How Would British Heavyweights Frank Bruno, Herbie Hide, and John L. Gardner have Done in Today’s Heavyweight Division? Part I

By Roy “Sharpshooter” Bennett

Britain used to have a reputation for producing what our American brother’s across the pond called, “The horizontal heavyweight.” A long line of hapless challengers who tried unsuccessfully to wrest the richest prize in sports from the grasp of American and, in recent times, Eastern European titleholders. And it says here that RSR ranked – No.2 contender -Tyson Fury will do nothing to change that perception when he eventually fights champion Wladimir Klitschko for the championship.

In the early 1930’s British heavyweight Phil Scott, who the American’s rather unkindly dubbed “Fainting Phil,” started the ignominious tradition when he fought and lost by knockout in succession to Yankee heavyweights Jack Sharkey, Young Stribling, and Larry Gains, all within three rounds or less. Scott was a decent heavyweight who could punch a bit but he couldn’t take it on the chin or in the breadbasket and was known for sinking to his knees, clutching his groin and crying foul when he got hit in the midriff, even in some fights he subsequently went on to win by decision. The record books say both Bob Fitzsimmons and Lennox Lewis were born in England but the fact remains both left the green grass of the homeland when they were young (Fitzsimmons was 9, Lewis 12) and learned their boxing elsewhere, Fitzsimmons in New Zealand and Lewis in Canada.

For Britain to claim either as a homegrown heavyweight world champion is disingenuous at best and outright fantasy at worst. If you remain unconvinced by my observation then ask yourself this. What major contribution did Britain make to either Fitzsimmons or Lewis’ ascendancy to the heavyweight world championship? I think you’ll find it to be minimal at best.

During World War II Welsh heavyweight Tommy Farr briefly restored British pride with a brilliant performance against Joe Louis in 1937 losing a decision over fifteen rounds, even managing to hurt the feared champion on a couple of occasions. But in later years, after Farr’s heroic deed, a succession of British heavyweight challengers were dispatched in quick order or suffered steady beatings at the hands of reigning titleholders in different eras.

Don Cockell, Brian London, Henry Cooper, Richard Dunne, Joe Bugner, Frank Bruno, Danny Williams, David Haye, etc all had their challenges turned back by the likes of Rocky Marciano, Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, and the brothers Klitschko, respectively.

Frank Bruno eventually broke the curse, on his fourth attempt, out pointing the always erratic and mentally fragile American WBC titleholder Oliver McCall in 1995. The whole of Britain rejoiced. But the celebrations were tinged with a creeping dread. In the same year Mike Tyson would emerge from his prison cell after serving three years – of a six year sentence – and yet again cast his foreboding shadow over the heavyweight division. Tyson would viciously rip the crown form Bruno’s head in three rounds in March of 1996. When all was said and done Bruno had held the title for only six months.

David Haye held a piece of the title for 18 months but was found to be woefully inadequate when he met Wladimir Klitschko, the consensus undisputed champion, losing a wide one sided decision over twelve rounds in 2011.

But what of today’s heavyweight division?

From a British perspective is it really among the worst eras in boxing history? How would three select British heavies from the past have done today? One who fought on the biggest stage, one who held a lesser fragment of the title, and one who went to America to try to earn his shot at the championship but came up short. Some, myself included, feel the heavyweight division lies in a strange limbo nowadays half bestride its past and half bestride its future. And Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko are the bridge between the unforgettable days of Larry Holmes, “Kid Dynamite” aka Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, the second coming of big George Foreman, Lennox Lewis, and the division as it stands today. Vitali is retired and Wladimir has reigned supreme for the last ten years. Deontay Wilder, holder of the WBC trinket, wants us to believe he’s the future – not only of the heavyweight division but of the whole sport. Make of that what you will.

In the meantime, while we wait to see which fighter emerges as the new superstar face of the sport, Wilder has to keep winning. If he doesn’t get his chin shattered by a wild swinging challenger he’ll eventually have to go through Klitschko to take over the championship reins or wait until “Dr Steelhammer” steps down and retires.

