Frank Bruno, the former British heavyweight boxer, surprised many by naming Tim Witherspoon as the hardest puncher he ever faced. This revelation came during a recent interview at BizX | The UK's Biggest Business Event, where Bruno reflected on his boxing career and opponents.
When asked about the most powerful man he ever faced in the ring, Bruno didn't hesitate. He said, "A guy called Tim Witherspoon that I fought. Yeah, 15 rounds he was a dangerous man."
Bruno's fight with Witherspoon took place in July 1986 and marked his first attempt at a world title. The bout ended with Bruno losing by stoppage in the 11th round. Witherspoon, known for being a regular sparring partner for Muhammad Ali, proved to be a formidable opponent. Interestingly, Witherspoon lost the title to James "Bonecrusher" Smith just a few months after his fight with Bruno.
Bruno's career spanned 45 fights, with 40 wins to his name. He made four attempts at a world championship before finally succeeding in 1995. At Wembley Stadium, Bruno defeated Oliver McCall via unanimous decision to claim the WBC heavyweight title.
Throughout his career, Bruno faced some of the biggest names in heavyweight boxing. In 1989, he fought Mike Tyson in Las Vegas with the WBA, WBC, and IBF titles on the line, but lost by stoppage in the 5th round. In 1993, he was knocked out by Lennox Lewis in a fight for the WBC title at the National Stadium in Cardiff.
Bruno's final fight came in 1996 at the age of 35, once again against Mike Tyson. It resulted in his second world title loss, a fight that Bruno later admitted was "stupid" to have taken.
Despite the ups and downs of his career, Bruno's victories over fighters like Carl Williams, Jesse Ferguson, and Joe Bugner cemented his place in boxing history. Today, he remains a much-loved British sports personality.
"A guy called Tim Witherspoon that I fought. Yeah, 15 rounds he was a dangerous man."
Bruno's choice of Witherspoon as the hardest puncher he faced is particularly noteworthy given that he also fought power punchers like Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis. It shows that sometimes the most impactful opponents aren't always the most famous ones.
