BoxRec

Well since the Heavyweight division was better during Bruno's time say if he was born at least 10 years later and once Lewis retired do you think he could of been a better champ now?

He was underated in his time and had good skills and could punch just the problem was his mobilty into later rounds and once he got hit with a good punch. Even gave Lewis(was winning at first) and 80's Tyson problems when he hurt him but let Tyson fight back.

Because the division is so bad now and the best is a fat former middleweight, do you think if Bruno was born at least 10 years later do you reckon he could take advantage of this current batch of HW's?

Bruno could have been engineered towards one of the belts now as he was in his actual career. There are enough people out there much worse than him

However, his frailties would still be there and people like Brewster and Toney would still have his number. The Ttoney fight would be a lot like the Witherspoon fight and a decent puncher like Brewster would still be able to send Bruno to his dark places.

Like I said, Bruno had enough about him to win a title in this generation, but as in his actual career, his chances of holding on to it were slim to say the least.

Slapsie

With Brewster it could depend who lands first though and if Bruno could keep him away. Punchers chance against Toney but he might be able to outbox him like he was wth Lewis till Lewis landed a good shot. Toney might not have enough to hurt him either as Tyson, Lewis and Witherspoon could hit enough. Think he was winning against BoneCrusher and Witherspoon too.

He seemed to be able to beat Mc Call easy on UD so howcome his weaknesses wern't there then? Did his trainers ever try to get rid of the mobility problem?

Bruo would beat Byrd and Ruiz easily, I think hes better than Valuev but the question is can he KO him or would he tire down the stretch?

I think he'd outbox and batter BRewster for 8 rounds get exhuasted and ko'd.

Against Rahman is 50-50 but Bruno maybe could ko him early and if he didnt I don't think Rahmans finnishing is too impressive in the late rounds

I think Toney would slip most of what Frank threw, but Frank would land his jab early and win early rounds, tire and probably get stopped down the stretch.

Against Wlad would be interesting but Brunos chin is far stronger and each has similar poor stamina, Wlad has better skills, but 1 Bruno bomb would put him down and maybe out

Actually I think Wlad is like Bruno but Bruno has a better chin and equal skill.

Bruno would KO Valuev right out if Ruiz could outbox him.

Even against McCall Frank was hanging on for dear life in the 12th round. Agreed, Toney and Brewster would have handed Bruno his head on a plate.

Frank would probably beat Valuev, Wlad and maybe Byrd though. But even someone like Sam Peter would've clobbered Frank. One good punch, late on, was all it took most of the time....

Toney wouldn't have enough to hurt him but could outbox him.

If he could keep Brewster back and outbox him like Wlad did except fold then he has a better chance.

Thing is though most who have made Bruno fold were punchers so his chin might not be that bad.

Max Molyneux wrote:With Brewster it could depend who lands first though and if Bruno could keep him away. Punchers chance against Toney but he might be able to outbox him like he was wth Lewis till Lewis landed a good shot. Toney might not have enough to hurt him either as Tyson, Lewis and Witherspoon could hit enough. Think he was winning against BoneCrusher and Witherspoon too.

He seemed to be able to beat Mc Call easy on UD so howcome his weaknesses wern't there then? Did his trainers ever try to get rid of the mobility problem?

I think his weaknesses were there against McCall who did not, I think, train that hard and against whom Bruno looked totally shattered in the last round.

Toney, I really think would just be able to work his way in and then begin to land. Not hard shots in the bonecrusher style, but often and enough to take advantage of Bruno's inability to take a shot.

No one cheered more loudly than me when Bruno won and I wanted him to beat Lewis, but I think we all have to agree that he was "guided" to a title which he then relinquished with alacrity. I have no doubts he would be capable of the same now.

That being said, I think he would still win a lot more than he lost

Slapsie

Bruno would no way have Beaten Byrd, Byrd is too slick and has a good chin, and would have tired Bruno out. Mad as it sounds, I could see Byrd stopping a shattered Bruno late on.

