FRANK WEIGHS IN FOR OMAGH SUPPORT BILL
Frank weighs in for Omagh support bill
BOXING
DAVID KELLY
FRANK Bruno will be the heavyweight attraction at Wednesday's boxing night in aid of the Omagh Appeal.
Former world champion Bruno is giving his help to the show which will also have VIPs such as former world champions Barry McGuigan, Steve Collins and Glenn McCrory and promoter Frank Maloney, who also manages current heavyweight kingpin Lennox Lewis.
Bruno, the most popular British fighter over the past two decades as he tried and failed three times before claiming the coveted World heavyweight championship, felt compelled to give whatever help he could.
"What happened in Omagh really hit me hard - I'm a family man with kids and it struck home just what those people must have been going through after the bomb,' said Bruno, who is financially secure after a lucrative career.
"Hopefully, it will be a good night and we can do something to help the people in Omagh.
"I've been to Ireland quite a few times and I'm really looking forward to going back and enjoying a pint of Guinness!"
The highlight of Bruno's career came in 1996 when he took the WBC heavyweight title from American Oliver McCall before 60,000 fans at Wembley Stadium.
His second encounter with Mike Tyson drew major pay-per-view ratings but that was to be the last time he would lace up the gloves, losing in three rounds.
"Beating McCall was great. At one point I thought I would never win the world title," added the Londoner who is pleased to see Tyson getting a second chance after his act of cannibalism on Tyson.
"They fined him two million dollars and ridiculed him with shrinks (testing him) and made him sweat. He paid his dues and it was right that they gave him his licence back."
Now the gentle giant is kept busy with personal appearances and will once again be involved in Pantomime, in Southampton, despite recent bad publicity surrounding his personal life.
"That's behind me now and a lot of what was said wasn't true. You have to take the good publicity with the bad. We've sorted everything out.
"I'm kept very busy with personal appearances and various things - I was recently in Hawaii judging a beauty contest."
According to organiser Paddy McMahon, the show at the Omagh Leisure Complex which features Commonwealth Games boxers Ben McGarrigle and Paul McCloskey is already a sellout.
BOXING
DAVID KELLY
FRANK Bruno will be the heavyweight attraction at Wednesday's boxing night in aid of the Omagh Appeal.
Former world champion Bruno is giving his help to the show which will also have VIPs such as former world champions Barry McGuigan, Steve Collins and Glenn McCrory and promoter Frank Maloney, who also manages current heavyweight kingpin Lennox Lewis.
Bruno, the most popular British fighter over the past two decades as he tried and failed three times before claiming the coveted World heavyweight championship, felt compelled to give whatever help he could.
"What happened in Omagh really hit me hard - I'm a family man with kids and it struck home just what those people must have been going through after the bomb,' said Bruno, who is financially secure after a lucrative career.
"Hopefully, it will be a good night and we can do something to help the people in Omagh.
"I've been to Ireland quite a few times and I'm really looking forward to going back and enjoying a pint of Guinness!"
The highlight of Bruno's career came in 1996 when he took the WBC heavyweight title from American Oliver McCall before 60,000 fans at Wembley Stadium.
His second encounter with Mike Tyson drew major pay-per-view ratings but that was to be the last time he would lace up the gloves, losing in three rounds.
"Beating McCall was great. At one point I thought I would never win the world title," added the Londoner who is pleased to see Tyson getting a second chance after his act of cannibalism on Tyson.
"They fined him two million dollars and ridiculed him with shrinks (testing him) and made him sweat. He paid his dues and it was right that they gave him his licence back."
Now the gentle giant is kept busy with personal appearances and will once again be involved in Pantomime, in Southampton, despite recent bad publicity surrounding his personal life.
"That's behind me now and a lot of what was said wasn't true. You have to take the good publicity with the bad. We've sorted everything out.
"I'm kept very busy with personal appearances and various things - I was recently in Hawaii judging a beauty contest."
According to organiser Paddy McMahon, the show at the Omagh Leisure Complex which features Commonwealth Games boxers Ben McGarrigle and Paul McCloskey is already a sellout.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0501
Published Date: 14-Nov-98
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