Frank Bruno v Evander Holyfield

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Stewart gave him a hard time once. The second fight Alex was too timid to engage, that was a horrible stinker. Evander stops Bruno in 4 or 5 rounds.

What is this fantasy world you live in where Evander is this monster puncher? Who did Evander EVER stop within 5 rounds besides a Douglas coming in for his payday?

Holyfield wins clearly, either by late stoppage or decision, with Bruno probably having a moment or two but that'd be it. But he's certainly not getting Bruno outta there any faster than Lennox did.

Whatever you say Dempsey. Quarry KO1 Bruno, that should take away that anger and make you warm and fuzzy inside.

[Goodnight, Irene]

Have to say I dont see Bruno getting taken out that early.

Watching a lot of Holyfield, one of the few things which doesnt impress me is his punching power.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Have to say I dont see Bruno getting taken out that early.

Watching a lot of Holyfield, one of the few things which doesnt impress me is his punching power.

He might not get taken out that early. Dempsey is far more obsessed with any word I say about Holyfield than I ever could be about any fighter. Holyfield wasn't a massive one punch guy, but he was a great counter-puncher and an excellent finisher. His competition level was so high, not many people would be taking out those guys early if they took them out at all. Bruno would be a low level fight for him and he could set up a finish with a counter hook at any time.

[Roco]

It's true to say he lost all the ''big fights'' (a fight with Holyfield would be in this category). In this sense he is a loser. It's not a point about how successful he was.

Not all. He beat Mccall for the belt. Surely this counts as a big fight as it was a legitimate title fight?

[Roco]

Are you joking?

Dangerous? A, "war," with that natural-born loser?

Holyfield sleep-walks through Bruno. TKO11 in a near shut-out.

I wouldn't call him that - He only lost to worthy opposition and did get the championship in the end. Often when he lost he was winning the fights, and nobody with the exception of Tyson totally dominated him. He had many flaws but was always in great condition and you had to be decent to beat him.

Bruno could also whack especially with the right and alot harder than Bert Cooper.

He didnt get the championship --- he got a belt (it was pathetic the way he and the British media carried on as though he were champ), and his conditioning was far from what youre painting it to be.

Are you saying that Bruno is not classed as been heavyweight champ now? He had stamina issues, yes but that was due to his physique more than anything. He never came in fat like many of the other heavyweights around at the same time.

[Bricks]

Firstly, Bruno didnt become a champ. He was a belt-holder. The difference is vast.

More significant is the absurdity of Alan's logic --- I cant criticise Bruno because Ive done less in Boxing than he has...so if you bought a car and two months later, the steering wheel fell off, would you say, "well, Ive never built a car, so I cant be critical?"

I was hoping the stupidity was so self-evident it needed no explanation, but I suppose Im not surprised it had to be spelled out.

Well it's true Bruno was a champion at a time when the 3 main paper titlists had never been more absurd figures as "world champions"......seldon the wba champ had been knocked out in a round by bowe and mccall and wasnt truly a top ten guy......botha the ibf champ was a nobody not even a top ten guy....bruno did beat the best of a bad bunch in mccall who had kayoed lennox....but bruno in late 95 as the best of the paper champions wasnt even one of the 12 best HW fighters in the world!!!! Lewis,Foreman, Bowe, Holyfield, Moorer, Tyson,Morrison, Ruddock,Mercer,Witherspoon, Akinwande, Jorge Luis Gonzalez,Golota were all better than Frank maybe if we're arguing he might take the last 3 but that still makes him the 10th best HW in the world holding the world title!!
In fairness to Frank he never claimed to be the real HW champ he wet along with his promoters......
What Alan Partridge actually said Irene was "have you reached the level Bruno did in your chosen career........not did you reach the level Bruno did in boxing"? I think his argument is sound you need to be balanced....Bruno didnt lose every big fight he had....he did beat Gerrie Coetzee, Oliver Mccall and Carl Williams...he wasnt real world level despite being promoted to the hilt as such by his promoters.....he had a good paper record....but the truth of the matter, which I share with you....is Bruno was never even really a top ten guy throughout his career, he was always a 11 or 12, he just had the perception of being a threat due to his carefully steered protected path and huge backing and support in the UK.

[Ezzard]

Bruno did well against Lewis, Smith and Witherspoon before defeat. I think he was a genuine top ten contender with a solid jab and right cross.

My guess is he’s fight evenly with Holyfield for 5 rounds. At some point after that Holyfield would land an accurate punch. Bruno would wobble and Holy would close the show. I’d say about 9-10 rounds.

It would be a good fight.

[JDC]

It's true to say he lost all the ''big fights'' (a fight with Holyfield would be in this category). In this sense he is a loser. It's not a point about how successful he was.

Not all. He beat Mccall for the belt. Surely this counts as a big fight as it was a legitimate title fight?

Not in retrospect. It was a good match-up of two good fighters, but lets not start aligning McCall with the likes of Tyson and Lewis.