Frank Bruno's poor record

[Fray Bentos]

Chuck Gardner - we really didn't need to see that.

God, what a disgrace that was!

[bennie]

The problem was that he was violent and out of control.

Leaving that aside, I remember seeing Bruno on some celebrity sleepover programme and he came over terribly. Moody and aggressive. Having said that, people above are saying they met Bruno and he was alright with them, so fair enough.

I met Bruno before the live screening of the Holmes-Cooney showdown at Leicester Square Odeon in 1982. He was with Brixton's Tony Adams, who had just blasted his way to the ABA light-welterweight title and was about to go pro with Terry Lawless, who managed Bruno of course. Frank came across as a lovely guy, very polite. It's a shame in many ways that he turned pro when he did after winning the ABA heavyweight title in 1980. He was just 18 and spent the next couple of years kicking his heels due to a signing dispute between Lawless and Burt McCarthy which went all the way to the High Court.(The Colombia eye operation is all a load of bollocks.)
Those two years were a real opportunity for Bruno to build more experience (had he stayed amateur) and represent England at senior level. He boxed twice for Young England in West Germany in 1979, winning both bouts, and would surely have made the trip to Brisbane in 1982 for the Commonwealth Games. He was better than Gloucester's Harold Hylton, who did make the trip and reached the heavyweight final where he was stopped in a matter of seconds by Canada's Willie deWit. Instead, Bruno brushed aside a succession of opponents in the pro ranks who probably taught him nothing. He was 21-0 (21) when he faced James Smith in 1984 and apart from Jumbo Cummings, Ronald Gibbs, Stewart Lithgo, possibly Barry Funches and possibly Walter Santemore, he was never extended in any way.

Willie de Wit vs Bruno! That would have been worth seeing! who would have took that one in '82?

Good question. Both men could really whack and both men were vulnerable. I think deWit has the edge in '82.

[Bodyshot3]

Chuck Gardner - we really didn't need to see that.

Agreed.....Chunky Chuck got his best pay cheque ever, Frank learned absolutely feck all and everyone in glitzy Cannes had not even finished their canapes and champagne cocktails

One of my big contentions is that Frank's matchmaking was dire/debilitating and that the 'Holy Trinity' of British boxing who you shouldn't be ever dissing - Lawless, Duff and Astaire - actually didn't know how to handle a heavyweight contender.

Even guys with far more talent than Frank needed some (better) help shifting up through the gears and a more graduated ride to the top. Bruno turned up for Witherspoon still very green IMO, despite all the KO wins.

Bruno was 18-0 and had not had a distance fight before he even faced anyone who could throw a meaningful bomb at him and that was the ex-con Floyd Cummings.

He could have actually had learner fights with Bugner or a tear-up with a fellow youngster like Funso Banjo before that (Bruno wanted these guys) but Lawless said no and straight after the Cummings 'scare' they duly-dully went back to fighting two, total stiffs and then ran into a seasoned James Smith

When Frank finally broke away from the "Big Three" he was arguably damaged goods but he responded well and finally got the WBC title....but I can't help feeling he was mishandled at key points and could have been way more of a force.

Lawless meant well I am sure - and was a champion-maker with smaller fighters - but he made huge mistakes for me.

[Ezzard]

Chuck Gardner - we really didn't need to see that.

Agreed.....Chunky Chuck got his best pay cheque ever, Frank learned absolutely feck all and everyone in glitzy Cannes had not even finished their canapes and champagne cocktails

One of my big contentions is that Frank's matchmaking was dire/debilitating and that the 'Holy Trinity' of British boxing who you shouldn't be ever dissing - Lawless, Duff and Astaire - actually didn't know how to handle a heavyweight contender.

Even guys with far more talent than Frank needed some (better) help shifting up through the gears and a more graduated ride to the top. Bruno turned up for Witherspoon still very green IMO, despite all the KO wins.

Bruno was 18-0 and had not had a distance fight before he even faced anyone who could throw a meaningful bomb at him and that was the ex-con Floyd Cummings.

