Bruno fancies chances against Harrison

Frank Bruno has dismissed suggestions he would be unwise to make Audley Harrison his first opponent on his ring return.

The former world heavyweight champion, now 41, wants to come out of a seven-year retirement to fight Harrison in a one-off fight.

He has confidence in his ability and does not necessarily believe he needs a couple of warm-up bouts before tackling the Olympic heavyweight champion – as George Foreman did when he returned to the sport.

Doubts remain over Bruno’s fitness and his ability to obtain a licence from the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBC) since he retired from the sport because of a detached retina.

But Bruno said: “If George Foreman has done it and others have done it, I don’t see why I can’t.

“I’ve started to train people and train young boxers, I’m not just sitting in my house drinking champagne,” he said.

“I’m working every single day.”

Bruno remains confident in his ability, adding: “I could beat him inside three rounds if you want to know the truth.

“I’ve studied him and he’s in the right sort of market to be picked like a fresh orange.”

There would appear to be little incentive for Harrison – who has won all 10 fights since turning professional after winning the Olympic title in Sydney – to take on Bruno.

But Bruno believes Harrison can be persuaded, saying: “If the money was right, he’d fight King Kong.”

Bruno’s last fight was a convincing defeat to Mike Tyson – then a lot closer to the height of his powers than the boxer beaten by Lennox Lewis last year.

And Bruno thinks he has benefited from his time out of the sport before suggesting that a meeting with Harrison could take place at Upton Park.

He continued: “At the time, I was working, working, working.

“But now, I’ve rested a little bit, I’m thinking I’m right for a good fight in the summer somewhere like West Ham football club.”

The chances of the two men meeting were increased yesterday when Harrison refused to rule out a fight, claiming it would be an “honour” to go head-to-head with the former world heavyweight champion.

He said: “Frank was a hero to me in the eighties and early nineties. I think he was an outstanding boxing ambassador for Great Britain and it would be an honour to share a ring with him – when the time is right and of course if it is actually safe for him to do so.”

Harrison’s business manager Hazel Bruno-Gilbert pointed out that there were plenty of hurdles to be cleared before any possible bout could be considered.

Bruno-Gilbert said: “The fight would have mass appeal with the British public and Audley is ready to accept the challenge.”