Rahman, like McCall would have been within Bruno's compass, especially as Rahman would struggle with that long jab and get cut up. Rahman would always have a shot at the KO though.

Bruno's power would probably be enough to get him past Wlad Klitchsko who would be terrified, Vitali would have absolutely murdered him I think/ Brewser Wins by late KO. Toney stops him late too.

Am not sold on how good Vitali was though so I ain't sure about him. Bruno was better than most of these heavyweights and think Bruno would hurt him and I ain't sold on Vitali's chin either.

Vitali wouldn't be able to out muscle him which thats what he mostly did with his opposition.

I know he folds when hit with a punch but the only guys who have done that to Bruno were hard hitters and Toney and Byrd don't hit hard at HW.

Max Molyneux wrote:Am not sold on how good Vitali was though so I ain't sure about him. Bruno was better than most of these heavyweights and think Bruno would hurt him and I ain't sold on Vitali's chin either

I am.

The fact that Vitali took a sickening uppercut from Lewis flush on the chin that totally snapped his head back, and took a few left hook bombs from Corrie Sanders right on the button without going down much less out proves he had a perfectly decent chin.

Lewis hit just as hard, if not harder than as Bruno and Sanders had a termendously quick and powerful left hook.

He clinched on Lewis though otherwise he would of went down.

Vitali is one of the most overated fighters ever and screwed alot of fans over with his crap defences yet they still like him.

He thinks he's retired as champ doing what Lewis, Marciano and Tunney did!

Bruno had a great punch, but no stamina. Though, with the heavyweight division being what it is, you don't need much more then that to get a belt.

Max Molyneux wrote:Am not sold on how good Vitali was though so I ain't sure about him. Bruno was better than most of these heavyweights and think Bruno would hurt him and I ain't sold on Vitali's chin either.

Vitali wouldn't be able to out muscle him which thats what he mostly did with his opposition.

I know he folds when hit with a punch but the only guys who have done that to Bruno were hard hitters and Toney and Byrd don't hit hard at HW.

Bruno for all his physical strength was absolutely useless in the clinches. Vitali was easily able to match Lennox Lewis for physical strength, and Lewis was an incredibly powerful man, naturally much stronger and than Bruno.

Vitali has taken bombs on the chin without going down and despite his flaws would have had the perfect style to beat Bruno.

Max Molyneux wrote:He clinched on Lewis though otherwise he would of went down.

Wrong.

It's quite clear that you have an anti Vitali agenda but that is just nonsense. Watch the fight again properly.

Vitali got hit with a huge uppercut, it snapped his head back but his knees didn't even buckle. He wasn't even on the verge of going down. Actually after that uppercut he struck back at Lewis and rocked him slightly.

So much for him about to go down.....

Bruno was out on his feet against McCall in that last round, thing is McCall had done absolutely nothing for 11 rounds previously. McCall landed nothing until that last round and Bruno was fucked!

ebeneezer wrote:

Max Molyneux wrote:He clinched on Lewis though otherwise he would of went down.

Wrong.

It's quite clear that you have an anti Vitali agenda but that is just nonsense. Watch the fight again properly.

Vitali got hit with a huge uppercut, it snapped his head back but his knees didn't even buckle. He wasn't even on the verge of going down. Actually after that uppercut he struck back at Lewis and rocked him slightly.

So much for him about to go down.....

Vitali has a good chin. I think the uppercut hurt him, and he held on to get a respite from the punishment he thought he was about to take, but as you say, he didn't look like he was going to go down. I think he was more concerned about the follow up shots he might take.

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Bruno would no way have Beaten Byrd, Byrd is too slick and has a good chin, and would have tired Bruno out. Mad as it sounds, I could see Byrd stopping a shattered Bruno late on.

Rahman, like McCall would have been within Bruno's compass, especially as Rahman would struggle with that long jab and get cut up. Rahman would always have a shot at the KO though.

