The Jumbo Cummings punch that nearly sent Frank Bruno into early obscurity

[Howlin Mad Missy]

Was at a stag do this weekend and we got talking about the career of Frank Bruno.

Not the best heavyweight to hold the title by any means (!) but hell he's a national institution over here and is a legend to us Brits.

Someone mentioned the punch that Jumbo Cummings landed on him at the end of the first round (think it was about Frank's 16th fight or so) and I remember seeing it at the time live on tv. Watched it again last nigt for first time in 27 years. Luckily for Frank it landed right on the bell but damn he was out on his feet. Had it landed ten seconds earlier Frank would probably have disappeared the same way as Pele Reid did ! Imagine.

Watch it yourself - punch happens about 8 1/4 minutes in. Guess it was a warning sign of what was to come in Frank's career

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xp1odQQ6N7E

ko's are never 'good' but the out on your feet still getting punched are bad to look at...then again Hatton taking a swan dive wasn't too pretty either.

[ICB]

I've seen this a few times from my memory, it was a right hand at the bell. And Terry Lawless actually had to carry Frank Bruno across the ring. But even if he would of lost to Jumbo Cummings, i don't think his career would of been any different.

I mean he lost to Bonecrusher Smith shortly after this fight. And it didn't really do his career much harm, except blowing a title shot against Larry Holmes. Which would of been a painful experience for him anyway.

[Jimanuel Boogustus]

Ha! Never seen Jumbo before
Fuckin chest on him!

[Master]

That was the first time we realised that Bruno had a fragile chin. Had me on the edge of my seat but he recovered and came back strong.

[Fenster]

I remember an almost identical thing happeni8ng to Herbie Hide

[jamiebhoy]

Said it before but the big mans problem was a lack of defence and knowing what to do when hit, he would just stand there and keep getting hit. Still love Bif Frank, a basic man who had a dream and made it come true, no matter what the route he made it as World Champ and the title meant something to him that money alone couldn't.

Even if Jumbo KO'd him he would probably still have has several title shots as he played the Vritish card well and that's what carried him.

[Greig]

Funny one, but Frank was stopped five times (Tyson twice, Lewis, Smith, Witherspoon) but as far as I'm aware suffered only one knockdown (The flash knockdown in the first round against Tyson - I'm pretty sure it was called a knockdown after Tyson grazed him on top of the head)

Pretty amazing stat for a 'chinny' heavyweight...

[jamiebhoy]

Funny one, but Frank was stopped five times (Tyson twice, Lewis, Smith, Witherspoon) but as far as I'm aware suffered only one knockdown (The flash knockdown in the first round against Tyson - I'm pretty sure it was called a knockdown after Tyson grazed him on top of the head)

Pretty amazing stat for a 'chinny' heavyweight...

My point exactly mate, was never chinny just prone to freezing up !!

[Syntax Error]

Funny one, but Frank was stopped five times (Tyson twice, Lewis, Smith, Witherspoon) but as far as I'm aware suffered only one knockdown (The flash knockdown in the first round against Tyson - I'm pretty sure it was called a knockdown after Tyson grazed him on top of the head)

Pretty amazing stat for a 'chinny' heavyweight...

I've never subscribed to the theory that Bruno was chinny.

Bruno had a weak spot to the top/side of his head; that's how Cummings stunned him & that's how Tyson decked him too, but he took some thunderous punches to his chin without going down in his career.

Frank's real problem was poor stamina, coupled with the fact that he was way too slow, plus an inability to improvise under pressure.