Q&A with Frank Bruno

Hi All,

It looks like that I might be getting some access to Frank Bruno - this may be via email only but hopefully we might get some good answers.

So, if any of you have some questions for Frank, then please post them below. It would be great if you could try and ask genuine, interesting questions.

Thanks

A

What was going through your mind as you made your way to the ring for the second Tyson fight?

Could you ask him if he still uses HP Sauce, exclusively, on his sausage and chips or has he been tempted, over the years, to use any other brands?

Many thanks.

How does he believe he compares against the current crop of British boxers and which one(s) would he believe would give him the most competative fight?

Floyd Patterson came to work in your training camp for a while in the eighties and described you as the best Heavyweight prospect he'd ever seen up close. What are your memories and reflections of working with him?

After your first loss to Mike Tyson in 1989, if was almost three years before you fought again. How close did you come to retiring in that time? Was it seriously crossing your mind?

Your dedication to training was well known, but many felt that it was too focussed on weight training, and that you're excessive muscle hindered you in the late stages of fights. Looking back, do you ever wish you'd changed your training style and programme a little, or do you think that it was the right programme for you?

You came in to boxing at a relatively advanced age, but still managed to win the ABA Heavyweight title by the time you were 18, the youngest man to do so. Why do you think you adapted so quickly to the sport?

What was the best fight you were a part of, win or lose?

What do you think of the current crop of British heavies like Fury, Chisora and Price, and as someone who suffered a few defeats through his career what advice would you offer to Price to rebuild his career?

The heavyweight division is frequently described as being in a lull. Do you think this is fair and how highly do you rate the Klitschko brothers?

Know what I mean, Frank?
Know what I mean?
Know what I mean?
Know what I mean?
Know what I mean?
Why didn't you take a knee?
You possibly faced Tyson at his much lauded peak. Who do you think would win out of him and Lennox Lewis?
Why didn't you knockout Piers Morgan? You would've been more popular then you've ever been.
What's with your suits? Where and why do you get them?
Know what I mean?
Do you think boxers are more vulnerable to mental health issues than the average Joe due to the ups and downs and stresses the career path brings? Would you like to stigma around mental health reduced?
If you could face one heavyweight at their best, past or present, who would it be and why?
If you could start your career again and do it all with a shaven head, would you?
What is your favourite snack?
Marmite, love or hate?
Goats, meat or companion?

Just how scary was Mike Tyson when you fought him the first time?

Was you scared? because you held on quite a lot in that fight

You have roots in Dominica right? I know your father.

Did you have any difficulties with keeping your mind healthy during your prime fighting years?

How much were you playing the game to gain popularity with your Frank and 'arry act?

Fighting has been such a huge part of your life and may or may not have been a factor in your illness. Does being around boxers and boxing help or hinder you as you deal with being disagnosed as bi-polar or have you distanced yourself from the fight game in order to get back on track.

PS All the very best and good luck to you Frank

Have you ever played yourself at snooker? If so, who won?

superflyweight wrote:Have you ever played yourself at snooker? If so, who won?

He doesn't have schizophrenia dopey. That was your man Andy Goram.

I wasn't suggesting that he did. I'm just interested to see if like me, he played himself at snooker and if so, who won.

Goram used to live not too far away from me. I think I may have once seen him on his own in a pub car park trying to start a Fight Club.

Strongback wrote:

superflyweight wrote:Have you ever played yourself at snooker?  If so, who won?  

He doesn't have schizophrenia dopey.  That was your man Andy Goram.

And even if he did schizophrenia is not multiple personality disorder. I believe Bruno actually suffers from Bipolar disorder.

If you wanted to ask a mental health related question, it would be interesting to know whether he suffered from depression, or at least had some related mental health issues, during his career. If so, does he think this affected him as a fighter? In the ring or in training.

Does he think he has a true fighter's mentality? While I would never doubt his bravery, I wonder whether he had enough confidence and nastiness for a boxer.

Who won when you played yourself, super?
 
And who reffed?

edit: they're not questions for Frank

edit 2: but they could be if you want

Il Gialloblu wrote:Who won when you played yourself, super?
 
And who reffed?

edit: they're not questions for Frank

edit 2: but they could be if you want

In answer to both questions, I did, IG.

No wonder you won then if you were ref too, super. All sounds a bit dodgy to me.
 
For Frank:
 
Would you rather have had your career in the 70s, fighting but losing against the greats, or had it now and probably be seen as above average for the time?
 
How closely do you still follow the sport?
 
What are your plans for the future? What else do you see yourself doing and what else would you like to achieve?
 
If you played yourself at snooker, do you think having yourself reffing it would make it unfair or would it actually be the fairest ref you could have?

Il Gialloblu wrote:No wonder you won then if you were ref too, super. All sounds a bit dodgy

I think you're worrying unnecessarily IG. Who better to call a 'miss' than the man who played the shot. As long as you have an ounce of integrity it seems fine to me. As long as super isn't, say, a lawyer by profession, I think we can safely presume his win was on the level.

Some people said that Frank Bruno was "too nice" too have that killer instinct at the top level, did this annoy you ,or did you take it as a compliment?