31 years on from their undisputed heavyweight world title battle, Iron MIKE welcomed Frank Bruno into his home with open arms, instead of clenched fists, to celebrate their reunion.
In February 1989, with Tyson perhaps at his terrifying peak after recently demolishing an aging but all-time great Larry Holmes and Michael Spinks, Frank went to Las Vegas for his second crack at gold.
While Mike was billed as ‘an animal’ a warped human being who took immense pleasure from inflicting pain.
The childhood bullying victim lisped little more than threats now he was a fearsome man whose fanbase seemed to grow in tandem with his rap sheet.
Frank, in stark contrast, was the 6ft 3in powerhouse still struggling to convince hardcore fight fans – who doubted his courage and chin could match his bodybuilder muscles – that he was the real deal.
His family, including daughter Rachel, did not want their hero to leave them for the fight and she had good reason to be cautious.
The gentle-giant Londoner was battered into the canvas from Mike’s first trademark attack but bravely beat the count.
And he even wobbed the 22-year-old Brooklyn monster, for the first time in his career, with a peach of a left hook.
At the end of the third, Mike clumped Frank after the bell but in typical fashion Frank was a gentleman and did not retaliate or make a fuss.
Frank B. was brutalised in the hard-to-watch fifth but refused to return to the canvas. But the proud nation was relieved when referee Richard Steele dived in to save him from any more punishment.
Mike T., though, did not revel in his one-sided victory. Even with his new and toxic entourage clambering for his attention, Iron Mike walked back across the ring to embrace Frank Bruno in a hug that marked the start of the sort of friendship only boxing can create.
The pair crossed swords again, seven years later
Bruno had finally been crowned WBC champion six months earlier, at the fourth time of asking, by beating Oliver McCall in a tear-soaked night at Wembley.
After that, Iron Mike Tyson had lost four prime years of his career to a rape conviction and saw a ripe and vulnerable Frank B. as easy prey for the green and gold belt.
In the opening round was slashed Bruno’s left eyelid,and his jaw and brain reminded brutally of Mike’s ferocity.
In first clash in Las Vegas 1989, Mike Tyson butchered Bruno.
Gentle-giant Bruno took a savage beating from Tyson in their first 1989 meeting
The Brooklyn bad boy brutalised the brave Brit in their 1996 rematch for the WBC title