But I digress. In attempting to determine the difference between the strength of British heavyweight boxing talent after 1980 and heavyweight contenders today, I’ll match three British heavyweights from the past against three of the current crop of RSR ranked top ten heavyweight contenders.

Frank Bruno vs Deontay Wilder (RSR ranked – No.3)

Herbie Hide vs Alexander Povetkin (RSR ranked – No.1)

Jonh L. Gardner vs Bryant Jennings (RSR ranked – No.4)

I’ve always believed that the early developmental stages of a boxer’s career, say the first ten bouts, reveal quite a lot about him. For example, how confident are his management? Is it a steady learning curve or are they being overprotective? Was the fighter thrown to the wolves and overmatched or was he primarily matched against boxers with losing records? Was the fighter dominant in winning or did he struggle with journeyman level opposition?

Lets get ready to rumble!

Frank Bruno

40-5, 38 KO’s

London, England

Bruno stood 6ft 3″ and weighed in on average between 230 – 240 lbs. Heavily muscled, some said too much so, the Englishman looked like a Greek statue rendered from black alabaster. His underrated technical skills were developed under the aegis of the highly regarded professional boxing trainer Terry Lawless. Possessing a telephone pole of a left jab he was big puncher with the right hand. Bruno was a danger to anyone he could hit cleanly, had faster hands than people gave him credit for and was accurate with his punches. But a lack of overall movement fluency was an inherent weakness in his boxing style and, by association, a lack of stamina made him vulnerable late in bouts against top level opposition. The combined record of his first 10 opponents was: 143-88-5. Bruno’s early development was steady. His management took no big risks with him. They fed him a diet of solid journeymen and developed him step by step. Of his first 10 opponents 9 had winning records. The combined record of the last 4 opponents before first his first title shot amounted to: 99-21-3. Among them was the big punching former WBA heavyweight champion, Gerrie Coetzee of South Africa, who was dispatched in one round with a right hand of such force he ended up stretched out over the bottom rope out cold.

Deontay Wilder

35-0, 34 KO’s

Alabama, USA

Wilder stands exceptionally tall at 6ft 7″ and typically weighs in around 220 – 230 lbs. He is an imposing physical specimen and possesses a good jab, natural athleticism, and is a big puncher with the straight right hand. Very aggressive from long range and confident with it. Worryingly, he lacks the solidly built legs you’d expect a heavyweight of his size to possess and there are question marks about his chin.

Interestingly enough the combined record of his first ten opponents was: 30-36-10. There is a growing chorus of criticism from some fans that Wilder has been overprotected. I concur. Even if you allow for the overall losing record of his first 10 opponents and cite the winning combined numbers of his last 4 opponents – 107-32-6 – prior to fighting Bermane Stiverne for the WBC title these stats are deceiving. Upon closer inspection, prior to facing Wilder, three of his foes at this pre title shot stage shape up as follows:

Siarhei Liakovich – lost 4 of his previous 6 bouts.

Nicoli Firtha – lost 3 of his previous 5.

Jason Gavern – lost 8 of his previous 12.

Malik Scott was the 4th opponent in this stage of Wilder’s development and he failed to last a round. But the manner of his capitulation was so farcical it answered no questions as to whether Wilder was truly ready for the step up to championship class. Although Wilder would go on to annexe the title from Stiverne the defending champion turned up looking like he’d trained at
Krispy Kreme. The doubts about Wilder’s true level remain.

Conclusion

Rest assured this one is not going the distance. But I don’t see a quick blow out by either boxer. Bruno had a pretty decent chin and was only stopped by big hitters at the very top level. Sure Wilder can bang a bit but the quality of his opposition leaves me questioning whether he can do it in top flight company. And Wider’s chin may prove to be his Achilles heel. The lightly regarded Eric Molina had Wilder on unsteady legs in his first defence of his WBC bauble. For all the talk of his punching prowess there’s a vulnerability about Wilder which I just can’t ignore. Bruno was a very hard puncher and I feel he could survive an early onslaught to lay Wilder out for the full count in five rounds.

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