In a meeting with my psychiatrist he told me about a patient he met who had a Frank Bruno T-shirt.  My psychiatrist was impressed because Frank Bruno is his hero.  After mentioning this to the patient, the paitent said, “yes he’s my hero too, he is an amazing boxer.”  To which my psychiatrist replied: “yes he’s a great hero, but for me, not because of his boxing, because of his openness about his experience of mental health –depression and bipolar.”

I was left really intrigued.  I had no idea Frank Bruno had suffered a break down and since 2003 has been living with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.  Well, the next day I headed down to the local library and managed to get my hands on a copy of ‘Fighting Back’, Frank Bruno’s biography.

In his own words Frank takes the reader straight into the most challenging and difficult time of his life, detailing his admission to Goodsmayes Hospital.  After jumping in at the deep end the story then goes back to his childhood and works through his upbringings to his ascent as a boxer in Wandsworth all the way to World Champion.

The accounts of the fights are really gripping.  I thought they might bore me because I’m not a boxing follower but I found myself totally hooked, willing Frank to win.  I felt happy with every triumph and disappointed for every loss.  I think Frank’s kind, down to earth and friendly nature make him so likeable you can’t help but feel a lot of empathy for him. 

The account of his illness and recovery is sad, in particular his account of Mike Tyson’s response is a really moving part of the story.  Despite the sadness, Frank is encouraging.  He is real.  And he definitely earns the title ‘hero’, in more ways than one.

Despite working wit a co-writer Frank has a very clear authorial voice and transmits a lot of his personality through his writing.  It’s amazing that an average person like myself can empathise with a legend such as Frank Bruno.

A must read, “do you know what I mean!”

10/10

Fighting Fit, London, 2013