Frank Bruno has claimed he sank eight pints of beer in just two hours at just eight years old.
Bruno was one of the most popular British heavyweights of all time and captured the nation with his powerful displays throughout his heavyweight career. He shared the ring with some of the most iconic names in the blue-riband division during his era including Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis.
The British star was not always afforded time to party with his priority heavily focused on his boxing career. However, his experiences with alcohol started very early when he recalls returning home to his mum who found him drunk with his friend during his childhood.
“Me and my mate came across a barrel of beer that had been turfed into the street," Bruno said when recalling the incident at just eight years of age. "I remember taking a sip and thinking it tasted horrible. But we just kept on necking it until the whole barrel was empty. We drank about eight pints each in less than a couple of hours.
“Even my old mate Gazza would struggle to go that quickly.” He later added in his new book 60 Years A Fighter: “I was swaying all the way home and my head was spinning when I fell through the door.
"God knows what my mum was thinking as she saw me rocking from side to side and in a right old state. Moments later I was sick all over the house. The whole episode put me off drinking for life and I rarely touch booze even today.”
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Bruno also details in his book his mental health battle after his boxing career faded following his retirement. The boxing legend was sectioned during the coronavirus lockdown after handing himself into rehabilitation to prevent himself from becoming a threat to himself.
However, he has now made a full recovery but continues his battle every single day. An inspiration to others, Bruno even contemplated returning to the ring after watching former two-time opponent Mike Tyson take on an exhibition challenge against Roy Jones Jr.
He was heavily linked with an exhibition against current champion Tyson Fury who named him on his hit-list for a planned exhibition series. However, Bruno has since ruled out lacing up his gloves again and entering the squared circle due to an injury to his eye. “Can I confirm as much as I appreciate the invitation I WILL NOT be fighting my pal Tyson Fury in an exhibition bout,” Bruno wrote on Twitter. I’ve a detached retina and even the slightest accidental stray punch would make me blind. However, I’ll accept the challenge on a computer game!”
