On This Day: Frank Bruno beats Oliver McCall to win the WBC heavyweight title in 1995 - Boxing News Boxing News September 2, 2014 Matt Christie On This Day: Frank Bruno beats Oliver McCall to win the WBC heavyweight title in 1995 The fight was far from spectacular but for British fans, the night Bruno beat McCall was unforgettable, writes Matt Christie On This Day: Frank Bruno beats Oliver McCall to win the WBC heavyweight title in 1995 The fight was far from spectacular but for British fans, the night Bruno beat McCall was unforgettable, writes Matt Christie Read more articles by Don’t miss any action. Sign up for the free BN newsletter(s) here 1. EIGHT years before Frank Bruno challenged Oliver McCall for the WBC heavyweight title on September 2 1995, the pair sparred at the Royal Oak Gym in Canning Town. Bruno was rebuilding following a 1986 loss to Tim Witherspoon while the American was largely unknown. “We sparred for about 12 rounds,” Bruno remembered. “He caught me in the eye with his thumb.

It was competitive, nice, but I don’t think he liked belly shots. I know he doesn’t, but he’s got a good jab and a lot of people underestimate that. No one got the better of it, but he was complaining when I hit him to the body, or on the border, and he kept saying ‘keep them up’.” 2. AS well as the defeat to Witherspoon, Bruno had also failed in world title bids against Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis. It was Lewis who McCall shocked to win his belt the year before. Since then, McCall had notched one successful defence – a tight points win over the ancient Larry Holmes. 3. MANY felt this was Bruno’s best chance to lift the world crown he desired so much. Including head trainer George Francis, who had worked with Bruno since 1986. “Frank has improved immensely. He watches what he does every night and if he makes a mistake he puts it right the next day… He’s had time to mature. When we started he was very stiff and muscular. He’s still muscular, but he’s more flexible, he bends his knees and is a much better fighter.

But I wish I had him when he was 16 or 17, because some habits are hard to break.” 4. NIGEL BENN, preparing for a fight against Daniel Perez on the Wembley undercard, invited Bruno to join him at his Tenerife training base. But the heavyweight declined, explaining: “I can’t run 15 miles a day in high altitude and go and spar the way I do. Benn can’t spar the way I spar. All men are made differently. I couldn’t do it then go to the gym in the afternoon and spar eight rounds. I’m not Superman. Benn can’t train harder than me. I could bet my life on it. I love him. He’s come back from the brink.” 5. BRUNO, alongside promoter Frank Warren, attracted 30,000 fans – many of whom booed Edwin Starr’s rendition of the American anthem – to Wembley Stadium on a chilly evening. Benn despatched Perez in the seventh round and accompanied Bruno on the long walk to the ring, through the fireworks and screaming fans. It was there that McCall made him wait for 15 minutes.

The champion emerged with that pained, almost tearful, expression designed to perplex his opponents. There had been rumours that the Amercan had not taken his training seriously, that the fame of being king had interfered with his lifestyle, but he was in fine shape. 6. PREDICTABLY, the hard-punching Briton started fast. He had no trouble connecting with McCall but the first few blasts were met with a smile, until a sweeping right hand wiped the false joy from his face, and the steadiness from his legs, at the end of the session. 7. McCALL had some success, bruising Bruno’s eye as early as the second round, and started to work his way into the contest before the halfway mark of the 12-rounder. By the seventh and eighth rounds it looked like McCall was on the brink of taking definitive control. But the challenger regained momentum in the ninth, his left-right working hard to keep McCall at bay. By the close of the 11th round, though, Bruno – ahead on points – was holding on tight to survive and the crowd prepared for a nervy final three minutes. 8.

THE final round was one-sided, as McCall, fighting with urgency absent for most of what came before, fired in menacing shots at his muscle-bound opponent. Some expected Bruno to collapse, like he had done before, but showing all his experience, he held on to the last bell. He was rightly awarded the unanimous decision, two scores of 117-111 and one of 115-113 to send the crowd into euphoric celebration. 9. BRUNO was, of course, absolutely delighted. “If I never walk again, get run over or get shot, it’s down in history that I’m heavyweight champion. I don’t want to get cocky, but believe me this belt is a nice thing. I want to show people that with hard work and perseverance you can get what you want out of life… From the first round to the last I knew he wanted to knock me out. That last round was very tough. He came at me like a madman. All I could do was try to survive and I did survive. I look like ET but I’m a winner, a champion.” 10.

THE new champion did not enjoy his newfound status for long and he lost the title in March 1996 to the comebacking, rampaging, Mike Tyson. He announced his retirement shortly afterwards. McCall admitted he was struggling with drink and drug dependency, but in 2014, almost 20 years after his loss to Bruno, he remains a useful, albeit no longer world class, professional fighter at the age of 49. BBC SPORT | Boxing | Profile: Frank Bruno Profile: Frank Bruno 1961: Born London, Nov 16, youngest of six children. 1980: Wins ABA heavyweight championship aged 18 1982: Wins first professional fight, beating Lupe Guerra 1993: Suffers third world title defeat (WBC) by Lennox Lewis 1995: Wins WBC world title from Oliver McCall 1996: Retires on medical advice after loss to Mike Tyson Frank Bruno is one of the rare breed of sportspeople who manage to rise above the boundaries of their discipline to win a place in the nation's affection.

Loved by grannies and children as well as boxing fans, Bruno looked destined to be remembered as a serial loser of world title challenges after being beaten by Tim Witherspoon in 1986, Mike Tyson in 1989 and Lennox Lewis in 1993. But no-one minded as the affable fighter kept on trying. And his knock-about repartee with BBC boxing commentator Harry Carpenter, usually signing off with his trademark "Ya know what I mean," and a belly laugh, became legendary. But Bruno did confirm his place as a British boxing great in 1995 when he beat Oliver McCall at Wembley to become the WBC heavyweight champion. Bruno savours that victory as his greatest moment - and even bought the ring in which it was achieved. But his stay at the top was short-lived and he was beaten by Mike Tyson the following year (Tyson has since said Bruno had the hardest punch of anyone he ever fought). Bruno never fought again after doctors advised him he could lose his sight. Far from being embarrassed by his larger than life, gentle giant demeanour, Bruno set about hamming it up into his new livelihood.

