Frank Bruno has backed compatriot Lennox Lewis after Deontay Wilder boldly claimed he could have beaten a "peak 1986 Mike Tyson."Speaking on the showtime "Boxing Up Front" Wilder was asked if he could have defeated Tyson at the peak of his powers. Wilder's response was: "old school, new school - I knock them all out."The comment prompted a reaction from former undisputed heavyweight champion Lewis, who warned the American against complacency. "I just heard Deontay Wilder said he would destroy a young Mike Tyson. My thoughts are that it’s easy to talk until you actually get in the ring," he tweeted."I like Wilder but he’s never been in there with someone that ferocious who truly wants to break his ribs with every punch. I don’t see it!"I love Wilder’s confidence (and) you need that to sit atop the heavyweight division. He’s hungry and shows up in probably best shape in the division but there are levels to it and he’s still adding to his arsenal."My best advice to the entire crop of young heavyweight champs is to focus on being the best of YOUR era!"

Lewis' thoughts were echoed by Bruno, who responded to one of the tweets to weigh in with his view as the debate continues.

Like Lewis, Bruno also faced Tyson in the ring but lost on both occasions in 1989 and 1996 - the last fight of his professional career. 

Having felt what taking on a prime Mike Tyson was really like, the Brit reacted very candidly to Wilder's extremely bold claim.

Bruno questioned Wilder's thinking by adding:  "Very easy to talk (and) easy to make a statement when you know it's impossible to do."

So true.

Sadly we will never truly know how Wilder would have fared against Tyson back in the day.

The current WBC champion should probably be spending more time focusing on the rivals he could actually end up facing in the ring.

Providing the 32-year-old beats Luis Ortiz on March 3, he will likely face the winner of Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker - which takes place at the end of March - later this year.