Oliver McCall vs. Frank Bruno Oliver McCall vs. Frank Bruno Oliver McCall vs. Frank Bruno, billed as "The Empire Strikes Back", was a professional boxing match contested on 2 September 1995 for the WBC Heavyweight Championship. After Oliver McCall narrowly beat former champion Larry Holmes in his first title defence he agreed to fight WBC No. 6 contender Frank Bruno with the winner contracted to make their next defence against former undisputed heavyweight champion Mike Tyson. This was Bruno's fourth attempt at winning a world title. WBA Champion Tim Witherspoon knocked him out in 11 rounds in 1986, undisputed champion Mike Tyson stopped him in
Oliver McCall vs. Frank Bruno five rounds in 1989, and WBC champion Lennox Lewis finished his fellow Brit in seven rounds in 1993. In the opening rounds, Bruno unloaded a barrage of left jabs that left McCall stunned. McCall absorbed the punishment, put up little defense and waited until the fifth round to throw a meaningful punch. But by then, Bruno was confident and ahead on points. As the fight wore on, it became apparent that McCall's last hope to retain the title was to win by a knockout. McCall hurt Bruno with an uppercut in the 11th, and in the 12th, McCall shoved the