Bruno's power would probably be enough to get him past Wlad Klitchsko who would be terrified, Vitali would have absolutely murdered him I think/ Brewser Wins by late KO. Toney stops him late too.

Your fogeting todays fighters are really poor and Byrds a middleweight - I think Taylor hits harder than Byrd - they call his punches featherdusters - I think thats been unfair to featherdusters. You saw what Vitali and Wlad did to Byrd, even old Golota beat him. They are all similar to Bruno. This is 1 fight I'm sure Bruno would win. I think Bruno may just go through like a knife through butter.

Does anyone think Bruno was managed wrong, fighting bums (which taught him nothing) followed by fights against top5 comp, too much of a step up, maybe he'd have done better, if they put him in with good defensive guys who'd take him rounds and teach him a thing or 2.

ebeneezer wrote:

Max Molyneux wrote:Am not sold on how good Vitali was though so I ain't sure about him. Bruno was better than most of these heavyweights and think Bruno would hurt him and I ain't sold on Vitali's chin either

I am.

The fact that Vitali took a sickening uppercut from Lewis flush on the chin that totally snapped his head back, and took a few left hook bombs from Corrie Sanders right on the button without going down much less out proves he had a perfectly decent chin.

Lewis hit just as hard, if not harder than as Bruno and Sanders had a termendously quick and powerful left hook.

Lewis and Sanders were too old/out of shape to follow up on hurting Vitali, he didnt get hit much, If Sanders was younger I think he may have finnished Vitali in the first

nickd wrote:Bruno was out on his feet against McCall in that last round, thing is McCall had done absolutely nothing for 11 rounds previously. McCall landed nothing until that last round and Bruno was fucked!

Thats stamina not chin Nick, if he got caught with that in the first he'd have taken it. BTW that older Bruno was too heavily muscled and not as good as the younger version.

ebeneezer wrote:

Max Molyneux wrote:He clinched on Lewis though otherwise he would of went down.

Wrong.

It's quite clear that you have an anti Vitali agenda but that is just nonsense. Watch the fight again properly.

Vitali got hit with a huge uppercut, it snapped his head back but his knees didn't even buckle. He wasn't even on the verge of going down. Actually after that uppercut he struck back at Lewis and rocked him slightly.

So much for him about to go down.....

Errrm no it's not clear that was an assumption.

I ain't a fan of him and I was sad to see Danny take a beating like that but he wasn't proven enough.The clinch saved him.

Phenomenal-Nutrition wrote:

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Bruno would no way have Beaten Byrd, Byrd is too slick and has a good chin, and would have tired Bruno out. Mad as it sounds, I could see Byrd stopping a shattered Bruno late on.

Rahman, like McCall would have been within Bruno's compass, especially as Rahman would struggle with that long jab and get cut up. Rahman would always have a shot at the KO though.

Bruno's power would probably be enough to get him past Wlad Klitchsko who would be terrified, Vitali would have absolutely murdered him I think/ Brewser Wins by late KO. Toney stops him late too.

Your fogeting todays fighters are really poor and Byrds a middleweight - I think Taylor hits harder than Byrd - they call his punches featherdusters - I think thats been unfair to featherdusters. You saw what Vitali and Wlad did to Byrd, even old Golota beat him. They are all similar to Bruno. This is 1 fight I'm sure Bruno would win. I think Bruno may just go through like a knife through butter.

Does anyone think Bruno was managed wrong, fighting bums (which taught him nothing) followed by fights against top5 comp, too much of a step up, maybe he'd have done better, if they put him in with good defensive guys who'd take him rounds and teach him a thing or 2.

Actually, I've spoken to fighters who faced Byrd, and they said his shots are heavier than people think. Sure he doesn;t hit hard for a heavyweight, but hard enough for people

I think Bruno's confidence was undermined the first time he lost. After feasting on the bum of the month club, he got clobbered by Witherspoon.