He could have actually had learner fights with Bugner or a tear-up with a fellow youngster like Funso Banjo before that (Bruno wanted these guys) but Lawless said no and straight after the Cummings 'scare' they duly-dully went back to fighting two, total stiffs and then ran into a seasoned James Smith

When Frank finally broke away from the "Big Three" he was arguably damaged goods but he responded well and finally got the WBC title....but I can't help feeling he was mishandled at key points and could have been way more of a force.

Lawless meant well I am sure - and was a champion-maker with smaller fighters - but he made huge mistakes for me.

Great post.

[bennie]

I don't think Bruno really improved until he linked up with trainer George Francis in 1987. Jimmy Tibbs had previously trained Bruno but went solo and began managing and training fighters under the promotional wing of F rank Warren. Jimmy stayed on good terms with the Cartel and did a good job with Bruno but at the end of the day, Jimmy is a former Lawless fighter so he was training Bruno in the Lawless way and the Lawless way was built around great fitness and lots of pressure. Royal Oak fighters won most of their fights on conditioning.
Few heavyweights were better-conditioned than Bruno, and few punched harder, but he lacked self-belief and wasn't relaxed in a boxing ring and would tire in the later rounds of his fights as we saw in the Smith and Witherspoon encounters. He should really have beaten the blubbery, disillusioned Witherspoon for the WBC title at Wembley in July 1986 but his faults were there for all to see. Francis came on board afterwards, a man who was good with black fighters having trained John Conteh, Bunny Johnson, Cornelius Boza-Edwards, Bunny Sterling and others. Bruno's first fight under Francis came in March 1987 against American James "Quick" Tillis, a respectable opponent who had once gone the full 15 rounds in a shot at the WBA heavyweight title and who had also gone the distance with Mike Tyson. Bruno did a good job in stopping Tillis in five rounds and also stopped Joe Bugner and Reggie Gross in fights that went a number of rounds. (Let's try and forget the Chuck Gardner fiasco which conveniently for the Cartel took place under the auspices of the French boxing Federation.) Bruno was more relaxed; he was taking his time.
This improvement wasn't really noticeable back then because Mike Tyson was dominating the heavyweight scene to such an extent that other heavies were completely overshadowed (or counting teeth). Bruno also sat on the sidelines for well over a year awaiting a compulsory shot at Tyson, who was now in the clutches of Don King (and Robin Givens) and effectively clubbed his way to victory over Bruno when they did finally meet for the world title in February 1989 in Las Vegas. Bruno's improvement really showed after Tyson in the early 1990s when he stopped Jose Ribalta, Pierre Coetzer and Carl Williams in successive fights. Personally, I think his eight-round stoppage of Coetzer is the greatest single performance of his long career. He fought like a man who truly believed in himself and showed a nasty streak like a prime, two-fisted Conteh. Then came another magnificent effort against Lennox Lewis in Cardiff in 1993.
Bruno's inability to cope when caught and hurt cost him against Lewis in a third shot at the world heavyweight title. He froze from a big Lewis left hook after fighting out of his skin for seven rounds. Amazingly, referee Micky Vann stopped the action to warn Lewis for pawing, giving Bruno some precious time, but the fighter still couldn't pull himself together and had to be rescued moments later. It looked grim for the likeable Londoner but he tried a change of management (staying with Francis) and proved against Oliver McCall in a 1995 shot at the title that he could hang in there under fire as he boxed and punched his way to a rousing decision. Belatedly, Frank was a complete fighter.

[DrDuke]

Bruno's record is decent. He was a legit top fighter, although he was overhyped. He was limited, but he had tools, which helped to score some good wins.

[Bodyshot3]

Bruno's record is decent. He was a legit top fighter, although he was overhyped. He was limited, but he had tools, which helped to score some good wins.

True Dr Duke and Frank was never going to deal with Tyson, as much as ever Brit super-fan (like me) absolutely willed it so. Frank busting-up Iron Mike was not going to happen, Tyson was always a couple of levels above.

But the point many Brits have made is that Bruno could have been much better if Lawless-Duff-Astaire had given him some more worthwhile opposition earlier which allowed him to pace himself and also learn a tad more ringcraft.

