Boxing icon Frank Bruno undergoes scans amid fears his brain is on 'slow decline'

Former world heavyweight champion boxer has been undergoing tests in hospital, with doctors fearing his "brain might be on a slow decline".

Bruno, who beat Oliver McCall to win the WBC title in 1995, had 45 professional fights . He retired in 1996 after losing the title to with a 40-5 record, having been knocked out in all five defeats.

And doctors are now trying to determine whether the damage he suffered from have affected his brain. "We have learned recently that his brain might be on a slow decline," Bruno's daughter, Rachel said.

"They are just doing scans and tests at the moment. With the impact of his career and constant knocks to the head, it's obviously probably not helped. We don't know how fast his brain is going to decline. It's sad but we're a strong family and we want to cherish these moments."

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also quote a source close to the former boxer as saying: "Frank's in a great place at the moment and feeling fitter and healthier than he has in years. Each week he will be at three or four events talking about his career and working. All retired boxers have regular checks, and Frank is no different."

Bruno has been open about his struggles with his mental health over the years, having spent several weeks in different to receive treatment for bipolar disorder. During the coronavirus lockdown in 2021, Bruno was sectioned under the Mental Health act and later admitted he had hit "rock bottom".

"It has been the hardest and most terrifying time of my life," he told . "I hit rock bottom and ­suffered a breakdown. For my own safety and for the safety of others, I was sectioned and taken back into hospital, I had to face up to the fact my illness had returned after years of keeping a lid on it.

"I had to fight for my sanity and there were times I feared I wouldn't get through it. Being locked up against your will is the worst thing you can ever imagine. It’s ten times scarier than boxing. Being in a hospital for weeks during the pandemic only made it all the more terrifying.

"But, thankfully, not least due to the support and love of family and friends, I was able to pull myself away from the cliff-edge. I'm still standing. All the routine and structure in my ­vanished.

"Work started to be ­cancelled. Gyms closed. And the health spa near my house, which is like a second home, shut too. I quickly felt like a bit of a prisoner in my own home and my illness started to take hold again. Then, when I started to lose friends to Covid, it was like a ­perfect storm was crashing around above my head."

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