BRUNO WAS SO FOCUSED

BOXING is almost back and we should have some news soon on when our shows will return.

But while we wait, this week I look back at another one of my favourite in-ring moments – and that occurred at Wembley Stadium in 1995.

The national stadium was the setting for the magical night when Frank Bruno finally won a world heavyweight title at the fourth attempt.

With Oliver Mccall holding the WBC title, I backed Bruno to beat him.

I just really fancied him in the fight and when we went over to watch the American face Larry Holmes, I spotted something about him.

Mccall would continually look out of the ring and seemed easily distracted.

This would help Bruno go one step further than when he lost to Tim Witherspoon, Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson.

But it was also going to be about going into the late rounds with this guy, so I told Bruno’s trainer George Francis he had to have him in perfect condition and to be

■ able to hold on late in the fight.

Bruno was classed as ‘chinny’ by many but he wasn’t, it was just he would gas heavily in fights and then go rigid when he was hit.

But this time it wouldn’t happen.

It was a huge night at the home of English football and the atmosphere was brilliant.

I put Nigel Benn and Prince Naseem Hamed at either side of the ring as I wanted them shouting to Bruno ‘You’re winning, you’re on top’ all the way through.

This helped distract Mccall and Bruno was brilliant as he won almost every one of the 12 rounds.

When the decision was announced, the fireworks went off and Land of Hope and Glory blasted out.

The next day we had Bruno out on an open-top bus and crowds came out in their thousands to see him.

It was a magical moment as one of British boxing’s favourites got his crowning glory.