Lawless said that they tried to find guys who could live with Frank's bombs but I was never gulled into that and when you read Bruno's books I am pretty sure Frank felt he was being fed guys who did him no favours whatsoever.

Looking at things in-depth a bit, I think Lawless-Duff picked a lot of fighters for Frank who were supposedly durable and experienced and who they hoped might 'go some rounds' but they always lacked that vital ability to hit back hard.

Bruno's excellent power meant that even these longer fights never materialised.....and of course there is a big difference between facing a fighter who can potentially survive and make you work, and someone trying to take your head off.

Between them and also individually Lawless/Duff were hugely successful, The evidence is all there with Honeyghan, Magri, Watt, Hope, Stracey, Mugabi, Boza Edwards, Minter and the early part of Calzaghe's career.

But they struggled with Bruno for my money and did not set-up him up right....and even a talented heavyweight needs some good tutelage and breaks.

[Syntax Error]

Watched the actually pretty bad documentary about bruno/lewis/eubank and Benn. It deliberately left out whole fights that didn't fit with the narrative, Still, I looked up Bruno's record and what amazed me is how poor Bruno's career actually was. He was the most protected fighter of his era. I mean all credit to his people for looking after him but during his entire career he fought a handful of ten tenners only.

Smith koed by wasn't in the top ten then
Witherspoon - brutally stopped by
Tyson - stopped by twice
Lewis - stopped by

Two other fighters who were top ten he fought his whole career, Coetzee who came over for the pay day and mccall who had a lot of issues and he sneaked past, The rest of his opponents were absolute bums. compare his record to AJ for example, let alone lewis. Really protected fighter.

Very interesting too about lewis calling bruno an uncle tom. It seems Bruno has been upset about that for 30 years, Awful thing to say but maybe the truth hurts a bit, Bruno dressing up as a women in panto, playing man Friday in an advert, Bruno was expecting lewis to apologise, he didn't. This struck me as a true champions mentality vs not so much. All he said was, didn't expect someone to bear a grudge for 30 years over a comment just designed to wind him up. V interesting stuff. Views?

Interesting point about the Lewis comments thing.

I was staggered that Bruno was so wound up about this, 31 years later.

It was obviously a throwaway comment designed to wind up Big Frank and boy did it work.

I'm also glad that Lewis didn't apologise, because we'd have almost every boxer in history on apology tours apologising for things they said in press conferences decades earlier.

[Jaguar]

To call him an uncle Tom is no 'throwaway comment', it's a bloody disgrace and it's no wonder Bruno isn't happy about it. Nor would I be. Similarly, Joe Frazier wasn't best pleased when Ali called him the same thing. Again, quite understandably.

[Ezzard]

To call him an uncle Tom is no 'throwaway comment', it's a bloody disgrace and it's no wonder Bruno isn't happy about it. Nor would I be. Similarly, Joe Frazier wasn't best pleased when Ali called him the same thing. Again, quite understandably.

It was much worse for Frazier. He was snubbed by his own community. He was made to feel like the loser.

[Bodyshot3]

To call him an uncle Tom is no 'throwaway comment', it's a bloody disgrace and it's no wonder Bruno isn't happy about it. Nor would I be. Similarly, Joe Frazier wasn't best pleased when Ali called him the same thing. Again, quite understandably.

Lennox let himself down very badly with that, the one time an otherwise class act fell flat.

It was a stupid thing to say considering Bruno had grown-up in Wandsworth and his large, very proudly West Indian family had not exactly been greeted with open arms and Frank himself had been through what basically amounted to a reform school for (mainly) black London kids who had badly struggled to integrate and find acceptance.

I read somewhere that Lewis and the always-spikey Maloney were very pissed off that Frank was being treated as the A-Side attraction as far as the British public was concerned and that might have influenced the toxic outburst. But they should have known where Frank came from and his life experiences.

[Controversial]

To call him an uncle Tom is no 'throwaway comment', it's a bloody disgrace and it's no wonder Bruno isn't happy about it. Nor would I be. Similarly, Joe Frazier wasn't best pleased when Ali called him the same thing. Again, quite understandably.