A regular chat show guest, after-dinner speaker and pantomime star, (Bruno's This is Your Life tribute was watched by 16m viewers) - he forged a new career in entertainment. Bruno gets a hero's reception after become champion in 1995 However, it appeared after seven years outside the ropes, as some of the work dried up, Bruno grew tired of playing the clown. Signs of his frustration and attempts to get back in the public spotlight became more obvious. First came the news in 2001 Bruno wanted to run for election to parliament as a Conservative MP. "Don't be a plank, vote for Frank," was to be his slogan. The story fizzled into nothing and it was put down as another cheeky joke from Frank. At the time Bruno was also engaged in a messy divorce from his wife Laura, his childhood sweetheart and mother to his three children, seen by many as a solid foundation in his life. The pair had hit problems in 1997, the year after Bruno retired, as a series of arguments led to Laura winning a court order banning him from assaulting her.

In 2002, Bruno was rocked by the news that his former trainer George Francis had been found hanged in an apparent suicide. Then in 2003, Bruno suddenly announced he wanted to get back into the ring, aged 41, to have a crack at Olympic champion Audley Harrison. The worst point in my career was retiring and hanging up my gloves - I still train every day, and I think it is something I will do for the rest of my life Frank Bruno in 2002 No-one doubted that as Britain's best-loved, laughing former champion, Bruno would be a crowd-puller. He applied for the reinstatement of his British Boxing Board of Control license, despite the detached retina that ended his career, and observers wondered if he really could emulate George Foreman's famous comeback, at the age of 45. But doubts grew as his behaviour and public statements became increasingly bizarre. He revealed he sometimes slept in the boxing ring in his garden. And in an interview with BBC Five Live, Bruno talked about the "mugs and creeps" who were trying to portray him in the same light as Tyson. Promoter Frank Warren says the signs were there for several months.

Defeat to Tyson was Bruno's last professional fight "He started to surround himself with people he could have done without, they were "yes men" who were not telling him he had a problem and he had to face up to it. "It was something he needed to address so now hopefully he can get the help he needs." It seemed Bruno could not stand to be outside the sport to which he had aspired to dominate from an early age. Growing up with five brothers and sisters in a terraced London house, Bruno learnt to box while at Oak Hall School in Sussex, an establishment for 'problem' children. As an amateur he won 20 out of 21 contests boxing for the Sir Philip Game Amateur Boxing Club. In his final season he represented Young England and at age 18 became the youngest ever ABA heavyweight champion. As a professional he won 40 out of 45 contests - and made history when he defeated McCall to become the first British heavyweight in 98 years to win the title in the ring. It was his finest moment - and one he could never recapture. "Sleep with your gloves on, get up early, train hard, and you can't go wrong," was Bruno's motto.

Sadly, it appears to have failed him. Frank Bruno becomes World Champion - YouTube Frank Bruno becomes World Champion Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Uploaded on Aug 30, 2009 Highlights of the Frank Bruno vs Oliver McCall fight which took place on the 2nd of September of 1995 in Wembley Stadium. Frank Bruno 4th time lucky, his fourth attempt at the Heavyweight Title of the World and he finally succeeded. Category 20 Years Since Frank Bruno Wins Title - Frank Warren Frank Warren Tweet The night Frank Bruno won the world title - and the hearts of a nation. It was exactly 20 years ago this week that the nation was celebrating one of the most popular victories in the history of British boxing. September 2nd 1995 was the night Frank Bruno finally became the WBC world heavyweight champion, defeating the flaky American Oliver McCall on my promotion at Wembley Stadium.

Dear old Frank was by then firmly established as Britain’s fighting son, despite falling short in three previous world title shots and giving us palpitations whenever he got hit on the whiskers. The chant of ‘Broo-no, Broo-no’ reverberated throughout the 30,000 crowd on that chilly night as his arm was raised and I doubt a British sporting figure was ever more loved than he was on at that memorable moment. Subsequently there was an open-top bus tour and from the way the cheering crowds lined the London streets you could see just how popular he was. It was almost as if England had won the World Cup again! There is a chance to re-live Bruno’s triumph and the story behind it on Monday 14th September at 7pm in the new BoxNation series “A Fight To Remember”, the first of which, the epic battle between Nigel Benn and Gerald McClellan, also in 1995, and one forever embedded in our memories, was exceptionally well-received. Nothing stirs the emotions more than a fascinating slice of nostalgia, and this enthralling series has it in abundance.

This time presenter Alex Steedman and I will be joined in the BoxNation studio the by two veteran boxing scribes, Colin Hart and Alan Hubbard, who between them have covered more word title fights than Vegas has casinos. I am looking forward to recalling some of the great moments of that occasion and a enjoying a lively debate on what made Bruno such a national icon. I’ve always thought that Frank had the Granny-factor – the old ladies love him, and still do. In fact everyone seems to. The thing him was that he was quite uncomplicated as a personality – what you saw was what you got. The fans became attached to him, not so much because of his boxing ability, but because of ‘Heh, heh, heh’ and ‘Know what I mean Harry’ They loved those exchanges with the late Harry Carpenter and guffawed with him when he cheekily mentioned his ‘Black and Decker,’- all that sort of Bruno-esque banter. This fight was one I had to work hard to persuade McCall’s promoter, my then partner, Don King, to take. Initially they weren’t interested at all, but I saw the opportunity for our man.

