Boxing: Bruno plans comeback fight against Harrison

Frank Bruno, the former world heavyweight champion and sometime star of the pantomimes, has revealed he is determined to fight again – and that he wants a showdown with Audley Harrison next summer.

Bruno, who is 41, is ready to end his seven-year exile and fight Harrison if he can pass a British Boxing Board of Control medical and, more importantly, if a million pounds can be made available.

Frank Warren, who promoted Bruno's late path to glory, has indicated that he is willing to offer Harrison a substantial sum to meet Bruno. It has also been revealed that Harrison has already discussed a possible fight against Bruno with the retired boxer's new advisers and, according to rumour, Harrison is very interested in the deal.

If Bruno can satisfy the board's strict medical tests, and if Harrison can be made to see financial common sense, then the fight really could happen next summer on a pay-per-view channel. Harrison is currently renegotiating with the BBC and is undefeated in 10 fights, while Bruno left the sport having won 40 of his 45 fights.

If the pair meet it will be similar to the 1987 extravaganza at White Hart Lane when Joe Bugner returned from his Australian exile to lose to Bruno in a one-sided bloodbath. Bugner was 37 at the time.

Meanwhile, there was some action in the ring over the weekend at York Hall, Bethnal Green, where Edinburgh's Craig Docherty won the Commonwealth super-featherweight title when he stopped Dean Pithie in the eighth round. Docherty and Pithie failed to generate much publicity but the mere suggestion that Bruno is getting back in the ring has created a storm.