Frank Bruno twice fought Mike Tyson in his prime and has now compared his old foe to current heavyweight great Tyson Fury.
Much loved Brit Bruno became heavyweight world champion in 1995 in what was his fourth attempt. One of those came against ‘Iron Mike’ in 1989 for the undisputed crowd and both men were hurt early on, though it was Tyson who recovered best and forced the referee to stop the fight in the fifth round with Bruno taking heavy fire on the ropes.
They fought again in 1996 for the WBC title but again Tyson – who won his first world title aged just 20 after stopping all 19 of his first opponents inside six rounds and the first 12 inside the opening stanza – was the aggressor. He won via technical knockout in the third round and sent Bruno into retirement in the process.
Fury is a former two-time world heavyweight champion with just one loss in his career, and that came back in May against the undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk.
Speaking to BizXUK, Bruno was asked who would win if Tyson Fury and Mike Tyson were ever to face off at their peak.
“It’s the wrong thing for me to say but Mike Tyson when he was 19, 20, he was a dangerous individual. At their peak, I’m sorry, Mike Tyson. I like Tyson Fury, he would have given him a little run for his money here or there, but Mike Tyson 21, 22, he was a dangerous human being.”
Whilst former ferocious puncher ‘Iron’ Mike hangs up the gloves for good following an underwhelming return against Jake Paul, his namesake gears up for the fight of his life.
Fury has proven he can be dangerous in rematches before, twice stopping once fearsome American puncher Deontay Wilder in their trilogy. That is something ‘The Gypsy King’ will be hoping to repeat when he reenters the ring with Usyk in December.
