Frank Bruno delivers knock-out address at National Later Life Adviser Conference

25 June 2019

Former WBC Heavyweight boxing world champion, Frank Bruno MBE, delivered an emotional and inspirational key-note address at today’s National Later Life Adviser Conference which took place at the Madejski Stadium, Reading.

Sponsored by provider, more 2 life, Frank discussed his illustrious career which saw him becoming world champion, as well as some of the mental health difficulties he has faced since retiring from the sport.

Speaking to Stuart Wilson, CEO of Answers in Retirement Group, Bruno described his win against Oliver McCall to become Heavyweight Champion of the World as “a dream come true”. He said: “At the time I was 33 years old and I knew that I didn’t have many chances left. Normally I would go into training camp two months before a fight, but with McCall I went in for four months.”

Bruno added that during his boxing career he had managed to keep mental health issues at bay. “I didn’t have time to feel sorry for myself at the time,” he said. “I was the breadwinner. I was fit. I had a target and I just got on with it. After I retired, the pressure came on – I got divorced, some people who I trusted stole money from me, and I ended up getting sectioned three times.”

The boxer said the he found it difficult to find people to trust and only had a few friends to fall back on, but when he went through difficult times, was able to call upon his mum who was a district nurse.

“I should have got help earlier on,” he said. “When I got divorced, I burnt myself out. Luckily, there was help out there and I was able to confide in my mum. She knew I was under too much pressure, she understood, she gave good advice and I took it.”

Bruno said that society’s take on mental health issues was now incredibly different to just a couple of decades ago. “It’s now so much better than it was years ago,” he said. “In work places now, you can speak to people about mental health issues, there’s help available. It’s a different world.”

Bruno outlined the work of his Foundation which is establishing a unit in Northampton to help people with mental health issues – it will provide counselling and a range of support and activities to help people. “It’s going to be a place to leave the pressure behind,” he said. “To unload your feelings and get the help people need.”