It was a stupid thing to say considering Bruno had grown-up in Wandsworth and his large, very proudly West Indian family had not exactly been greeted with open arms and Frank himself had been through what basically amounted to a reform school for (mainly) black London kids who had badly struggled to integrate and find acceptance.

I think that comment was more aimed at when he became famous, basically saying he was a “sell out” had betrayed his roots and become servile to 'white people' with all the acting the clown on TV, the panto stuff, tv ads etc. Obviously not a nice thing to say, I get the impression Lewis still thinks all the out of the ring stuff Bruno done was a joke that he wouldn't have done himself judging by the way he talked about it on that recent Amazon series.

[Syntax Error]

To call him an uncle Tom is no 'throwaway comment', it's a bloody disgrace and it's no wonder Bruno isn't happy about it. Nor would I be. Similarly, Joe Frazier wasn't best pleased when Ali called him the same thing. Again, quite understandably.

The Joe Frazier and Frank Bruno situations are much different.

Ali said a lot of things to Frazier over a lengthy period that were unjustified and I can understand why Smokin Joe held a grudge.

Calling someone an Uncle Tom is not nice and I get the connotations of it, but Lewis said it once and it was 31 years ago.

Bruno mentioned that cancer comment in the documentary, which was equally, if not more disgusting, but I bet Lewis won't be wound up about that in 31 years time.

[Ezzard]

Bruno made a lot of money from his personality. He was a crossover star and maximised his earnings for a guy who was a solid contender.

Lewis threw in some outdated North American style divisive race nonsense to wind Frank up and it worked.

It shocks me that you can't call someone a name but you can punch them in the face.

[Fray Bentos]

To call him an uncle Tom is no 'throwaway comment', it's a bloody disgrace and it's no wonder Bruno isn't happy about it. Nor would I be. Similarly, Joe Frazier wasn't best pleased when Ali called him the same thing. Again, quite understandably.

The Joe Frazier and Frank Bruno situations are much different.

Ali said a lot of things to Frazier over a lengthy period that were unjustified and I can understand why Smokin Joe held a grudge.

Calling someone an Uncle Tom is not nice and I get the connotations of it, but Lewis said it once and it was 31 years ago.

Bruno mentioned that cancer comment in the documentary, which was equally, if not more disgusting, but I bet Lewis won't be wound up about that in 31 years time.

I agree with your take on it, who started it? Because Bruno was full of the 'I am the true Brit, Lennox Lewis is a fraud because he is a Canadian pretending to be British, listen to how he speaks blah blah blah' Bruno threw his bricks into Lewis's glass house and landed - it wasn't like he was an innocent victim of Lewis's race baiting? He had plenty to say in the build up.

It's disappointing that he still hangs onto this because he was as vocal in that build up to the fight, he said lots of nasty things as well and like you said, he is still saying them.

[keithmoonhangover]

To call him an uncle Tom is no 'throwaway comment', it's a bloody disgrace and it's no wonder Bruno isn't happy about it. Nor would I be. Similarly, Joe Frazier wasn't best pleased when Ali called him the same thing. Again, quite understandably.

The Joe Frazier and Frank Bruno situations are much different.

Ali said a lot of things to Frazier over a lengthy period that were unjustified and I can understand why Smokin Joe held a grudge.

Calling someone an Uncle Tom is not nice and I get the connotations of it, but Lewis said it once and it was 31 years ago.

Bruno mentioned that cancer comment in the documentary, which was equally, if not more disgusting, but I bet Lewis won't be wound up about that in 31 years time.

I agree with your take on it, who started it? Because Bruno was full of the 'I am the true Brit, Lennox Lewis is a fraud because he is a Canadian pretending to be British, listen to how he speaks blah blah blah' Bruno threw his bricks into Lewis's glass house and landed - it wasn't like he was an innocent victim of Lewis's race baiting? He had plenty to say in the build up.

It's disappointing that he still hangs onto this because he was as vocal in that build up to the fight, he said lots of nasty things as well and like you said, he is still saying them.

