IN certain company Frank Bruno looks like a real class act. Rubbing shoulders with Don King, who once kicked an old and tubercular gambler to death for owing him $600 and exchanging stares with Mike Tyson who once raped an 18-year-old beauty queen because that's how he'd been taught to treat women, it is hard not to take a shine to the big plodder from Brentwood, Essex.

"I've been trodded upon and spatted at, man" says Frank, shedding some light on his career path "and here it's no different, I have been disrespected. Know what I mean?"

Of course, we know what he means. With Bruno, it's usually possible to get the drift eventually. Frank Warren, the co-promoter of tomorrow night's big event at the MGM Grand here in Las Vegas, swears blind that he once walked into an Italian restaurant with Bruno and heard the big man greet the staff in his own version of the vernacular, "Adios amigos."

Greeting Italians by saying farewell in Spanish is small time stuff when boxing comes to Las Vegas, however. Press conferences among the big time pugs are like Mrs Malaprop conventions. You say whatever comes into your head. It's your show. Nobody cares. It's only when you see the art of the malaprop being used in conjunction with the art of the double talk, however, that you suspect Big Frank is out of his depth.

"I love white America," says Don King having just had a tax fraud case dismissed in New York by a largely white jury. "I am the extolation of American possibility and acumen. I have been dead and I have been resurrected good by Mike Tyson after his misfortune (conviction for rape). I have taken wings. I have swallowed the sword, I have overcome. I am the extolation."

Don King may have to tap into the leniency of another jury quite soon. A lawsuit alleging that he conspired to fix a Julio Cesar Chavez fight was lodged against King in Chicago this week. The shock haired promoter has, however, been keeping mum about that one.

Frank, though, he likes talking about Frank. Thus far big Frank has been, used, abused, disrespected and thoroughly patronised by the Winged Extolation and other forces.

Having bridled against Sky broadcasting cashing in on him further by switching to pay per view, he must appear in public wearing a naff red tracksuit with a huge Sky logo emblazoned on it. Having huffed and puffed his way to a world title after 16 years he must defend it tomorrow for $6 million while the challenger, the erstwhile jailbird Mike Tyson, scoops $30 million. They still own Big Frank. And there's more.

"I thought when you came here and you were world champion like, you got the top floor of the hotel, like Tom Jones bra Ia dee da, you know what I mean?" beseeches Frank. "American people have been nice but I'm not getting the respect, man."

More still. Patronising words from Don King.

"From Buckingham to Liverpool they were all chanting Bruno, Bruno when he won his title," roars King like a fire and brimstone preacher on a good night in the Bible Belt. "Every hamlet and every hill in Old Blighty. And lo in Trafalgar Square where one hundred thousand people came to see him all the pigeons did rise up and formed a halo over Frank's head. Behold Bruno!"

"Yeah Don. Thanks Don," mutters Big Frank.

Frank keeps his quiet dignity through it all. Before last night's weigh-in he was asked why he was coming to the fight almost 30lbs. heavier than the last time he fought Tyson.

"Wait a minute, man," said Frank, smelling a rat. "What are you, clairvoyant? How do you know what weight I am?"

"You told us at the press conference"

"Yeah right. That's my normal weight now, man. You get bigger you get older or the other way round."

He's big and he's dumb and he plays the Uncle Tom routine a bit too readily for a man of his obvious determination and willpower.

He may be quietly peeved at how he has been treated but the plodder from Essex has come a long way. Some core part of him recognises that.

Every complaint is followed up by the assertion that he is "grateful to Don King and Frank Warren for this opportunity."

That sense of a humble, modestly talented man travelling beyond the realm of his abilities makes him a sympathetic figure here in the neon wonderland. Some five thousand or so of his supporters have drifted into town already, drinking recklessly and gambling carelessly and spending many weeks hard earned wages to follow the big man.

He is a very English sort of hero, is Frank Bruno. For many years now the rest of the world just hasn't seen the point. Put him down here, though, with the spivs and the sharks and the crooks and it's hard not to root for the triumph of decency.

BBC Radio have landed the rights to broadcast Frank Bruno's WBC heavyweight title defence against Mike Tyson in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Five Live will be ringside in Las Vegas to give boxing fans - who can alternatively subscribe to Sky's pay-per-view coverage - the chance to follow the showdown, which is expected to begin around 4.0 a.m.

They will also provide live coverage of Prince Naseem Hamed's first defence of his WBO featherweight crown against Said Laval at the Scottish Exhibition Centre in Glasgow tomorrow evening.