Bruno's career saw him face off against some of boxing's biggest names. In 1993, he fought Lennox Lewis for the WBC heavyweight title but was stopped inside seven rounds. A few years earlier, in 1989, he had a good start against Mike Tyson before being stopped in the fifth round with the WBA, WBC, and IBF belts on the line.
Despite these high-profile bouts, Bruno surprised many by naming three different opponents as the hardest hitters he faced. In his interview with The Sun, Bruno explained:
"I've got to go for Jumbo Cummings, Bonecrusher Smith and Tim Witherspoon. All of them had different punches, all had different ways, when they hit you, it hurt."
Bruno's fight with Jumbo Cummings in 1983 saw him take a huge right hand in the first round, though he went on to win the bout. The following year, Bonecrusher Smith stopped Bruno in the 10th round. Bruno described Smith as "a different cup of tea." Tim Witherspoon, who defeated Bruno in the 11th round of their 1986 fight, "wore you down," according to the British boxer.
When asked about Mike Tyson's punching power, Bruno offered a different perspective:
"Tyson's quick and he's powerful, he hits like a whip, but it's a different variety."
He had similar thoughts on Lennox Lewis:
"Lennox Lewis was a different cup of tea, everyone's got their style and how they can punch, different skills."
Bruno's career reached its pinnacle in 1995 when he defeated Oliver McCall to win the WBC heavyweight title. However, his reign was short-lived. In his final fight in 1996, he lost the WBC strap to Mike Tyson, after which he retired from the sport.
Bruno's insights offer a unique perspective on the power dynamics in heavyweight boxing during his era, highlighting that raw power isn't always the most impactful factor in the ring.