FRANK Bruno's friends have begged him to stay out of the boxing ring amid fears he could become brain damaged or die.
Concerns over the former heavyweight's health erupted after he announced he was training to fight again.
But experts fear his age could make a dangerous punch fatal.
While the brain injury charity Headway said it was 'deeply concerned' about the boxer's plans.
Boxing promoter Frank Warren was among those who asked the 54-year-old to reconsider.
He said: “I’m not sure who is advising him, but if they care about Frank and care about boxing they need to talk him out of this.
"The same goes for the British public, he needs to be told how loved he is and that nobody wants to see him get hurt.
“If he does fight, he is putting his life at risk. It is that serious.”
However Bruno's dream of returning to the boxing ring has already been partially crushed.
The British Boxing Board of Control recently told the fighter he would not be granted a licence.
He broke the news to his fans on Twitter: 'My agent has received notification from the British Boxing board of Control that should I apply for a License this would not be granted'.
Dave Davies, his agent, also confirmed the news: “Frank, like many other former sports stars, misses the good times when he was in the boxing ring and watching his son train has reignited his wish to return to the ring.
“However we have had confirmation today that should an application for a boxing licence be received from Frank it would be declined.
"As agents for Frank we must respect and accept their decision.”
The 'superman' told ITV This Morning presenter Philip Schofield that he was returning to boxing to help him cope with the side effects of his bipolar medication.
When he was asked how the drugs made him feel, he said: “They made me suicidal – mess up your head, mess up your clock – you can’t sleep.
"I’m walking around break-dancing I’ve got so much energy.
“I feel like superman, I’m going to the gym all the time, working hard – that’s why I’ve got to come into boxing ¿ to get this out of my system, because I don’t want to end up in Broadmoor hospital.”
“I’m coming back into boxing.”
The 14-year fighter also told This Morning presenters he was heading into the ring because he didn't like being 'mugged off'.
He said: “I haven’t got no choice.
"I train every day.
"I can’t really sit down and let these so-called promoters say that their guy beat me in two rounds – and I’m alive and I’ve got to take that.
Bruno claimed he wanted to go head-to-head with the current Commonwealth, British and WBC International heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.
“It’s my job, it’s my profession... you’re good at your job, I’m good at my job.”
He was recently snapped training with boxing promoter Ricky Hatton.
The champ has suffered from mental health issues since he retired from boxing in 1996.
He was sectioned in 2003 in a psychiatric hospital just outside Brentwood after his mental and physical health raised concerns following his divorce with wife Laura.
In November last year, Bruno said he wanted to sit down with David Cameron to discuss medication prescribed to mental health sufferers and the after care available.
No comments:
Post a Comment