Lennox Lewis vs. Lionel Butler to gain the title match with Bruno, but the WBC would ultimately rule in favor of Tyson. Confirmed bouts: Lennox Lewis vs. Lionel Butler Lennox Lewis vs. Lionel Butler was a professional boxing match contested on May 13, 1995. The fight was a WBC "eliminator" bout with the winner scheduled to become the number one contender for the WBC heavyweight title. Lennox Lewis' previous fight had been a WBC heavyweight title defense against Oliver McCall. The then-undefeated Lewis entered the fight as an overwhelming favorite over the little-known McCall, however, McCall would stun the champion and the boxing world after
Mike Tyson vs. Buster Mathis Jr. Mathis was unable to answer the referee's 10 count and Tyson was awarded the victory via knockout. After his victory over Mathis, Tyson's promoter officially announced that he would receive his first Heavyweight title fight against WBC Heavyweight Champion Frank Bruno in March 1996. Tyson and Bruno had previously met in 1989 with Tyson's Undisputed Heavyweight Championship on the line. Tyson dominated Bruno for the entire duration of that fight before knocking him out in the fifth round. In the rematch, Tyson again dominated Bruno, this time knocking him out in the third round to capture the WBC Heavyweight title.