Frank Bruno, the former heavyweight boxing champion, has named James 'Bonecrusher' Smith as the hardest puncher he ever faced. This surprising revelation comes from a man who stepped into the ring with some of the biggest hitters in heavyweight history, including Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis.
Bruno shared his thoughts in an interview with Ring Magazine. The British boxer's career saw him become a world champion on his fourth attempt, facing off against some of the most formidable opponents in the sport.
Before his bout with Smith, Bruno had an impressive record of 21 wins and no losses. But it was Smith who handed Bruno his first defeat, leaving a lasting impression on the young fighter.
"Smith had a hard punch and he was strong. This was one of my hardest fights. I was quite young at the time and he was a lot older. I lost this fight outright but it gave me a lot of experience. I learned a lot from his punches and tried to use his style later on in my boxing."
James 'Bonecrusher' Smith, the WBA heavyweight champion from 1986 to 1987, had an impressive career record. He won 44 fights, with 32 of those victories coming by knockout. Smith faced off against other notable fighters like Mike Tyson, Larry Holmes, and Michael Moorer.
Bruno's career also included two fights against Mike Tyson. Their first match in 1989 ended with Tyson winning by TKO in the fifth round. They met again in 1996, with Tyson stopping Bruno in the third round.
In 1993, Bruno faced off against fellow Brit Lennox Lewis in what was dubbed 'The Battle of Britain'. Lewis, known for his solid right hand, won the fight by TKO in the seventh round. Lewis went on to become the undisputed heavyweight champion and finished his career with 32 knockouts from 41 wins.
Despite the hard-hitting reputation of both Tyson and Lewis, Bruno still rates Smith as the hardest puncher he faced. This is particularly noteworthy given Tyson's early career dominance, where he stopped his first 19 opponents inside six rounds.
Bruno's respect for Tyson's power remains clear, though. When asked about his toughest opponents, Bruno stated he'd rather face Lewis five days a week than step into the ring with Tyson again.
This revelation from Bruno gives us a new perspective on the power rankings in heavyweight boxing history. It's a reminder that sometimes the hardest hitters aren't always the most famous names.