He borrowed a line from Ali, was trying to get under Frank's skin and paint himself as the bad guy for the fight.

[Fray Bentos]

It would be a fight based on real animosity and verbal viciousness, with identity called into question, which translated into a ring battle for the ages at Cardiff Arms Park.

The sparring on the press trail brought out Bruno’s more overt Britishness, and the pugilist used it as a stick to beat the more multicultural and less distinct, less identifiable, globetrotting Lewis. Bruno was the dyed-in-the-wool Londoner, raised in Hammersmith to a Jamaican mother and a Dominican father. Lewis on the other hand was the hard-to-pin-down anomaly. An East Londoner by birth, he had moved to Canada at the age of 12, represented them at two Olympic Games, including in 1988 as the actual flag bearer for Canada at the closing ceremony.

“I'm a little bit dark, but I was born in Hammersmith,” Bruno had told a Manhattan press conference. He had later turned to his opponent, saying, “I’m going to hit you upside your head so hard, you won’t even know if you’re Canadian, Jamaica, Los Angeles, or what.” Bruno thrived off the nationality-goading, describing Lewis as "... not British,” adding, "Nobody cares about Lennox Lewis in Britain."

https://www.thesportsman.com/features/w ... -1am-start

[Syntax Error]

To call him an uncle Tom is no 'throwaway comment', it's a bloody disgrace and it's no wonder Bruno isn't happy about it. Nor would I be. Similarly, Joe Frazier wasn't best pleased when Ali called him the same thing. Again, quite understandably.

The Joe Frazier and Frank Bruno situations are much different.

Ali said a lot of things to Frazier over a lengthy period that were unjustified and I can understand why Smokin Joe held a grudge.

Calling someone an Uncle Tom is not nice and I get the connotations of it, but Lewis said it once and it was 31 years ago.

Bruno mentioned that cancer comment in the documentary, which was equally, if not more disgusting, but I bet Lewis won't be wound up about that in 31 years time.

I agree with your take on it, who started it? Because Bruno was full of the 'I am the true Brit, Lennox Lewis is a fraud because he is a Canadian pretending to be British, listen to how he speaks blah blah blah' Bruno threw his bricks into Lewis's glass house and landed - it wasn't like he was an innocent victim of Lewis's race baiting? He had plenty to say in the build up.

It's disappointing that he still hangs onto this because he was as vocal in that build up to the fight, he said lots of nasty things as well and like you said, he is still saying them.

On the money.

Bruno is no innocent victim; he had plenty to say then he's still saying stuff now.

His comment about Lewis getting cancer was possibly the most disgusting thing that was traded between the two of them and what makes it even worse was that he said it 31 years later.

Move on Frank, the rest of the world has.

[Controversial]

Bruno is a bit damaged so maybe that’s why he’s so hung up on things, his daughters mentioned he has been diagnosed with some sort of neurological condition. Plus when filming for a tv show he would be asked about that comment so he’s going to talk about it but I’m not sure it’s as big an issue as the show made out. When he sat with Benn, who seems to be good mates with him, and talked about it, Benn said he’d never heard him mention it before.

[Bodyshot3]

Bruno is a bit damaged so maybe that’s why he’s so hung up on things, his daughters mentioned he has been diagnosed with some sort of neurological condition.

A lot-lot more than that mate....

........Big Frank has been sectioned at least three times under the UK Mental Health Act and that's an extreme, legally-binding and enforced intervention which involves being placed into protective custody and also a requirement to take medication and undergo extensive therapy before you can be released home.

Frank has (bravely) subsequently and voluntarily referred himself in recent years when he has felt his medication is not working or that he is not getting the oversight he requires. I might be wrong, but there's a still a legal 'must' that he takes certain kinds of meds or there could be another intervention.

"Being Frank" is possibly the best book by a fighter about life after boxing ever-written. It made me cry in parts.

For the record, Frank had undiagnosed, complex mental health issues before his career kicked-off, it is a mixture of autism/manic depression/hyperactivity and some learning difficulties which were always largely disguised by being a highly-dedicated professional fighter.

