Reporter Barb Charzuk received a Google alert last week about boxer Frank Bruno, former world heavyweight champion and the former European title holder who trained in Fountain Hills at Club Mirage prior to his fight against heavyweight champion Mike Tyson in 1989.

The alert was about two stories that ran in newspapers in both the United States and England that reported Bruno wants to make a return to competitive boxing at the age of 54.

Bruno won the WBC heavyweight belt in 1995, beating Oliver McCall. He held the title for six months, He lost it in the third round of a rematch with Tyson. It was the last time he boxed.

Bruno was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2003, an illness he says that has left him feeling “suicidal.” He has been involuntarily committed to psychiatric care on three occasions.

“I’ve got to get back into boxing to get this out of my system because I don’t want to end up in a (psychiatric) hospital,” he told British broadcaster ITV last Monday.

I’ve been in the gym all the time, that’s why I want to come back into boxing.”

That sounds different from the Frank Bruno we all knew and enjoyed during his time at the club.

His training camp was set up in a 60-foot by 60-foot tent at Club Mirage, a former swimming and tennis club that was located in north central Fountain Hills.

I mentioned Club Mirage in a column in mid-December. It was opened in October 1987 after GM Development purchased the former Fountain Hills Swim & Racquet Club and renovated it. GM President Gary Martinson presented his plan to the Committee of Architecture.

The remodel of the old club included digging out the old pool and building a new pool suitable for competitive swimming. An addition to the clubhouse was built that included a new weight room on a lower level and added an upper level for additional workout equipment and offices. An expanded dining room and kitchen for a restaurant was included on the main level.

As for the Bruno boxing camp coming to Fountain Hills, Club Manager Tom Carlson said at the time, “This came together so fast. We got the first phone call on (Wednesday) Dec. 28 and the deal was finalized by Friday night.

The English fighter was scheduled to fight Tyson in Las Vegas on Feb. 25, 1989. Bruno had a 32-2 record with 31 knockouts. Tyson was undefeated at that time, and he was destroying his competition. Few of his fights were lasting more one round.

Bruno came in as the European heavyweight champion and he was ranked first among contenders in the heavyweight division.

He arrived at Sky Harbor Airport on January 5th. I went with Martinson and Carlson to take photos for the paper and welcomeBruno and his training team to Fountain Hills.

The credit for bringing the Bruno camp to Fountain Hills went to Phoenix Cardinal star running back Stump Mitchell and KTVK-TV sportscaster Ronnie Duncan. Mitchell was one of 11 Phoenix Cardinals that located in Fountain Hills when the football team originally moved to Phoenix in 1988.

Once Bruno became busy with workouts, he quickly became a fan favorite. Spectators reportedly came from the Valley and from throughout the state.

The club was crawling with media sportscasters on Wednesday, Jan. 11, when a press conference was held at the club.

Carlson said the club began charging a fee for those wanting to watch his workouts. Even with the fee, you could barely find a seat.

The bleachers that were added to the workout tent were constantly full.

His British accent and deep voice made him popular to talk to. When he would go running from the club down Saguaro Boulevard and around the park in the mornings, people would honk at him from their cars or wave. He would respond by throwing a few punches without missing a step.

HBO, which did the broadcast of his fight, showed him running along the road around Fountain Park and working out in his tent in a pre-fight video on him training in the Arizona desert for the fight.

He ended up losing to Tyson, but he went five rounds.

In his post-fight press conference, he thanked the people at Club Mirage and the nice people in Fountain Hills for their hospitality.

I wish him the best with his current problem, but I don’t think he will find the answer in the ring.

The British Boxing Board of Control would need to grant Bruno a license to box.