I had studied McCall when I set up a training camp for him in Hertfordshire before he fought Lennox Lewis, and I always fancied Bruno might beat him. Eventually I got King to agree and we met to sort out the terms at the Dorchester Hotel. The deal was that the winner would have to face Mike Tyson, who I believe had been released from prison around that time. Frank’s then wife Laura had also been involved in negotiations and she was always very difficult to deal with - to be honest she could be a pain -- but King told Frank ‘this is what the deal is, take it or leave it’. Thankfully he took it and he got very well paid. I’ve always believed Bruno was actually a better fighter than he was given credit for. In fact, before Lennox Lewis clipped him, I thought he was ahead in the fight. After McCall beat Lewis – a real turn-up – his next fight was against Larry Holmes and we went out to Vegas to watch it.

I said to Frank ‘‘watch how Holmes uses that jab because that’s the way to beat McCall, straight shots.’ I also noticed that McCall was sometimes distracted during fights and part of my game plan was to get some of the fighters I was involved with at the time, including Nigel Benn and Naseem Hamed, to stand around the ring loudly cheering on Frank and Nigel did a great job. It worked as they managed to grab McCall’s attention. Frank really couldn’t fight inside so his trainer George Francis worked with big Frank to get him to claim McCall as often as he could. Particularly in the later rounds when we knew Frank had previous, and could run into trouble. We were all on the edge of our seats, willing him on, but we knew that with Frank all it needed was one punch and it could be goodnight nurse. Quite a lot went on behind the scenes, too, which I will be revealing in the programme. During the build-up to the fight I had said to Frank, ‘if you win this I’ll buy you a new Bentley’. He said ‘Really?’ ‘Yes,’ I said.

“That’s a promise.’ When the result was announced, we all jumped into the ring and the first thing Frank said to me was ‘I’m going to get my Bentley, aren’t I?’ He didn’t seem bothered about the title – just the Bentley! A few days later I kept my word and took him round to a showroom and told him to pick one he fancied. He chose a pink one and I thought to myself ‘whatever’ – but that was Frank, wasn’t it? I think he also had a suit to match! It was Frank’s fourth attempt to win the title, which subsequently he lost to Tyson in his final fight. To be fair to Frank, what he sometimes lacked in natural ability, he made up for in determination, professionalism and certainly preparation. He was head and shoulders above everyone in that respect. Rather poignantly, both he and McCall ended up having psychiatric treatment through problems brought on outside the ring, rather than in it. A lot of it was due in both cases to the use of social drugs, as Frank has admitted. Frank also seemed to fall out easily with some people, notably the man who first discovered and nurtured him, his former manager Terry Lawless.

He also always seemed deeply suspicious of everybody and this could become a bit tedious. But for all that, he remains, arguably, the best-loved figure in British boxing. I even include Henry Cooper whose his affinity was largely with his supporters in London, whereas that ‘Broo-no, Broo-no’ chant can be heard to this day wherever Frank turns up - even in Scotland! On with the show! They say lightning doesn’t strike in the same place twice- but I don’t believe it after being hit with a thunderbolt for the second time in a few weeks and now having to again postpone the WBO Middleweight title fight between Andy Lee and Billy Joe Saunders which had been re-scheduled for Manchester on October 10th. A cut eye caused by a sparmate’s stray elbow now rules out a gutted Billy Joe for this date after the original postponement and switch from Limerick, when Lee went down with a virus. It is no joking matter – though I could be forgiven for thinking there might be a gypsy’s curse on this much-anticipated scrap between the two Travellers. However it will definitely go ahead as soon as the injury has healed sufficiently for Billy Joe to resume full training.

The surgeon who examined the wound said it would not be advisable to do any sparring for a while. So Billy Joe has to keep himself fit and in condition for a fresh date. Such is life in the boxing business. It’s a pain the backside but you tend to get philosophical about such setbacks. I feel or both boxers, particularly Billy-Joe, because this really is the unkindest cut of all after the original postponement. Cut eyes in sparring are rare, but they do happen, despite the use of headguards. Probably the most notable occurred when George Foreman’s ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ with Muhammad Ali had to be delayed for six weeks. And David Haye also suffered a similar injury when his proposed fight with Tyson Fury was shelved on the first of two occasions. As I say, these things happen and you just have to live with them, but I have to admit it’s been a bit of a wretched year in terms of postponements, with Frank Buglioni’s bout against Fedor Chudinov having to be put back until September 26th because the Russian broke his nose – also in sparring. Sometimes you wish they’d stick to shadow boxing!

However the important thing is, the Manchester Arena show goes on - and it is still a massive one with two scintillating world title fights. Local hero Terry Flanagan faces a highly dangerous first WBO Lightweight title defence against tough hombre Diego Magdaleno, the number one contender, and Liverpool’s Liam Smith has the biggest test of his fast-rising career for the WBO Light-Middleweight title against American artist-on-canvas John Thompson, the fighter with the paintbrush left. The cracking bill is packed with more title fights featuring some of the best up-and-coming home-grown talent, including Jack Catterall, Luke Blackledge and new signing Jimmy Kelly, plus what should be a corker between Tom Stalker and Craig Evans for the vacant WBO European lightweight championship. And we are working on another title fight to replace Lee v Saunders. Strictly out of order Peter Fincham. ITV’s head honcho, has a beef. He complains it is unfair for the BBC to pitch the new series of Strictly against ITV’s X-Factor on Saturday nights, claiming it's not good for viewers to have to choose between them. Really Mr Fincham?

You didn’t seem to have a problem when progamming ITV’s recent boxing telecasts against BoxNation or Sky. Why does the phrase double standards spring to mind? Oscar De La Hoya’s cousin Diego challenges for his first title tonight live and exclusive on BoxNation . The talent youngster faces a hard test against veteran Jesus Ruis for the Vacant WBC Youth World Super-Bantamweight Championship. He’s got a way to go yet before he catches up with 10-time world champion and modern day great Oscar, but the 21-year-old is believed to be every bit as exciting as his relative. Watch tonight from 3am. Frank Bruno's World Title Night - Frank Warren's Column The Night Frank Bruno Won the World Title – and the Hearts of a Nation Posted on: 04 Sep 2015 Frank Warren’s Column – 04.09.15 The Night Frank Bruno Won the World Title – and the Hearts of a Nation It was exactly 20 years ago this week that the nation was celebrating one of the most popular victories in the history of British boxing.