[Controversial]

Bruno is a bit damaged so maybe that’s why he’s so hung up on things, his daughters mentioned he has been diagnosed with some sort of neurological condition.

A lot-lot more than that mate....

........Big Frank has been sectioned at least three times under the UK Mental Health Act and that's an extreme, legally-binding and enforced intervention which involves being placed into protective custody and also a requirement to take medication and undergo extensive therapy before you can be released home.

Frank has (bravely) subsequently and voluntarily referred himself in recent years when he has felt his medication is not working or that he is not getting the oversight he requires. I might be wrong, but there's a still a legal 'must' that he takes certain kinds of meds or there could be another intervention.

"Being Frank" is possibly the best book by a fighter about life after boxing ever-written. It made me cry in parts.

For the record, Frank had undiagnosed, complex mental health issues before his career kicked-off, it is a mixture of autism/manic depression/hyperactivity and some learning difficulties which were always largely disguised by being a highly-dedicated professional fighter.

Yes I’m aware of his mental health issues, I meant from what his daughters said in that recent documentary it sounds like he’s been diagnosed with the early onset of dementia or something similar.

[bennie]

Terry Lawless never had much luck with heavyweights. He took on Danny McAlinden for a spell in the 1970s, whipping the Northern Irishman into great shape. McAlinden could punch and strung together some quick wins but lost big fights to Pat Duncan, Bunny Johnson and Richard Dunn and there was no bringing him back. John L. Gardner, another Lawless fighter, suffered a shocking early loss to "Sailor" Ibar Arrington at the Albert Hall in 1977, an American who flattened Gardner in the first round, ironically after he had just been warned for slapping. Gardner came back to win British and European titles but an attempt to secure a world title opportunity ended in failure when Philadelphia's Jimmy Young floored and outscored him in a 10-rounder at Wembley in December 1979. Gardner stayed with it but a suicidal piece of matchmaking led to crushing defeat at the hands of Mike Dokes in the States in 1982 and that was effectively that.
Gary Mason turned pro with Lawless in 1984 and went unbeaten in 35 fights (32 early) but laboured to outscore American Everett "Bigfoot" Martin in a 10-rounder at the Albert Hall in 1990, after which Mason was diagnosed with a detached retina. He made his way back after an operation but a young Lennox Lewis proved too good for him in a crossroads fight at Wembley in 1991. Lawless also handled Horace Notice of Birmingham, a man who didn't lace on a glove until he was 21 but who scored a good early win over Frenchman Anaclet Wamba at the Albert Hall in 1985 and who later picked up British and Commonwealth titles. Notice was surely in line for a shot at the European title when a detached retina forced him out of the game in 1988 at 16-0.

[Fray Bentos]

Terry Lawless never had much luck with heavyweights. He took on Danny McAlinden for a spell in the 1970s, whipping the Northern Irishman into great shape. McAlinden could punch and strung together some quick wins but lost big fights to Pat Duncan, Bunny Johnson and Richard Dunn and there was no bringing him back. John L. Gardner, another Lawless fighter, suffered a shocking early loss to "Sailor" Ibar Arrington at the Albert Hall in 1977, an American who flattened Gardner in the first round, ironically after he had just been warned for slapping. Gardner came back to win British and European titles but an attempt to secure a world title opportunity ended in failure when Philadelphia's Jimmy Young floored and outscored him in a 10-rounder at Wembley in December 1979. Gardner stayed with it but a suicidal piece of matchmaking led to crushing defeat at the hands of Mike Dokes in the States in 1982 and that was effectively that.
Gary Mason turned pro with Lawless in 1984 and went unbeaten in 35 fights (32 early) but laboured to outscore American Everett "Bigfoot" Martin in a 10-rounder at the Albert Hall in 1990, after which Mason was diagnosed with a detached retina. He made his way back after an operation but a young Lennox Lewis proved too good for him in a crossroads fight at Wembley in 1991. Lawless also handled Horace Notice of Birmingham, a man who didn't lace on a glove until he was 21 but who scored a good early win over Frenchman Anaclet Wamba at the Albert Hall in 1985 and who later picked up British and Commonwealth titles. Notice was surely in line for a shot at the European title when a detached retina forced him out of the game in 1988 at 16-0.

