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Frank Bruno 'starting to mend' following pneumonia treatment

The former world heavyweight champion was hospitalised this week.

Former world heavyweight champion Frank Bruno has revealed he is on the mend after being treated for pneumonia in hospital.

The 57-year-old had been admitted to Horton General hospital in Banbury, his agent said on Monday.

In a tweet sent on Thursday, Bruno wrote: "Good Morning. Thank you for all the well wishes I've been reading them all – I feel like I'm finally starting to mend. I've certainly never felt so ill. Pneumonia... you've been a knockout!"

Bruno, one of Britain's most popular sportsmen, won the WBC heavyweight title at the fourth attempt when he beat American Oliver McCall at Wembley in September 1995.

He had previously lost title bouts to Tim Witherspoon, in 1986, Mike Tyson in 1989 and Lennox Lewis in 1993.

Last week marked the 30th anniversary of Bruno's most famous fight, when he took on the fearsome Tyson at his peak.

Bruno and wife Laura with WBC belt
Frank Bruno was crowned world heavyweight champion in 1995 (Sean Dempsey/PA)

Then aged 27, Bruno rocked the American champion with a left hook in the early stages, only for Tyson to recover and win in the fifth round.

Bruno's final professional bout was a third-round defeat by Tyson in March 1996, the first defence of his world title.

A regular ringside spectator, Bruno was pictured looking fit and healthy at the fight between Chris Eubank Jr and James Degale on February 23.

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