Frank Bruno vs Lennox Lewis, WBC World heavyweight title fight at Cardiff Arms Park
Frank Bruno grew up with five brothers and sisters in a terraced London house and started boxing aged nine at the Wandsworth Boys Club.
He furthered his training more seriously while at Oak Hall School in Sussex – an establishment for ‘problem’ children.
During his amateur career he racked up an impressive 20-1 win record, having only lost to Joe Christie – whom he would later go on to beat.
Bruno went on to box for Young England and became the youngest ever Amateur British Champion at age 18.
In 1982 he became a professional boxer.
He went on to fight American journeyman boxer James ‘Bonecrusher’ Smith in March 1984 at Wembley Stadium, and was defeated by knockout in the tenth round, despite leading on all three judges’ cards.
In March 1986 he fought former WBA champion Gerrie Coetzee in a round one knockout, and in July that year he challenged Tim Witherspoon for the WBA World Heavyweight Championship.
After leading on cards for the majority of the fight, he was defeated by knockout in the eleventh round.
In February 1989 Bruno unsuccessfully challenged Mike Tyson for the undisputed world heavyweight title in Las Vegas.
Tyson beat Bruno after the referee stopped the contest in round five.
But Bruno retained his spot as one of the world’s leading heavyweights, going on to defeat contender Carl Williams and journeymen such as Jose Ribalta, Pierre Coetzer, and Dutchman Jan Emmen.
At the National Stadium in Cardiff Arms Park, Bruno faced off against WBC heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis on October 1, 1993.
Lewis beat Bruno by a technical knockout in the seventh round.
After Oliver McCall defeated Lewis and Larry Holmes he visited the UK to defend the WBC against Bruno, who finally achieved his World Championship dream on his fourth attempt at a world title.
On September 2, 1995 he outpointed Oliver ‘The Atomic Bull’ McCall in a twelve round match which had been billed as ‘The Empire Strikes Back’.
Bruno fought 45 total matches, losing only five. Of his 40 wins, 38 were by knockout.