The Boxing History Blog

Frank Bruno  The journey towards Frank Bruno’s second world title shot against undisputed champion Mike Tyson was a long and complicated process. The terms for the fight was originally agreed in February 1988 and scheduled for 3rd September at Wembley Arena, meaning Bruno had been out of the ring for eleven months. However, Tyson was embroiled in legal proceedings to sever ties with his manager Bill Cayton. The champion wanted six to eight weeks off after settling out of court, pushing the bout back to 8th October. The fight was pushed back again when Tyson broke his hand in a street fight with ex-opponent Mitch ‘Blood’ Green in August 1988, with a new date of 22nd October. Again that date was rescheduled to 17th December when Tyson was knocked unconscious in September 1988 when he drove his BMW into a tree. Also, in October 1988, Robin Givens, Tyson’s wife, filed for divorce, with Tyson countersuing her. The champion wanted to be close to his lawyers, and Bruno’s challenge was not...

On 13th November 1992, the new WBC mandatory contender was at ringside, working as part of the Home Box Office commentary team, to watch Riddick Bowe outpoint Evander Holyfield for the undisputed heavyweight championship. The hype train started as soon as the new champion left the ring and the two Olympic finalists squared up to each other in a war of words for a mega-fight in 1993. With Bowe signing an agreement with the World Boxing Council prior to his fight with Holyfield to face the winner of Ruddock-Lewis, the WBC gave Bowe until 13th December to reach a deal, or the contest would go to purse bids. Rock Newman, the heavyweight champion's manager, made two offers to Team Lewis. His first offer guaranteed Lewis $3 million, giving Bowe a ninety percent share of the purse and Lewis ten percent. The second offer was for Lewis to not contest Bowe next, but to face an interim opponent in the United States for $2.5 million and then fight Bowe for $9 million or a negotiated percentage...