Bruno Takes Mccall’s Wbc Title Overseas; Defense Against Tyson Could Be Soon

Frank Bruno won the heavyweight championship in his fourth attempt Saturday night, registering a unanimous decision over Oliver McCall to take his WBC title.

Having lost to Tim Witherspoon in 1986, Mike Tyson in ‘89 and Lennox Lewis two years ago, the 33-year-old British fighter earned his first title in front of 23,000 fans at Wembley Stadium.

“It was very, very hard the last round; I took some shots,” Bruno said. “I’ve got some bumps and bruises. But I got the belt. It’s hard to believe. I got my dream. I feel on top of the world.”

Judge Malcolm Bulner of Australia scored the fight 115-113, while Newton Campos of Brazil and Fay Solis of Mexico had it 117-111 to spark a night of celebration for the British fans.

It was the first time a British-born fighter won a heavyweight title in a British ring. Bob Fitzsimmons won it in 1897 in the United States and Lewis was handed the WBC belt after Riddick Bowe dumped it in a garbage can.

“It was his time,” promoter Don King shouted from ringside in acknowledgment of Bruno’s victory. King has promised that the winner will defend the title against Tyson some time next year.

McCall, who won the title from Lewis by knocking him out a year ago, had one successful defense, a decision over Larry Holmes in April.

On the same card, Virgil Hill of Fargo, N.D., gained a unanimous decision over Drake Thadzi, a Malawiborn fighter based in Canada, to retain his WBA light heavyweight title for the eighth time; and Britain’s Nigel Benn knocked out Danny Ray Perez of Albuquerque, N.M., in the seventh round to defend his WBC super middleweight title for the ninth time.