Former WBC Heavyweight Champion, Frank Bruno, represented the United Kingdom on the world stage alongside Lennox Lewis during the 1990’s in a packed out division, fighting some of sport’s biggest names.
And when it comes to who Bruno believes was his toughest fight, his answer could surprise many of his fans.
The Londoner fought the likes of Lewis, Mike Tyson and Tim Witherspoon during his time in the ring, facing as many as six eventual world champions across his fourteen-year professional career. It wasn’t until 1995, in his penultimate bout, that Bruno would claim a world title of his own after failing as a challenger on three previous occasions.
Bruno outpointed Oliver McCall at Wembley Stadium to finally achieve his goal and win the WBC crown. He would lose it just six months later against the legendary Mike Tyson and call time on his career. That marked his second stoppage defeat to ‘Iron Mike’ and the fifth loss and knockout defeat of his career alongside Lewis, Witherspoon and James ‘Bonecrusher’ Smith.
Despite those defeats, Bruno told Wow Hydrate that the toughest fight of his career was actually a win that came in just his second year as a pro.
“I fought a guy called Jumbo Cummings, he knocked me out in the first-round, and every time I think of that name I think that I need to go to the doctors and get some counselling.
He hit me on the temple and I didn’t know where I was. I remember it like it was yesterday, that was my toughest fight.”
👀Caught up with #OrtizMartin and I see it's triggered the "out on your feet" convo. Here's one for you: Big Frank Bruno gets NAILED by Jumbo Cummings (the last man to fight Joe Frazier) at the Royal Albert Hall in October 1983. Bell saves Bruno, who went on to win by stoppage 💥 pic.twitter.com/BDvpr2gyMU
— Tom Gray (@Tom_Gray_Boxing) January 2, 2022
‘True Brit’ went on to defeat Floyd ‘Jumbo’ Cummings by seventh-round knockout, putting a full stop on the American’s finally outing as a professional after a run of five consecutive losses.