September 2nd 1995 was the night Frank Bruno finally became the WBC world heavyweight champion, defeating the flaky American Oliver McCall on my promotion at Wembley Stadium. Dear old Frank was by then firmly established as Britain’s fighting son, despite falling short in three previous world title shots and giving us palpitations whenever he got hit on the whiskers. The chant of ‘Broo-no, Broo-no’ reverberated throughout the 30,000 crowd on that chilly night as his arm was raised and I doubt a British sporting figure was ever more loved than he was on at that memorable moment. Subsequently there was an open-top bus tour and from the way the cheering crowds lined the London streets you could see just how popular he was. It was almost as if England had won the World Cup again! There is a chance to re-live Bruno’s triumph and the story behind it on Monday 14th September at 7pm in the new BoxNation series “A Fight To Remember”, the first of which, the epic battle between Nigel Benn and Gerald McClellan, also in 1995, and one forever embedded in our memories, was exceptionally well-received.

Nothing stirs the emotions more than a fascinating slice of nostalgia, and this enthralling series has it in abundance. This time presenter Alex Steedman and I will be joined in the BoxNation studio the by two veteran boxing scribes, Colin Hart and Alan Hubbard , who between them have covered more word title fights than Vegas has casinos. I am looking forward to recalling some of the great moments of that occasion and a enjoying a lively debate on what made Bruno such a national icon. I’ve always thought that Frank had the Granny-factor – the old ladies love him, and still do. In fact everyone seems to. The thing him was that he was quite uncomplicated as a personality – what you saw was what you got. The fans became attached to him, not so much because of his boxing ability, but because of ‘Heh, heh, heh’ and ‘Know what I mean Harry’ They loved those exchanges with the late Harry Carpenter and guffawed with him when he cheekily mentioned his ‘Black and Decker,’- all that sort of Bruno-esque banter. This fight was one I had to work hard to persuade McCall’s promoter, my then partner, Don King, to take.

Initially they weren’t interested at all, but I saw the opportunity for our man. I had studied McCall when I set up a training camp for him in Hertfordshire before he fought Lennox Lewis, and I always fancied Bruno might beat him. Eventually I got King to agree and we met to sort out the terms at the Dorchester Hotel. The deal was that the winner would have to face Mike Tyson, who I believe had been released from prison around that time. Frank’s then wife Laura had also been involved in negotiations and she was always very difficult to deal with – to be honest she could be a pain — but King told Frank ‘this is what the deal is, take it or leave it’. Thankfully he took it and he got very well paid. I’ve always believed Bruno was actually a better fighter than he was given credit for. In fact, before Lennox Lewis clipped him, I thought he was ahead in the fight. After McCall beat Lewis – a real turn-up – his next fight was against Larry Holmes and we went out to Vegas to watch it.

I said to Frank ‘‘watch how Holmes uses that jab because that’s the way to beat McCall, straight shots.’ I also noticed that McCall was sometimes distracted during fights and part of my game plan was to get some of the fighters I was involved with at the time, including Nigel Benn and Naseem Hamed, to stand around the ring loudly cheering on Frank and Nigel did a great job. It worked as they managed to grab McCall’s attention. Frank really couldn’t fight inside so his trainer George Francis worked with big Frank to get him to claim McCall as often as he could. Particularly in the later rounds when we knew Frank had previous, and could run into trouble. We were all on the edge of our seats, willing him on, but we knew that with Frank all it needed was one punch and it could be goodnight nurse. Quite a lot went on behind the scenes, too, which I will be revealing in the programme. During the build-up to the fight I had said to Frank, ‘if you win this I’ll buy you a new Bentley’. He said ‘Really?’ ‘Yes,’ I said.

“That’s a promise.’ When the result was announced, we all jumped into the ring and the first thing Frank said to me was ‘I’m going to get my Bentley, aren’t I?’ He didn’t seem bothered about the title – just the Bentley! A few days later I kept my word and took him round to a showroom and told him to pick one he fancied. He chose a pink one and I thought to myself ‘whatever’ – but that was Frank, wasn’t it? I think he also had a suit to match! It was Frank’s fourth attempt to win the title, which subsequently he lost to Tyson in his final fight. To be fair to Frank, what he sometimes lacked in natural ability, he made up for in determination, professionalism and certainly preparation. He was head and shoulders above everyone in that respect. Rather poignantly, both he and McCall ended up having psychiatric treatment through problems brought on outside the ring, rather than in it. A lot of it was due in both cases to the use of social drugs, as Frank has admitted. Frank also seemed to fall out easily with some people, notably the man who first discovered and nurtured him, his former manager Terry Lawless.

He also always seemed deeply suspicious of everybody and this could become a bit tedious. But for all that, he remains, arguably, the best-loved figure in British boxing. I even include Henry Cooper whose his affinity was largely with his supporters in London, whereas that ‘Broo-no, Broo-no’ chant can be heard to this day wherever Frank turns up – even in Scotland! On with the show! They say lightning doesn’t strike in the same place twice- but I don’t believe it after being hit with a thunderbolt for the second time in a few weeks and now having to again postpone the WBO Middleweight title fight between Andy Lee and Billy Joe Saunders which had been re-scheduled for Manchester on October 10th. A cut eye caused by a sparmate’s stray elbow now rules out a gutted Billy Joe for this date after the original postponement and switch from Limerick, when Lee went down with a virus. It is no joking matter – though I could be forgiven for thinking there might be a gypsy’s curse on this much-anticipated scrap between the two Travellers. However it will definitely go ahead as soon as the injury has healed sufficiently for Billy Joe to resume full training.