Then again, had he faced top 5 comp, he may well have got beaten, which is why his management moved him so cautiously. Problem was, Bruno never learned to overcome a crisis. He either destroyed people or got hurt then lost.

Vitali is a very effective fighter, he uses his skills well, obviously we never got to see him in with another really good heavy in their prime. Lewis was old, fat and undertrained.

Frank was very predictable and slow, I think Byrd would have danced rings around him all night.

BTW, Byrd isn't a middleweight, he only fought at 160 twice, very early in his career.

Wlad and Vitali were much better technically offensively than Bruno, who stood too square and had poor footwork. His jab was a thing of beauty, but he was so robotic. Wlad v Bruno would have been brutal, if it was the pre-sanders Wlad. Great fight while it lasted.

Phenomenal-Nutrition wrote:

nickd wrote:Bruno was out on his feet against McCall in that last round, thing is McCall had done absolutely nothing for 11 rounds previously. McCall landed nothing until that last round and Bruno was fucked!

Thats stamina not chin Nick, if he got caught with that in the first he'd have taken it. BTW that older Bruno was too heavily muscled and not as good as the younger version.

I understand the difference thanks! But my point is McCall had not worn him out at all really and he was still hanging on for dear life. I think nerves got the better of him too must have sapped his energy. The pace was slow enough for him to have had enough left at the end.

jamesmcdonnell wrote:

Phenomenal-Nutrition wrote:

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Bruno would no way have Beaten Byrd, Byrd is too slick and has a good chin, and would have tired Bruno out. Mad as it sounds, I could see Byrd stopping a shattered Bruno late on.

Rahman, like McCall would have been within Bruno's compass, especially as Rahman would struggle with that long jab and get cut up. Rahman would always have a shot at the KO though.

Bruno's power would probably be enough to get him past Wlad Klitchsko who would be terrified, Vitali would have absolutely murdered him I think/ Brewser Wins by late KO. Toney stops him late too.

Your fogeting todays fighters are really poor and Byrds a middleweight - I think Taylor hits harder than Byrd - they call his punches featherdusters - I think thats been unfair to featherdusters. You saw what Vitali and Wlad did to Byrd, even old Golota beat him. They are all similar to Bruno. This is 1 fight I'm sure Bruno would win. I think Bruno may just go through like a knife through butter.

Does anyone think Bruno was managed wrong, fighting bums (which taught him nothing) followed by fights against top5 comp, too much of a step up, maybe he'd have done better, if they put him in with good defensive guys who'd take him rounds and teach him a thing or 2.

Actually, I've spoken to fighters who faced Byrd, and they said his shots are heavier than people think. Sure he doesn;t hit hard for a heavyweight, but hard enough for people

I think Bruno's confidence was undermined the first time he lost. After feasting on the bum of the month club, he got clobbered by Witherspoon.

Then again, had he faced top 5 comp, he may well have got beaten, which is why his management moved him so cautiously. Problem was, Bruno never learned to overcome a crisis. He either destroyed people or got hurt then lost.

Vitali is a very effective fighter, he uses his skills well, obviously we never got to see him in with another really good heavy in their prime. Lewis was old, fat and undertrained.

Frank was very predictable and slow, I think Byrd would have danced rings around him all night.

BTW, Byrd isn't a middleweight, he only fought at 160 twice, very early in his career.

Wlad and Vitali were much better technically offensively than Bruno, who stood too square and had poor footwork. His jab was a thing of beauty, but he was so robotic. Wlad v Bruno would have been brutal, if it was the pre-sanders Wlad. Great fight while it lasted.

Bruno's first loss was actually against Bonecrusher Smith a couple of years before the Witherspoon defeat. It was bum of the month either side of that!

I think nervousness played a big factor in Bruno's stamina problems, he always looked as tight as a drum in the ring and very anxious. That and his huge muscles, which require lots of oxygen.

Tim Witherspoon may have had bitch tits, but he had better stamina than Bruno.