Bruno's boxing journey began with an impressive amateur record of 20 wins and just 1 loss. He turned pro in 1982 and quickly made a name for himself, racking up 21 knockouts in 21 fights, mostly in London.
His first big test came against James 'Bonecrusher' Smith at Wembley Arena. The fight ended with Bruno losing by knockout in the 10th round. Despite the loss, Bruno learned valuable lessons from the experience.
In the interview with The Ring Magazine, Bruno explained why Smith stood out:
"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."
Bruno's career included several other notable fights. He challenged Tim Witherspoon for the WBA title, leading for many rounds before losing by corner stoppage. His first encounter with Mike Tyson ended in a 5th round stoppage loss, but not before Bruno landed some big shots in a wild first round.
Bruno's fight against Tyson was a landmark moment in British boxing history. The British fighter was dropped in the opening round but fought back bravely, creating an unforgettable spectacle for fans.
Bruno also faced Lennox Lewis in a world title challenge, losing by stoppage in the 7th round. However, his career highlight came in 1995 when he defeated Oliver McCall to become world champion. McCall had previously upset Lewis, making Bruno's victory even more significant.
Bruno's last fight before retirement came in 1996, a rematch against Mike Tyson. Ironically, Tyson is now making headlines again for a controversial comeback. The former champion is set to face Jake Paul, an opponent half his age, in a bout that's generating a lot of buzz in the boxing world.
Throughout his career, Bruno faced some of the hardest hitters in heavyweight history. The fact that he singles out James 'Bonecrusher' Smith as the hardest puncher he faced speaks volumes about Smith's power and the impact he had on Bruno's career.