The surgeon who examined the wound said it would not be advisable to do any sparring for a while. So Billy Joe has to keep himself fit and in condition for a fresh date. Such is life in the boxing business. It’s a pain the backside but you tend to get philosophical about such setbacks. I feel or both boxers, particularly Billy-Joe, because this really is the unkindest cut of all after the original postponement. Cut eyes in sparring are rare, but they do happen, despite the use of headguards. Probably the most notable occurred when George Foreman’s ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ with Muhammad Ali had to be delayed for six weeks. And David Haye also suffered a similar injury when his proposed fight with Tyson Fury was shelved on the first of two occasions. As I say, these things happen and you just have to live with them, but I have to admit it’s been a bit of a wretched year in terms of postponements, with Frank Buglioni’s bout against Fedor Chudinov having to be put back until September 26th because the Russian broke his nose – also in sparring. Sometimes you wish they’d stick to shadow boxing!

However the important thing is, the Manchester Arena show goes on – and it is still a massive one with two scintillating world title fights. Local hero Terry Flanagan faces a highly dangerous first WBO Lightweight title defence against tough hombre Diego Magdaleno, the number one contender, and Liverpool’s Liam Smith has the biggest test of his fast-rising career for the WBO Light-Middleweight title against American artist-on-canvas John Thompson, the fighter with the paintbrush left. The cracking bill is packed with more title fights featuring some of the best up-and-coming home-grown talent, including Jack Catterall, Luke Blackledge and new signing Jimmy Kelly, plus what should be a corker between Tom Stalker and Craig Evans for the vacant WBO European lightweight championship. And we are working on another title fight to replace Lee v Saunders. Strictly out of order Peter Fincham. ITV’s head honcho, has a beef. He complains it is unfair for the BBC to pitch the new series of Strictly against ITV’s X-Factor on Saturday nights, claiming it’s not good for viewers to have to choose between them. Really Mr Fincham?

You didn’t seem to have a problem when progamming ITV’s recent boxing telecasts against BoxNation or Sky. Why does the phrase double standards spring to mind? Frank Bruno Former 1995 Wbc Heavyweight World Champion Signed And Inscribed Promotional Photo || Boxing Memorabilia || Champs UK MUHAMMAD ALI Frank Bruno Former 1995 WBC Heavyweight World Champion SIGNED and INSCRIBED Promotional Photo Frank Bruno former 1995 WBC heavyweight World champion SIGNED and INSCRIBED "To Bob Best Wishes" promotional 5 3/4" x 4" photo. Condition mint Please view shipping amounts or please contact us for any other enquiries. Shipping Amount: £ Franklin Roy Bruno (born 16 November 1961) Former WBC Heavyweight champion in 1995. Altogether, he won 40 of his 45 contests. Like Henry Cooper before him, Bruno has remained a popular celebrity with the British public since his ring career ended, and still appears regularly in pantomime.

Boxing Career Bruno became a professional boxer in 1980, quickly racking up a streak of twenty-one consecutive wins by knockout. This streak caught the attention of many international boxing magazines, such as Ring Magazine, KO Magazine, Boxing Illustrated, The Ring En Espanol and many others. In March 1984, however, future World Heavyweight champion, American James 'Bonecrusher' Smith, then a boxing journeyman, halted that streak when he defeated Bruno by knockout in the tenth and final round of their bout, with Bruno leading on all three judges' cards. This would not be the last time Bruno went on to lose a contest he had been clearly winning and would have emerged victorious from had he survived until the final bell. Bruno got back into title contention with wins over the likes of former WBA champion Gerrie Coetzee (by knockout in round one), and, in July 1986, he challenged Tim Witherspoon for the WBA World Heavyweight championship. After once again leading on the cards for most of the fight, he ran out of steam and was defeated by knockout, in round eleven.

A comment often made was that Bruno, a fine physical specimen, had a bodybuilder's musculature rather than a boxer's, and carrying the extra weight of so much muscle sapped his energy and stamina over a long contest. The contrast between Bruno and the seemingly lard-laden Witherspoon was particularly marked, but the difference was that Witherspoon worked when he had to, and did enough over the course of the fight, whereas Bruno lacked the nous and the killer-instinct to press on when he had the initiative. In 1989, Bruno challenged Mike Tyson for the unified World Heavyweight title. After being shaken in the opening minute, Bruno finished the first round by rocking Tyson with a left hook. However, Tyson recovered and beat Bruno when the referee stopped the contest in round five with the British boxer taking heavy punishment on the ropes. Bruno kept winning fights, helping him to retain his spot as one of the World's leading Heavyweights. In 1993 he had a third World title chance against young Lennox Lewis, who was making the second defence of the belt (his first of three championship reigns). The Lennox Lewis vs.

Frank Bruno fight was the first time that two British-born boxers had fought for the World heavyweight title. Lewis beat Bruno on a stoppage in round seven, Bruno again failing to take his title chance after leading the contest on points up until what proved the final round. On 24 September 1994, Oliver McCall beat Lewis with a shock second round knockout victory at Wembley Arena, and, after outpointing Larry Holmes, he came to England to defend the WBC title against Bruno. On 2 September 1995, Bruno finally became World champion by outpointing McCall over twelve rounds. McCall was an emotional mess, and cried on his way into the ring. Bruno did not last long as champion: his first defence was a rematch with Tyson. Tyson beat Bruno on a stoppage in round three, in what turned out to be Bruno's last bout as a professional.