How would it have gone against Damiani in Italy?

I think Damiani would have just done a paint job on him with his jab over 12.

[keithmoonhangover]

Terry Lawless never had much luck with heavyweights. He took on Danny McAlinden for a spell in the 1970s, whipping the Northern Irishman into great shape. McAlinden could punch and strung together some quick wins but lost big fights to Pat Duncan, Bunny Johnson and Richard Dunn and there was no bringing him back. John L. Gardner, another Lawless fighter, suffered a shocking early loss to "Sailor" Ibar Arrington at the Albert Hall in 1977, an American who flattened Gardner in the first round, ironically after he had just been warned for slapping. Gardner came back to win British and European titles but an attempt to secure a world title opportunity ended in failure when Philadelphia's Jimmy Young floored and outscored him in a 10-rounder at Wembley in December 1979. Gardner stayed with it but a suicidal piece of matchmaking led to crushing defeat at the hands of Mike Dokes in the States in 1982 and that was effectively that.
Gary Mason turned pro with Lawless in 1984 and went unbeaten in 35 fights (32 early) but laboured to outscore American Everett "Bigfoot" Martin in a 10-rounder at the Albert Hall in 1990, after which Mason was diagnosed with a detached retina. He made his way back after an operation but a young Lennox Lewis proved too good for him in a crossroads fight at Wembley in 1991. Lawless also handled Horace Notice of Birmingham, a man who didn't lace on a glove until he was 21 but who scored a good early win over Frenchman Anaclet Wamba at the Albert Hall in 1985 and who later picked up British and Commonwealth titles. Notice was surely in line for a shot at the European title when a detached retina forced him out of the game in 1988 at 16-0.

How would it have gone against Damiani in Italy?

I think Damiani would have just done a paint job on him with his jab over 12.

Damiani is criminally underrated. He was a very talented boxer. It's a shame he didn't finish the job against Mercer.

[Fray Bentos]

Terry Lawless never had much luck with heavyweights. He took on Danny McAlinden for a spell in the 1970s, whipping the Northern Irishman into great shape. McAlinden could punch and strung together some quick wins but lost big fights to Pat Duncan, Bunny Johnson and Richard Dunn and there was no bringing him back. John L. Gardner, another Lawless fighter, suffered a shocking early loss to "Sailor" Ibar Arrington at the Albert Hall in 1977, an American who flattened Gardner in the first round, ironically after he had just been warned for slapping. Gardner came back to win British and European titles but an attempt to secure a world title opportunity ended in failure when Philadelphia's Jimmy Young floored and outscored him in a 10-rounder at Wembley in December 1979. Gardner stayed with it but a suicidal piece of matchmaking led to crushing defeat at the hands of Mike Dokes in the States in 1982 and that was effectively that.
Gary Mason turned pro with Lawless in 1984 and went unbeaten in 35 fights (32 early) but laboured to outscore American Everett "Bigfoot" Martin in a 10-rounder at the Albert Hall in 1990, after which Mason was diagnosed with a detached retina. He made his way back after an operation but a young Lennox Lewis proved too good for him in a crossroads fight at Wembley in 1991. Lawless also handled Horace Notice of Birmingham, a man who didn't lace on a glove until he was 21 but who scored a good early win over Frenchman Anaclet Wamba at the Albert Hall in 1985 and who later picked up British and Commonwealth titles. Notice was surely in line for a shot at the European title when a detached retina forced him out of the game in 1988 at 16-0.

How would it have gone against Damiani in Italy?

I think Damiani would have just done a paint job on him with his jab over 12.

Damiani is criminally underrated. He was a very talented boxer. It's a shame he didn't finish the job against Mercer.

I think personally he would have been too big and slick for Notice and Mason - I could see Damiani doing a 118-110 job on both,

He would have had big trouble with Bruno - pity these fights didn't happen!