins made him look. Alfonso Ratliffe was not the same proposition as Bruno or Witherspoon.

[Klee Gluckman]

Tucker won' t beat any 1987 Tyson. That Tyson was not as good as some may think but stilll too much For Tucker.

[polecateddy]

Tucker won' t beat any 1987 Tyson. That Tyson was not as good as some may think but stilll too much For Tucker.

Tyson was certainly better than Tucker. Most reports had Tyson having too much skill. It wasn't simply a matter of Tyson having too much power. Tucker was distinctly second best.

[evrenb]

in my opinion Tyson was better before and up to when he beat Berbick...quite possibly the greatest there ever was...

The more I think about this, the dafter it is. Berbick himself was not highly regarded at the time he fought Tyson, and Tyson's career up til that point had mostly been blowing away Sammy Scaffs and Dave Jacos. When he had mixed in better class, like Tillis or Green, he hadn't been able to blow them away, despite winning comfortably. On what possible basis could you call him the greatest there ever was? Is it the nuking of cannon fodder, or the workaday points wins over perrenial trial horses? The reason he started to look less like the GOAT after that was that he was fighting the quality of the division. I still believe that if Tucker hadn't injured his shoulder, that would have been the end of the affair. Tyson was the best heavy of his era, but he was never as amazing or as fearsome as some of those early wins made him look. Alfonso Ratliffe was not the same proposition as Bruno or Witherspoon.

Tyson was nuking the elite of the division also ...even after I consider him past his best...Spinks, berbick, holmes, williams, bruno...didnt make much difference to Mike. Tyson himself declared that he was at his best up to 1986...just because he fought better opposition later on doesnt mean he was at his best then...

[SamWise72]

Tucker won' t beat any 1987 Tyson. That Tyson was not as good as some may think but stilll too much For Tucker.

Tyson was certainly better than Tucker. Most reports had Tyson having too much skill. It wasn't simply a matter of Tyson having too much power. Tucker was distinctly second best.

I couldn't give a monkey's about "most reports". I watched the fight.

[Pickle]

I recently watched this fight again and Tyson wasn't as bad as I thought. Bruno on the other hand

[HomicideHenry]

Tysos worst performance to date at that time....

You must be forgetting Bonecrusher Smith for the WBA title

[keithmoonhangover]

To be at your best, you need to train properly and be fully prepared mentally for a fight. Tyson was neither of these for the Bruno fight.

[evrenb]

Tysos worst performance to date at that time....

You must be forgetting Bonecrusher Smith for the WBA title

No, not forgetting that. It was Bonecrushers worst.. Not Tysons. It may have been a boring fight but what can you do in that situation?

[elmersalsa]

Frank Bruno was scared to death

[Tuan_Jim]

Tysos worst performance to date at that time....

You must be forgetting Bonecrusher Smith for the WBA title

It wasn't Tyson's fault that Bonecrusher wouldn't fight.

[HomicideHenry]

Tysos worst performance to date at that time....

You must be forgetting Bonecrusher Smith for the WBA title

It wasn't Tyson's fault that Bonecrusher wouldn't fight.

The fact that Tyson ALLOWED Bonecrusher to tie him up from start to finish, and Tyson was content to let him do so, and throw combinations now and then.... and the fact that it was Bonecrusher who threw the best punch of the fight... I tend to disagree. Bruno was a glorified hype job, sure, but he at least hurt Mike and gave a valiant effort.