Bruno's publicist throughout most of his career was sports historian Norman Giller, who wrote three books in harness with Frank: Know What I mean, Eye of the Tiger and From Zero to Hero His manager for all but his last five fights was Terry Lawless, who signed him as a professional shortly after he had become ABA heavyweight champion at the age of eighteen. Outside Boxing Bruno grew up with five siblings in a terraced house in south London, where his parents had settled after moving to England from the Caribbean. In 1990, he married his partner Laura at a small church in Hornchurch, an area of Greater London near the border with Essex. They had three children. However, their relationship deteriorated, and they divorced in 2001. Bruno has remained a popular figure with the British public. His image was enhanced by his relationship with the BBC boxing commentator Harry Carpenter, his appearances on the early Comic Relief programmes in the 1980s and his frequent appearances thereafter on television and on stage (in pantomime). In December 2005, Bruno announced that he was to become a father for the fourth time since finding new romance with old friend Yvonne Clydesdale.

The pair, who first met five years ago at a health resort, began dating months after bumping into each other at a wine bar near his home. Yvonne gave birth to baby Freya on 10 May 2006. In 1995, the year of his World championship, he released a cover version of "Eye of the Tiger", the theme song of the movie Rocky III. It reached #28 in the UK charts. In January 2001, Bruno announced that he wanted to stand as the Conservative candidate in the traditionally safe Tory seat of Brentwood and Ongar against the independent Member of Parliament, Martin Bell. His proposed slogan was "Don't be a plank, vote for Frank!" However, this idea was quickly dismissed by Conservative Central Office. On 15th August 2009 he appeard on the weakest link beating Duke Mckenzie in the final for £12,800 On 22 September 2003, Bruno was taken from his home near Brentwood in Essex by medical staff assisted by police officers, under the provisions of the Mental Health Act 1983.

He was taken to Goodmayes Hospital in Ilford, where he underwent psychological and psychiatric tests. He had been suffering from depression for several months beforehand. He was later diagnosed as having bipolar disorder. The psychologist Professor Cary Cooper expressed the opinion that the end of Bruno's boxing career, the breakdown of his marriage, and the suicide of his former trainer George Francis in 2002 all contributed to his condition. On 9 October 2005 he admitted that his cocaine use, which began in 2000, contributed to his mental health problems. Media coverage of Bruno's problems raised controversy, the principal accusations were gross intrusion and insensitivity. Particular criticism was aimed at The Sun, whose headline in the first editions the next day read "Bonkers Bruno Locked Up". Second editions retracted the headline and attempted to portray a more sympathetic attitude towards Bruno and mental health in general. As an attempt at atonement, the paper established a charity fund for the victims of mental illness, although some mental health charities condemned The Sun's latter action that day as being grossly cynical in the light of the former.

On 24 February 2008 Frank Bruno offered his support to former footballer Paul Gascoigne, who on 21 February had been sectioned under the Mental Health Act Bruno also spoke on his own personal experiences in the mental heath system at a conference run by Hari Sewell, on the 22nd June 2009. On 10 October 2006, Bruno and his partner Yvonne Clydesdale were jointly awarded £50,000 damages for libel against The People newspaper and publishers MGN in respect of false claims made about the pair's relationship. By 2005 Bruno was able to appear on BBC Radio as a guest expert at a boxing match, as well as appearing on television again. Bruno now regularly makes personal appearances and he also sells autographed items of memorabilia. Frank now lives with one of his sons in the village of Little Billington, on the outskirts of the town of Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire. Movie Appearances Bruno has a cameo appearance in Cass, the subject of which is a friend of Frank Bruno's who was a football hooligan.

He is standing next to the pub doors in the last few minutes of the movie. His only prior movie appearance would have been as the bus driver in Spice World, but he walked out due to a dispute with the producers. Frank Bruno vs. Mike Tyson (2nd meeting) - BoxRec Frank Bruno vs. Mike Tyson (2nd meeting) From BoxRec Jump to: navigation , search 1996-03-16 : Mike Tyson 220 lbs beat Frank Bruno 247 lbs by TKO at 0:50 in round 3 of 12 Location: MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA The fight was televised live on pay-per-view by Showtime . It generated 1.37 million buys. Paid attendance at the MGM Grand was 16,143, and the gross gate was $10,673,700. Tyson's purse was $30 million, and Bruno's was $6 million. Tyson entered the fight as a 5-1 favorite. Bruno was making his first defense of the WBC heavyweight title, which he had won from Oliver McCall six months earlier.

It took Bruno four tries to win a world title. He had previously lost title fights to Tim Witherspoon , Tyson and Lennox Lewis . This was Tyson's third fight since being released from prison, where he served three years for a rape conviction. Gerald Eskenazi reported the following in March 17, 1996, edition of the New York Times: There's nothing left to speculate about. Mike Tyson is back, and dangerous. His barrage of blows in the third round tonight, starting with a left hook and ending seven unanswered punches later, sent Frank Bruno into the ropes and his World Boxing Council heavyweight title back to the controversial Tyson. Referee Mills Lane halted the bout after 50 seconds as Bruno was sitting on the first strand, absorbing blows. The victory came six years after Tyson's stunning loss of his title to Buster Douglas , and has started him back on the road to unifying the crown. There are two other champions he has to face to accomplish that. Both Bruno and Tyson declined to appear at a post-fight news conference and Tyson said he would meet with the media on Sunday.

But he told his handlers, "Tell the press I said I hit like a mule." He had just risen from the canvas himself, having gone down to his knees to pray after Lane halted the fight. "I was going for the knockout from the first round," he said, and that was obvious. He did not come in from the crouch, like the youthful Tyson. Instead, he was a straight-ahead bomber. He had Bruno holding from the opening moments. Bruno, in fact, was penalized a point for holding in the second round. He was hit often, and hard. "You'll find that I was a little brokenhearted when it was over," Bruno said. Richard Hoffer reported the following in the March 25, 1996, issue of Sports Illustrated : With a crushing body blow, a series of enormous right hands and an uppercut that lifted the 6'3", 247-pound Bruno off his feet, the 5'11 1/2", 220-pound Tyson needed only 50 seconds more than two rounds to fashion his third comeback victory.

