Frank Bruno, a former heavyweight boxing champion, has expressed strong dislike for Lennox Lewis. In a recent interview with DAZN Boxing, Bruno called Lewis a "two faced rat" because of comments Lewis allegedly made before their 1993 fight.
Bruno, who fought some of boxing's biggest names, won the WBC heavyweight title in 1995 by defeating Oliver McCall at Wembley Stadium. This victory came after three unsuccessful championship attempts against Tim Witherspoon, Mike Tyson, and Lennox Lewis.
During the DAZN Boxing interview, Bruno shared his feelings about the build-up to his 1993 fight with Lewis:
"It was such a massive fight but he was upsetting me by saying such stupid things which I shouldn't have let get to me."
Bruno's anger stems from Lewis allegedly using a derogatory term towards Bruno's mother:
"I don't know how that two faced rat could say someone's an Uncle Tom when his mum comes from the same Jamaica as my mum."
The former champion didn't hold back his resentment:
"I would never call my mum that I would never call someone that, but he hit that low. I don't need to come off my pedestal and grovel to him, he's nothing to me, that was very nasty, you may not understand it but I understand it, he can take that thank you and stuff and put it where the sun don't shine."
Reflecting on the 1993 fight, Bruno believes he should have won:
"I recall a lot, I was just too anxious before I learnt how to relax myself, but he won so I've got nothing bad to say about that and nothing good to say either. I should have beaten him, I should have, but nothing's before it's time but I should have beaten him, I was out boxing him."
Despite Bruno's claims, Lewis won the fight by seventh round stoppage. Lewis went on to have an impressive heavyweight career, with notable victories over Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson, and Vitali Klitschko.
Bruno's comments show that even decades later, the emotions and tensions from past fights can still run high among former opponents in the boxing world.
