Prime Frank Bruno vs prime Buster Douglas?

[cromen27]

Who would win?

[DrDuke]

Prime Douglas was much better. Bruno was athletic and powerful, but he was robotic and not ingenious, much less diverse. Douglas would have outjabbed him. Bruno wouldn't be able to find keys for Douglas. Buster would have broken Bruno down in a way similar to the one in which he outclassed Tyson. But Bruno probably wouldn't been as dangerous for Douglas as Tyson had actually been. So I see it either as a confident decision for Douglas or as a late stoppage for Douglas.

[Tuan_Jim]

Douglas far too naturally gifted for Bruno.

[tiny_acres]

Douglas was as gifted as they came. But he was so unmotivated for the majority of his career.
Douglas would have to be at 100% to beat Bruno. But at 100% focused and in shape Douglas would beat Bruno
by a 8th round knock out.

[Bodyshot3]

I feel the ghost of the late Kalan hovering over me who regularly dismissed Bruno as a club fighter with a good physique who merely lucked-out

But a prime Douglas - which means as fit as he could be, not distracted by all sorts of stuff and also entirely focussed and prepared to fight Bruno - would have the edge and win.

Just too much movement, hands too fast and also big enough not get shoved around by Frank. Also he had sufficient power and the kind of accuracy to really punish Frank when the big Brit made mistakes or began to tire.

But anything less than 'prime' Buster - which happened once in a blue moon - and Bruno is right in the mix.

Bruno was more often 'on it' than Buster with his better discipline and more settled approach - and big shots - could have unhinged any other version of Douglas.

[tiny_acres]

I feel the ghost of the late Kalan hovering over me who regularly dismissed Bruno as a club fighter with a good physique who merely lucked-out

But a prime Douglas - which means as fit as he could be, not distracted by all sorts of stuff and also entirely focussed and prepared to fight Bruno - would have the edge and win.

Just too much movement, hands too fast and also big enough not get shoved around by Frank. Also he had sufficient power and the kind of accuracy to really punish Frank when the big Brit made mistakes or began to tire.

But anything less than 'prime' Buster - which happened once in a blue moon - and Bruno is right in the mix.

Bruno was more often 'on it' than Buster with his better discipline and more settled approach - and big shots - could have unhinged any other version of Douglas.

Douglas was one of the most inconsistant fighters I can remember.
You are correct if Douglas isn't at his 100% best Bruno has a chance. Actually I'd favor Bruno on most nights except those rare occassions when Douglas was prepared

[cfang]

I agree. The Douglas that beat Tyson stops Bruno. However I'd take Bruno to blowout most other versions of buster (especially the one who fought evander).

[bigjack]

Peak Douglas beats any version of Bruno,much too skillful.

[Ambling Alp II]

Agree. The Douglas that beat Tyson would never have lost to Bruno.
Actually I don't know if Douglas is as inconsistent as we portray him to be. He did also beat McCall, Berbick, and Page. It's not like he only had one good fight in his career.

[tiny_acres]

Agree. The Douglas that beat Tyson would never have lost to Bruno.
Actually I don't know if Douglas is as inconsistent as we portray him to be. He did also beat McCall, Berbick, and Page. It's not like he only had one good fight in his career.

But he also lost to David Bey, Mike White and Jesse Ferguson. Douglas was too talented to lose to such fighters, but he did lose

[Ambling Alp II]

Fights that are very early in a fighter's career should not be judged the same as they are near his prime. Some guys develop more slowly than others.

[Cojimar 1946]

Unless the fighter in question is Wladimir Klitschko

[Ambling Alp II]

The not reached his prime excuse doesn't count for Olympians in their 25th fight or when they have had more than 40 fights.

[jaclem3]

buster had a short prime....it began in the first round of the tyson fight and ended with the knockout.i I don't know when bruno's prime was.any just about any time he beats the douglas of the holyfield farce.

[tiny_acres]

buster had a short prime....it began in the first round of the tyson fight and ended with the knockout.

Shortest prime in history But damn it was a good one

[scorpio83]

Bruno would have his moments to dominate Douglas in the early rounds, but in the later round Bruno may gassed out and Douglas would jab and pound him with combinations for a stoppage win in 14 rounds.

[Tuan_Jim]

Agree. The Douglas that beat Tyson would never have lost to Bruno.
Actually I don't know if Douglas is as inconsistent as we portray him to be. He did also beat McCall, Berbick, and Page. It's not like he only had one good fight in his career.

But he also lost to David Bey, Mike White and Jesse Ferguson. Douglas was too talented to lose to such fighters, but he did lose

Bey was a top amateur with lots of experience, Douglas was a novice who had been biffing tomato cans in exhibitions in Columbus. That's not a bad loss. Like Bonecrusher losing to Broad. One guy had way more experience than the other.

The Mike White loss must be Douglas's worst night.

[DrDuke]

buster had a short prime....it began in the first round of the tyson fight and ended with the knockout.i I don't know when bruno's prime was.any just about any time he beats the douglas of the holyfield farce.

Pre-Tyson winning streak was quite impressive. Douglas was reaching his best then.

[Bodyshot3]

Somewhat weirdly......I do think Bruno's prime actually came very late in the day.

A good many UK fans were not keen on him fighting McCall at all - the fight was openly questioned at the time - both in terms of Frank deserving a fourth shot and that he'd been around for a while.

But he put it together that night in a way that he had not before......more shots blocked, far better pacing and using his jab as both an offensive and defensive tool........some of the lack of ringcraft that had held him back before was put in place.

He was also a huge unit that night but still managed to work and defend himself better, I think the Lewis fight where he did very well for some time and fought more patiently........helped him to finally find the right gameplan.

Tyson ended the party.....but Mike had always had Frank's number.

[oogiebe]

It all depends on which Douglas showed up. In-shape and with heart (like when he fought Tyson) would box rings around Bruno. Else, Bruno KO's unmotivated Douglas in mid-rounds.

[ClivePatrickLyons]

Both in prime I would say Douglas stops Bruno by round 11 Big Frank does ok early but the further it goes the further Buster pulls away on the cards and out on his feet Franks corner throw in the towel