The performance was reminiscent of the violent spectacle Tyson used to routinely provide before he became more dangerous out of the ring than in it. He was crisper than he had been in the two nontitle bouts he had fought since coming out of an Indiana prison last March. He was at least as powerful as he had been in 1989, when he met Bruno in defense of the unified championship. In that fight, at the height of his powers, he needed five rounds to dispatch his challenger and was rocked himself early on. Bruno, chiseled and 27 pounds of muscle heavier than Tyson, ought to have been more formidable on Saturday. He has never been a bad boxer, even though he has been slow and lacking in stamina and had tended to come up short in title shots (three times before last week's bout with Tyson). Now, presumably, he carried the confidence of a champion, having unseated Oliver McCall for the WBC crown last September.

Besides that, as the only British-born heavyweight to hold a world title since Bob Fitzsimmons nearly a century ago, the immensely popular Bruno attracted a sprawling army of fans to Las Vegas, a reported 5,000 Mad Dogs and Englishmen who roamed the MGM Grand complex, hoisting beer, singing funny songs and otherwise showing support. For all that, once the fighting started, Tyson might just as well have been facing Peter McNeeley or Buster Mathis Jr. , the two prelim guys he demolished last year in a combined four rounds. Bruno, who had bragged of his "superior confidence" in the days before the fight, seemed to have caved in even before the two anthems were sung. On his walk to the ring he crossed himself perhaps a dozen times and didn't evince an aura of certainty. And if he ever knew how to fight Tyson--bore straight in on the shorter man--he forgot in a panic. He failed to use his jab, could not or would not keep Tyson from lunging at him with overhand rights and allowed the kind of walk-through that not even the comically inept McNeeley would have permitted.

Tyson connected at will, sometimes out of the low-crouched stance that distinguished his evasive abilities in his prime. He staggered Bruno early in the first round and cut his left eyelid toward the end of that round. He staggered him again in the second, and in the third Tyson unleashed a 13-punch sequence that started with a right hand to Bruno's body and ended with a left hook that sent Bruno crashing into the ropes, where referee Mills Lane interceded, stopping the fight. Bruno had offered absolutely nothing, and Tyson had rekindled memories of his quick and vicious stoppages of the past. Suddenly, after less than seven minutes of action, you couldn't find a single Union Jack in the crowd. Articles Frank Bruno (Heavyweight) - Pics, Videos, Dating, & News Frank Bruno Male Born Nov 16, 1961 Franklin Roy "Frank" Bruno MBE is a British former boxer whose career highlight was winning the WBC heavyweight championship in 1995 (which he lost six months later in his first defence). Altogether, he won 40 of his 45 contests.

Like Henry Cooper before him, Bruno has remained a popular celebrity with the British public since his ring career ended.… Read More related links Former World Heavyweight Champ Bruno Denied Unlikely Ring Return Yahoo News - Feb 01, 2016 ' Former world heavyweight champion <mark>Frank Bruno</mark>\'s unexpected bid for a return to boxing was dashed on Monday after he was told his application for a licence would be declined. Bruno, who has not fought since being knocked out by Mike Tyson in 1996, had made the surprise announcement that he wanted to mount an unlikely comeback to help cope with the effects of the medication he takes for bipolar disorder. \"They made me suicidal - mess up your head, mess up your clock - you can\'... Win Tickets To An Evening With Frank Bruno The Citizen - Sep 01, 2013 'Former Heavyweight champion boxer <mark>Frank Bruno</mark> is coming to the Village On The Green in Wigan on Friday 18th October, 2013. He will be talking about his life in and out of his boxing career and we have a pair of tickets for the event to give away.

The prize includes a photo with <mark>Frank Bruno</mark> and a delicious three course meal followed by a talk from the former champion. Also on the night there will be a sports auction and entertainment. \n\nFranklyn Roy Bruno was born ... Frank Bruno Hospital Knife Attack Sectioned Twice Daily Mail (UK) - Oct 14, 2012 'On 22 September 2003, former boxing champion <mark>Frank Bruno</mark> was forcibly sectioned under the Mental Health Act.' Obama Romney Tied In Florida Poll Bradenton Patch - Jul 16, 2012 ' A newÂ Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald/Bay News 9 pollÂ finds Barack Obama and Mitt Romney essentially tied in America\'s biggest battleground state, with 46 percent of likely Florida voters supporting the president, 45 percent backing the former Massachusetts governor, and 2 percent behind Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson. Only 7 percent are undecided. \r\n \"A coin toss,\" Mason-Dixon pollster Brad Coker said. \"Typical Florida.\" \r\n Adding Marco Rubio to the Romney ticket would only... Learn about the memorable moments in the evolution of Frank Bruno.

CHILDHOOD 1961 Birth Born on November 16, 1961. TWENTIES 1982 - 1986 3 More Events 1982 20 Years Old Bruno became a professional boxer in 1982, quickly achieving 21 consecutive wins by knockout. … Read More This streak caught the attention of international boxing magazines, such as The Ring, KO Magazine, Boxing Illustrated and Ring En EspaÃ±ol. During this period Bruno defeated former world title contender Scott LeDoux, the fringe contender Floyd Cummings, Belgian champion Rudy Gauwe, British contenders Tony Moore and Eddie Nielson, and opponents such as Bill Sharkey, Walter Santemore and Ken Lakusta. Read Less 1984 22 Years Old However, in May 1984 the up-and-coming future world heavyweight champion, American James "Bonecrusher" Smith, halted that streak when he defeated Bruno by knockout in the tenth and final round of their bout, with Bruno leading clearly on all three judges' cards.

