Frank Bruno answers our burning questions in this exclusive interview

The pinnacle of Bruno's boxing career was winning the WBC heavyweight title from Oliver McCall at a packed Wembley Stadium in 1995, in what was his fourth world championship challenge.

He faced multiple top-rated heavyweights, including two fights against Mike Tyson in 1989 and 1996, and a domestic clash against Lennox Lewis in 1993.

Like Henry Cooper before him, Bruno was hugely popular with the British and became a household name in the 80s and 90s.

Oxford Mail spoke to him ahead of an Evening With Frank Bruno and Guests.

In the new Sky documentary Bruno v Tyson, Mike Tyson has recalled seeing “white lights” after a punch – how close do you think you came to winning?

I know I rocked him with that punch and people say why did you not follow up and finish the job. Trust me, in boxing hitting out can also lose some of your defence strategy and with Mike Tyson no area should be allowed to be exposed to act as a target.

He was a strong, strong man. Boxing is like a game of chess and it is very easy for a spectator to say you should do this and this - at the time I did my best but sadly my best was not good enough against an amazing boxer in his prime.

When you fought Lennox Lewis it was the first time two Brits had fought for the world heavyweight title – was that a proud moment?

Irrespective of who I was fighting it was no more a prouder moment than some of the other fights. It was a bit of a grudge fight as there had been a war of words prior to the fight and I really wanted win because of that.

I loved fighting in the UK whoever the opponent unless I lost!

You said you weren’t the most talented but you were the most determined, was that to do with your childhood?

No, although watching Muhammad Ali did make me want to win. I soon realised as a kid I was good with my hands once I was cultivated and trained to box, I worked out I could earn some money doing this.

I had a family to provide for so needed to work and I had my experiences of labouring and working daily really hard on a building site. So, to get paid for fighting which I was good at and enjoyed the training, it was a no brainer.

Will you be talking about mental health – how is it going and how are you spending your time now?

I quite often talk about my mental health. There is no point hiding from it or as in the old days “sweeping it under the carpet”.

I have good days and better days, I just want to be out to work, travelling the country entertaining people who I thank God still want to buy tickets to see me perform.

I try and fill every day up. I have just finished my new book with someone helping me and its out for Christmas. I train most days and try and fill my day with different things -  as I type this, I have just been to the zoo with my grandchild.

Can you tell us about your charity foundation?

I was blessed in my life and after have some poor mental health wanted to try and help people who have mental health issues which is a broad subject.

The training that boxers do can sort out a lot of mental issues anger, depression, mind set, wellbeing, so I have the Frank Bruno Foundation which has its first centre in Northampton with another one opening soon in East London.

We have a special course and we help people every week. The course is non-contact boxing, but a lot of the training is principles of boxing and it is working with the people who attend the courses.

Kids who have been suspended from schools come to us and go back to school, people referred by the police come and work with us. I have been around a lot of charities all my life, but my charity does not just say the right things we actually do something and it is paying dividends and I am delighted with the results we are getting.

But like all charities we need money to run this, so we have always got our hand out for funding.

You look amazing for 60 – what do you eat and how do you work out?

I try and eat healthy but now and again have some naughty treats. I don’t really drink. I walk, run on the treadmill, use a punch bag, weights, swim - just a varied exercise programme some days 2 x 4 hours other days just an hour, or I will have a massage and steam.

In the 80s and 90s you became a household name, what projects and people did you enjoy working with at that time?

Boxing was my main work but when not fighting or training for a fight, loads of TV adverts and voiceovers, pantomimes.

I was invited on every TV programme from Sooty, Blue Peter, Wogan, The Royal Variety Show. I worked with the Royal family on their various charities - it was a full life which I enjoyed.

If you spend a few hours on YouTube you can see some of the things I did in that period. I was told that after Princess Diana I was the most popular person in Great Britain which is a nice accolade.

I was told by my then trainer “Boxing is a short lived sport you need to prepared for when boxing stops” which was great advice so I learned to do the celeb thing and be seen everywhere, which paid off.

Do people still shout “Know what I mean, Harry” at you?

Every day, non-stop, its part of the English language now. Does it annoy me? No.

Do you still idolise Muhammad Ali?

I don’t think you ever stop idolising your heroes. I either heard his fights on the radio, or saw them on TV.

We met, he offered advice, I spent some time with him - sadly he was in the later stages of his Parkinson’s when we actually sat down together for quality time and now his grandson is keeping up the family name after his first fight win.

There will never be another like him ever.

Who do you rate of the current crop of boxers?

We are for the first time ever spoiled with the amount of British talent - not only current boxers, male and female, but those coming through the ranks. Look at the Olympics, we held our own.

Obviously, I like Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua but also Joe Joyce, Dillan White and Daniel Debois. I have met them all and they are very respectful of me.

I get asked how I would do against any of them. Listen, I have had my time. I got to the top of the tree, became World Champion and you cannot buy that on Amazon and in history no one can take that away from me.

[Frank’s bonus question!] People have being saying ‘why are you not knighted as you are a national treasure?’

It’s not down to me and I can hardly say, please can I have a knighthood please? So it’s up to the public to suggest me and the powers-that-be to have one of their discussions and who knows it would be an honour. “Sir Frank” nice ring to it, don’t you think?

An Evening with Frank Bruno and Guests, hosted by comedian Jed Stone, is at Jurys Inn, Oxford, on Saturday September 11. It is promoted by Banbury-based Concept Events.

Frank’s new book Still Fighting at 60 will be available at the end of the year from Frank’s website www.frankbruno.co.uk