BoxRec

Former world heavyweight boxing champion Frank Bruno has admitted using cocaine and described the "black hole" he plunged into.

In extracts from his autobiography and a newspaper interview, the former boxer said taking cocaine was the worst thing he could have done in his psychiatric state.

Bruno, now 43, said he took the Class A drug for six months after watching a fight in Las Vegas in 2000 and meeting some fellow English visitors.

He said: "Cocaine took control of my brain. I wish I'd never seen the stuff. Taking it was the worst thing I could have done in my mental condition. It was like a black hole with no ending."

In 1996, 660,000 people paid to watch Frank Bruno's world heavyweight title fight against Tyson, which the American won. Bruno had lifted the WBC crown when he outpointed Oliver McCall at Wembley Stadium in September 1995.

He was forced into retirement by an eye injury, and was divorced from wife Laura, the mother of his three children, in 2001. He received treatment after being sectioned under the Mental Health Act in September 2003.

He has previously said his time in a mental hospital followed a descent into depression and strange behaviour, which included buying lorries, wheelchairs and old cars he did not need.

He said he had taken cannabis when he was just 12 years old and used it after fights to calm down, but added: "If you have a puff it chills you down but coke makes you feel weird, nasty, edgy, gangstery, fighty, just crazy."

But after he stopped taking cocaine, while working as a DJ, he turned to powerful cannabis, known as skunk, which he says "nearly blew my head off".

And he admits he may again be tempted by drugs, but tries to avoid such situations, and said: "Using drugs is not a nice experience. I didn't really want to get involved in Class A.

"I'm talking about it now because I think it's better that I come clean."

Ding_Ding wrote:Seems like he didn't do it for too long.

Still quite surprising as I always thought that Bruno was so into his fitness that he'd never touch the gear.

E wrote:

Ding_Ding wrote:Seems like he didn't do it for too long.

Still quite surprising as I always thought that Bruno was so into his fitness that he'd never touch the gear.

Just about everyone does gear now - frankly it's no more, if not less dangerous than drink.

stujones wrote:I remember, must have been around the 2000 there was a show when a Z list celeb stayed over a member of Joe Public's house. He stayed at a pub landlords and called pubs something like the most sinful place on earth and was very "snotty" about alcohol. He came across very badly.

KOJOE90 wrote:

stujones wrote:I remember, must have been around the 2000 there was a show when a Z list celeb stayed over a member of Joe Public's house. He stayed at a pub landlords and called pubs something like the most sinful place on earth and was very "snotty" about alcohol. He came across very badly.

Yes I remember that Celeb' Sleepover I think it was called. Dreadfull program as most these things are. Your right Bruno did not come over very well at all in that program. It was obvious an the time he was going through some emotional 'issues'. I was painfull to watch at times.

silkov wrote:

KOJOE90 wrote:

stujones wrote:I remember, must have been around the 2000 there was a show when a Z list celeb stayed over a member of Joe Public's house. He stayed at a pub landlords and called pubs something like the most sinful place on earth and was very "snotty" about alcohol. He came across very badly.

Yes I remember that Celeb' Sleepover I think it was called. Dreadfull program as most these things are. Your right Bruno did not come over very well at all in that program. It was obvious an the time he was going through some emotional 'issues'. I was painfull to watch at times.

Why were you painful to watch???... 8)

KOJOE90 wrote:

silkov wrote:

KOJOE90 wrote: Yes I remember that Celeb' Sleepover I think it was called. Dreadfull program as most these things are. Your right Bruno did not come over very well at all in that program. It was obvious an the time he was going through some emotional 'issues'. I was painfull to watch at times.

Why were you painful to watch???... 8)

8)

Because everyone who knows me says I'm a f'cin pain.

stujones wrote:Yes, I am shocked at this - when I read the title I thought "steriods".

I remember, must have been around the 2000 there was a show when a Z list celeb stayed over a member of Joe Public's house. He stayed at a pub landlords and called pubs something like the most sinful place on earth and was very "snotty" about alcohol. He came across very badly.

T.BONE wrote:remember seeing him at some am show ,he was still under medication he looked very withdrawn.he lost alot of weight his cap was covering is eyes.there was reports that he was cycling around brentwood with a gum shield and a headgear on.but seems like he snorting himself out,ops sorting i mean. also a very under rated fighter i use to watch him train at the old terry lawless gym in canning town ,he trained very hard.the bout i would of loved to have seen was between frank and gary mason.another good domestic fighter in mason he gave lennoxs a good fight,until he couldnt see no more.last sightings of mason was as a security gaurd.

nickd wrote: Shock horror on the revelation, every man and his dog is doing it. I love the way these newspaper hacks try and scandalise it yet they're the worst of the lot the wankers.

nickd wrote:I think it was called Celebrity Sleepover.

nickd wrote:

stujones wrote:Yes, I am shocked at this - when I read the title I thought "steriods".

I remember, must have been around the 2000 there was a show when a Z list celeb stayed over a member of Joe Public's house. He stayed at a pub landlords and called pubs something like the most sinful place on earth and was very "snotty" about alcohol. He came across very badly.

I think it was called Celebrity Sleepover.



Shock horror on the revelation, every man and his dog is doing it. I love the way these newspaper hacks try and scandalise it yet they're the worst of the lot the wankers.

states wrote:

nickd wrote: Shock horror on the revelation, every man and his dog is doing it. I love the way these newspaper hacks try and scandalise it yet they're the worst of the lot the wankers.

fornicating right. As if all the tossers who are selling their papers by demonising the likes of Kate Moss aren't on the Chang every night. Hypocrites, the lot of them.

KOJOE90 wrote:

states wrote:

nickd wrote: Shock horror on the revelation, every man and his dog is doing it. I love the way these newspaper hacks try and scandalise it yet they're the worst of the lot the wankers.

fornicating right. As if all the tossers who are selling their papers by demonising the likes of Kate Moss aren't on the Chang every night. Hypocrites, the lot of them.

To be honest I don't blame the papers.

However the people who CHOOSE to buy and read them................

stujones wrote:Yes, I am shocked at this - when I read the title I thought "steriods".

I remember, must have been around the 2000 there was a show when a Z list celeb stayed over a member of Joe Public's house. He stayed at a pub landlords and called pubs something like the most sinful place on earth and was very "snotty" about alcohol. He came across very badly.

HeavyHitters wrote:

stujones wrote:Yes, I am shocked at this - when I read the title I thought "steriods".

I remember, must have been around the 2000 there was a show when a Z list celeb stayed over a member of Joe Public's house. He stayed at a pub landlords and called pubs something like the most sinful place on earth and was very "snotty" about alcohol. He came across very badly.

He probably DID do steroids while boxing.

E wrote:

Ding_Ding wrote:Seems like he didn't do it for too long.

Still quite surprising as I always thought that Bruno was so into his fitness that he'd never touch the gear.

Just about everyone does gear now - frankly it's no more, if not less dangerous than drink.