Lennox Lewis out American contender Lionel Butler. However, at the behest of promoter Don King, the WBC bypassed him and gave Mike Tyson the first chance at the title recently won by Briton Frank Bruno from Oliver McCall. Bruno had previously lost to both Lewis and Tyson. Lewis had the number 1 contender's slot in the WBC rankings when he knocked out Australian Justin Fortune, then defeated former WBO Champion Tommy Morrison in October 1995, followed by Olympic gold medalist and former WBO champion Ray Mercer in a close majority decision in May 1996. Lewis successfully sued to force Tyson to make
Lennox Lewis vs. Frank Bruno on 14 January 1993. Lewis had previously been the WBCs number one contender by defeating Razor Ruddock. Lewis then became the first British world heavyweight champion since Bob Fitzsimmons lost the title on 9 June 1899. Lewis went on to defend his title by defeating Phil Jackson. Frank Bruno had previously lost to Tim Witherspoon on 19 July 1986 for the World Boxing Association (WBA) Heavyweight title at the old Wembley Stadium and to Mike Tyson on 25 February 1989 for the WBA, WBC, and International Boxing Federation (IBF) titles at the Las Vegas Hilton. The fight was the first