Boxing: 'Allo 'arry, it's Doc Bruno, 'arry. You look so sexy without your specs. Love to Phyllis. This is Doc Bruno signing off; THE FEARS OF ONE BRITISH BOXING LEGEND FOR ANOTHER HARRY CARPENTER ON SAD FAREWELL MESSAGE PAL FRANK LEFT ON HIS ANSWERPHONE.

Byline: KEVIN GARSIDE

IT WAS the moment that Harry Carpenter knew his old friend was in desperate trouble. Pressing the play button on his telephone answer machine at his home in France, this was the message that greeted him.

"Allo 'arry. It's Doc Bruno, 'arry. You looked sexy without your glasses. Love to Phyllis. This is Doc Bruno signing off.''

The random meanderings of an unravelling mind. Bruno was well into his tragic plunge towards mental breakdown when he made that call. He made similar calls to others in the boxing fraternity, seemingly reaching out for help without knowing how to ask.

Carpenter was disturbed by what he had heard and at a loss to comprehend it. He returned the call immediately but Bruno did not pick up.

It was the same story repeated countless times when others had tried to respond to Bruno's increasingly erratic attempts at communication.

The BBC's legendary boxing commentator forged a close relationship with Bruno during the latter part of a broadcasting career that ended at the Commonwealth Games in 1994. Indeed Carpenter accepts that his association with Bruno compromised his professional integrity, witness the excited veteran urging on Bruno during his first fight with Mike Tyson. "Get in there, Frank,'' he implored during the commentary.

Carpenter knew the moment Laura Bruno walked out of the family's Essex mansion, taking the children with her, that Bruno was in jeopardy. The message on his machine in Cognac merely confirmed his fears.

Speaking about the plight of Bruno for the first time, Carpenter said: "It was very strange. And very sad. What has happened to Frank has upset me greatly. But I'm afraid I saw it coming.''

Bruno emerged at a time when Carpenter felt his career was fading and provided a late shot in the arm that would take him through to retirement. "Know what I mean 'arry?'' entered the sporting lexicon, a catch phrase that reflected the affection each felt for the other.

Since hearing about his plight, Carpenter has written to Bruno. He has yet to receive a reply.

"I doubt Frank has so much as filled in a form throughout his life,'' said Carpenter, back in the UK to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the BBC Sports Personality Of The Year awards. "When I heard Frank had been taken into hospital I did not know what to do. It was not plausible to speak by phone and it seemed inappropriate to visit.

"That's a family thing. At times like that you don't want hangers-on around the place, do you? So I dropped him a line. I hope he gets it.

"It's a desperate situation for him and it's hard to see how he is going to get out of it. He does not have the mental resources to cope and no other interests. Boxers live extremely disciplined lives.

"They know exactly what they are going to be doing and when, every minute of the day. Their lives are mapped out in minute detail. Then all of a sudden it stops.

"No-one tells you what you are supposed to do anymore, where you are supposed to go, who you are supposed to see. You are still a young man at 35 but the fighting has finished. And you are no longer able to do the thing you are good at.

"The moment the divorce happened, I could see there would be problems. Frank relied on Laura for everything. She was his rock.

"He was a bit of a loose cannon Frank, with no-one looking after him in that vast house.'' Carpenter began working for the BBC in 1949. Though he was still a journalist on the Sporting Record by day, he quickly built a reputation commentating on amateur boxing every Thursday during the season.

By 1962 he was a full-time employee of the BBC, where his star rose alongside those of Billy Walker, Henry Cooper and, of course, the incomparable Muhammad Ali.

He worked closely with all three but never crossed the line, never became emotionally attached.

With Bruno it was different. The BBC's dominance in boxing was being gradually eroded by ITV. Carpenter's frustration grew in proportion. The great days of Ali had gone. ITV had signed all the big names.

Carpenter was facing a slow descent towards retirement. Then along came this huge heavyweight from south London. A fighter who captured the imagination of the public with his outlandish strength and child-like vulnerability. He turned out to be the perfect vehicle for Carpenter, who proved an ideal foil for Bruno. The camaraderie was genuine.

"Frank came along at the right time for me,'' said Carpenter. "Ali had gone. ITV were signing the best fighters. It was getting pretty difficult. Then Frank appeared, and it was marvellous. But there is no doubt I got too close to him.

"You can't afford to be partial. When he fought Tyson I could not help it. I could see this man from Britain winning the world title. He hurt Tyson. But Tyson came back and proved too good for Frank in the end.''

Bruno recovered to take on Lennox Lewis. For six rounds he was the better man before Lewis caught and hurt him. As he had been against Tyson, Bruno was left unable to defend himself.

He emerged from that to claim the WBC belt from Oliver McCall before going down a second time to Tyson in what turned out to be his last appearance in the ring.

Sadly, the fight continues out of it. And Carpenter fears a long, lonely battle. "I feel very worried for him. I can't see how he can break out of the circle,'' he said. "He is not like Cooper. Henry coped well enough when his career was over. He had the support of a loving family and was street wise.

"Dear old Frank isn't. He is not well educated and had no idea what to do with his life.

"Lennox Lewis suggested he take a young fighter under his wing and train him on to be a champion. That might be as good an answer as any.''

CAPTION(S):

THUMBS UP: But Bruno is now recovering from a mental breakdown; WORLD OF DIFFERENCE: Bruno in his days as heavyweight champion; WORRIED: Bruno's former wife Laura has been a regular visitor; CONCERN: Harry Carpenter fears for his great friend