… Read More As a general view, Bruno was carefully managed, whereby he developed well to later give a strong account of himself in the big matches.<br /><br /> Bruno won his next six bouts against respected opposition. He won the European heavyweight title with a KO over Sweden's Anders Eklund, KO'd former European champion and world title contender Lucien Rodriguez in one round, was taken the distance for the first time by the useful world rated Phil Brown, and beat fringe fighters Larry Frazier and Jeff Jordan. Read Less 1986 24 Years Old Bruno got back into title contention with an impressive one round KO win over former WBA champion Gerrie Coetzee of South Africa, and, in July 1986, he challenged Tim Witherspoon for the WBA heavyweight title. … Read More After once again leading on the cards for most of the fight, he ran out of steam and was defeated by knockout in round eleven. Read Less 1987 25 Years Old Bruno once again got himself back into title contention with wins over former contender James Tillis and journeymen Reggie Gross and Chuck Gardner.

In October 1987 Bruno faced the veteran Joe Bugner in an all British match up. … Read More Bugner although long past his peak, was coming off impressive wins over Greg Page, James Tillis and David Bey. Bruno won by TKO in the 8th round, the referee stopping the bout, although it appeared the protesting Bugner could have continued. Read Less 1988 26 Years Old In 1988, Bruno challenged Mike Tyson for the undisputed world heavyweight title. … Read More In the opening moments, the fighters came together with huge punches. Bruno's legs buckled, and he took a big step back, inadvertently stepping off the ring apron. Most agree that he would have gone down, at least to a knee in any event, and this was called a knockdown. Bruno did not complain, and instead gathered himself to continue, ultimately rocking Tyson (for the first time in Tyson's career) with a left hook toward the end of the round.

However, Tyson recovered and eventually beat Bruno when the referee stopped the contest in round five with Bruno taking heavy punishment, lying helpless on the ropes.<br /><br /> Bruno kept winning fights, helping him to retain his spot as one of the world's leading heavyweights. He defeated contender Carl Williams, and then journeymen such as Jose Ribalta, Pierre Coetzer, and Dutchman Jan Emmen. Read Less 1990 28 Years Old Bruno grew up with five siblings in Hammersmith, West London. His mother was Jamaican and his father was Dominican. In 1990, Bruno married his partner Laura at a small church in Hornchurch, an area of Greater London near the border with Essex. They had two daughters: Nicola and Rachel, and a son, Franklyn. However, their relationship deteriorated, and they divorced in 2001. THIRTIES 1993 31 Years Old In 1993 he had a third world title chance against young Lennox Lewis, who was making the second defence of the belt (his first of three championship reigns). … Read More The Lennox Lewis vs.

Frank Bruno fight was the first time that two British boxers had fought for the world heavyweight title. Lewis beat Bruno on a stoppage in round seven, Bruno again failing to take his title chance after leading the contest on points up until what proved the final round.<br /><br /> Bruno again regrouped, dispatching trialhorse Jesse Ferguson in one round, and the fringe contenders Rodolfo Marin and Mike Evans equally easily. Read Less 1994 32 Years Old On 24 September 1994, Oliver McCall beat Lewis with a surprising and somewhat controversial second round knockout victory at Wembley Arena, and, after outpointing Larry Holmes, he came to England to defend the WBC title against Bruno. Show Less On 2 September 1995, Bruno finally became world champion by outpointing McCall over twelve rounds. … Read More Bruno did not last long as champion â the contract he signed to get McCall meant he had to face Mike Tyson in his first defence. Tyson beat Bruno on a stoppage in round three, Bruno performing unusually poorly in what turned out to be his last bout as a professional, due to a severe eye injury caused by Tyson.

Bruno was advised not to fight again to avoid running the risk of causing any more damage to it, which could result in permanent blindness. Bruno retired soon after the fight.<br /><br /> Bruno's publicist throughout most of his career was sports historian Norman Giller, who wrote three books in harness with Frank: Know What I Mean, Eye of the Tiger and From Zero to Hero. His manager for all but his last five fights was Terry Lawless, who signed him as a professional shortly after he had become ABA heavyweight champion at the age of eighteen. Read Less In 1995, the year of his world championship, he released a cover version of "Eye of the Tiger", the theme song of the movie Rocky III. … Read More It reached No. 28 in the UK charts. In 1999, he featured on the celebrity special in the second season of Fort Boyard.<br /><br /> In January 2001, Bruno announced that he wanted to stand as the Conservative candidate in the traditionally safe Tory seat of Brentwood and Ongar against the independent Member of Parliament, Martin Bell.

His proposed slogan was "Don't be a plank, vote for Frank!" However, this idea was quickly dismissed by Conservative Central Office. But in an interview with BBC Sport at the time Bruno laughed at the story and denied he had any intention of standing. Read Less FORTIES 2003 41 Years Old On 22 September 2003, Bruno was taken from his home near Brentwood in Essex by medical staff assisted by police officers, under the provisions of the Mental Health Act 1983. … Read More He was taken to Goodmayes Hospital in Ilford, where he underwent psychological and psychiatric tests. He had been suffering from depression for several months beforehand. He was later diagnosed as having bipolar disorder. Read Less Show Less Bruno made a brief guest appearances in episodes of the ITV comedy show, Harry Hill's TV Burp in February and October 2011. On 21 April 2011, Bruno appeared on the ITV1 chatshow The Alan Titchmarsh Show, where he was candid about his previous health issues. In 2011, he made a guest appearance in Sooty.

… Read More On 20 April 2012, Bruno was featured in the ITV series Piers Morgan's Life Stories.<br /><br /> He supports West Ham whilst also having an affinity for Aberdeen. Read Less Bruno completed the 2011 London Marathon which is the third marathon he has run successfully. … Read More He has also run numerous half marathons. He is also a patron for The Shannon Bradshaw Trust, a children's charity. Bruno regularly makes personal appearances and also sells autographed items of memorabilia. Read Less FIFTIES

Question: Who did Frank Bruno beat to win the WBC World Title in 1995?
Answer: Oliver McCall