1. Franklin Roy Bruno was born on 16 November 1961 and is an English former professional boxer who competed from 1982 to 1996.
41 Facts About Frank Bruno
1. 2.
Frank Bruno won the WBC heavyweight title from Oliver McCall at Wembley Stadium in 1995, in what was his fourth world championship challenge.
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In retirement Frank Bruno remained a celebrity with the British public, and his mental health issues received much media attention.
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Frank Bruno became a professional boxer in 1981, achieving 21 consecutive wins by knockout.
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Frank Bruno won the European heavyweight title with a KO over Sweden's Anders Eklund, KO'd former European champion and world title contender Lucien Rodriguez in one round, was taken the distance for the first time by the useful world rated Phil Brown, and beat fringe fighters Larry Frazier and Jeff Jordan.
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Frank Bruno got back into title contention with a quick one-round KO win over former WBA champion Gerrie Coetzee of South Africa, and, in July 1986, he challenged Tim Witherspoon for the WBA heavyweight title.
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Frank Bruno got himself back into title contention with wins over former contender James Tillis and journeymen Reggie Gross and Chuck Gardner.
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In October 1987 Frank Bruno faced the veteran Joe Bugner in an all-British match up.
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Frank Bruno won by TKO in the 8th round, the referee stopping the bout.
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In February 1989, Frank Bruno challenged Mike Tyson for the undisputed world heavyweight title.
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Frank Bruno's legs buckled, and he took a big step back, inadvertently stepping off the ring apron.
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Frank Bruno did not complain and continued, ultimately rocking Tyson with a left hook toward the end of the round.
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Frank Bruno kept winning fights, helping him to retain his spot as one of the world's leading heavyweights.
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The Lennox Lewis vs Frank Bruno fight was the first time that two British boxers had fought for the world heavyweight title.
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Frank Bruno again regrouped, dispatching Jesse Ferguson in one round and fringe contenders Rodolfo Marin and Mike Evans equally easily.
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On 2 September 1995, Frank Bruno finally became world champion by outpointing WBC Champion Oliver McCall over twelve rounds.
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Frank Bruno won unanimously on points, only the second time he had taken an opponent to the judges.
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In 2024, Frank Bruno admitted on Four Kings mini documentary that the injury was retinal detachment.
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On 22 September 2003, Frank Bruno was taken from his home near Brentwood in Essex by medical staff assisted by police officers, under the provisions of the Mental Health Act 1983.
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Frank Bruno had been suffering from depression for several months beforehand.
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On 9 October 2005, Frank Bruno admitted that cocaine use, which began in 2000, had contributed to his mental health problems.
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On 24 February 2008, Frank Bruno offered his support to former footballer Paul Gascoigne, who on 21 February had been sectioned under the Mental Health Act.
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Frank Bruno spoke on his own personal experiences in the mental health system at a conference run by Hari Sewell, on 22 June 2009.
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Frank Bruno was sectioned again in 2012 and taken to St Andrew's Hospital in Northampton for five weeks.
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In December 2013, Frank Bruno spoke to the Daily Mirror in support of their mental health campaign, stating: "Mental illness is a terrible thing to have to cope with but I've learnt it's a fight you can win if you live your life the right way".
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In December 2005, Frank Bruno announced that he was to become a father for the fourth time since finding new romance with old friend Yvonne Clydesdale.
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Bruno has joined the Get Close and Personal Platform to raise funds to support The Frank Bruno Foundation, dedicated to improving the mental health of men around the world.
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Frank Bruno offers one-to-one video calls with anybody wanting to discuss issues related to mental health and Frank Bruno's own journey.
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Frank Bruno appeared on Comic Relief programmes in the early-1980s and made frequent appearances thereafter on television and on stage.
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In 1993, Frank Bruno briefly appeared as a guest on CITV's Finders Keepers hosted by Neil Buchanan.
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Frank Bruno was the subject of a This is Your Life programme in 1993, when he was surprised by Michael Aspel.
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In January 2001, prior to that year's general election, Frank Bruno announced that he wanted to stand as the Conservative candidate in the traditionally safe Conservative seat of Brentwood and Ongar against the independent Member of Parliament, Martin Bell.
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Frank Bruno had a small role in the 2008 British crime drama Cass.
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Frank Bruno made brief guest appearances in episodes of the ITV comedy show, Harry Hill's TV Burp in February and October 2011.
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On 21 April 2011, Frank Bruno appeared on the ITV1 chat show The Alan Titchmarsh Show, where he was candid about his previous health issues.
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On 20 April 2012, Frank Bruno was featured in the ITV series Piers Morgan's Life Stories.
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Frank Bruno completed the 2011 London Marathon which is the third marathon he has run successfully.
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Frank Bruno is a patron for The Shannon Bradshaw Trust, a children's charity.
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Frank Bruno regularly makes personal appearances and sells autographed items of memorabilia.
40.
On 23 July 2013, Frank Bruno was featured in the BBC Three documentary with his daughter Rachel in Rachel Frank Bruno: My Dad and Me.
41.
In 2020 amid the COVID-19 crisis, Frank Bruno joined a group of celebrities called The Celebs which included Kellie Shirley and X Factor winner Sam Bailey to raise money for both Alzheimer's Society and Action for Children.