The Empire Strikes Back – London 1995
Below is an article as written after the fight on the above date.
Re-posted now in the lead-up to another big Wembley Stadium boxing event to whet the appetite.
On an evening of high emotion and extreme patriotism Britain’s Frank Bruno succeeded in his fourth attempt at gaining a version of the World Heavyweight Championship.
That it was gained some five miles from Bruno’s birthplace and at the hands of WBC champion Oliver McCall, whose victory over Lennox Lewis stunned the British boxing public a year earlier, was the icing on the cake.
The nationalistic scenes on the announcement of the … ‘New Heavyweight Champion…’ rivalled anything shown in recent months on the 50th anniversary of the ending of World War II.
The joint Don King/Frank Warren three-title fight card was the biggest ever show in England, befittingly staged at the country’s national sports stadium.
For thirteen years British ‘institution’ and perennial contender Frank Bruno has tried and failed to climb the peak of this profession. The paying public have endured the disappointments as if he were their own kinfolk. This coupled with the ridicule of some US trade magazines made the night in the end sweeter.
Fireworks, a laser show portraying the familiar British landmarks and, Nigel Benn carrying the Union ‘Jack’ accompanied a focussed Franklin Bruno MBE down a lofty floodlit ramp into the ring.
The fight transpired ………to the final round, with the following conclusion :–
Amid utter bedlam at ringside the champion failed to maintain the momentum at the start of the final round. After rising late, McCall merely pushed a desperate Bruno onto the ropes at which point he was smothered for most of the round. By now the champion was looping right hands in hope rather than expectation. Two minutes into the round Bruno managed to distance himself from his pursuer, showing real grit as he landed more scoring jabs. On the sound of the final bell the stadium went into a state of euphoria as the decision was beyond doubt. The miniature Union Jacks provided at ringside fluttered endlessly to await the final decision. For the record, the scoring was unanimous as the Brazilian and Mexican judges posted 117-111, and the Australian a closer 115-113.
On its announcement ticker-tape filled the air and a Busby headed Guards Band struck up Edward Elgar’s ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ augmented by the jubilant voices of the crowd.
The victory improved Bruno’s record to 40-4 (38 KOs) and the former champion McCall fell to 26-6 (18 KOs). In the post-fight interview the new champion was overcome with emotion.
He explained through tear filled eyes that if he’d won £10 million it would not mean more than this moment. He described McCall as ‘very tough’ and thanked everyone from the Queen to Don King !
Once the dust had settled the following day’s news announced Bruno would fight on, and meet Mike Tyson in an $100 million re-match.
Footnote: Bruno would go onto lose his title in his first defence to Mike Tyson in Las Vegas ( March 1996) and would retire, never fighting professionally again. He remains a ‘National treasure’. McCall was provisionally suspended post-fight for failing to provide a sample for drug analysis and would later go onto lose (February 1997) to Lennox Lewis in a rematch with him.
Robert Harding
The Undisputed 