TEENAGE blast victim Jon Jo Look met his boxing hero Frank Bruno at a dinner in Dorchester.
The junior boxing star was given VIP treatment and joined the former world heavyweight champion on the top table in the county town’s football club marquee.
Jon Jo, 17, lost his lower right leg in an air horn explosion at his home in Littlemoor in May.
Bruno encouraged Jon Jo and his accompanying younger brother Storm to work hard and realise their dreams.
Jo Jo said: “It was good. I’ve watched a few of Bruno’s fights and he’s definitely a good boxer. “He’s a funny man, he was calling Storm ‘Slim Shady’ because of his blonde hair. “He was saying if we wanted to get into boxing seriously ‘don’t mess around, just get on and do it’.
“I definitely want to have a go at it again, maybe in a month or two.” Jon Jo, who has previously met former boxers Alan Minter, Tony Simpson and John Conteh at events in Weymouth, said Bruno was the biggest celebrity he had
met.
He added: “Bruno talked about how he worked his way up the career ladder. “He said about his mental breakdown, which I didn’t know about, and how now at 48 he’s still as fit as when he was boxing.” Jon Jo is now walking again
without crutches on his carbon-fibre prosthetic sports leg.
He has vowed to return to the ring at Weymouth Amateur Boxing Club, where he was named this year’s Best Junior Boxer, as soon as his hand, which suffered nine breaks, has healed. Around 150 guests attended the sportsmans’ dinner at Dorchester Town Football Club Prince’s Marquee for a three-course meal cooked by the Royal Marines, entertainment from a comedian and a talk about his life and career by Bruno.
Football club chairman Shaun Hearn was inspired to invite the teenager to meet boxing legend Bruno after hearing of his plight through the Dorset Echo. He said: “It was a pleasure for us to have Jon Jo and Storm as guests. “Jon Jo’s a nice lad, very positive and getting on with it.
“They got a bit of time with Frank in the boardroom and were among a few select people at the top table. “They seemed to enjoy it although they were in awe of Frank. “The dinner was fantastic, there was a great atmosphere and everyone enjoyed it.” Mr Hearn said Bruno’s talk encompassed his boxing career and his battle with mental health issues, which he described as a big learning experience and which he said had left him very strong mentally.
Article courtesy of Dorset Echo