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
Mike Tyson vs. Evander Holyfield protested by the National Organization for Women. Tyson, in the meantime, had been somewhat active since his release from prison. After defeating journeyman Peter McNeeley in his first fight and fringe contender Buster Mathis, Jr. in his follow-up, Tyson regained the World Boxing Council heavyweight championship in Las Vegas on March 16, 1996 by knocking out champion Frank Bruno. Tyson, however, was stripped of the WBC title after winning Bruce Seldon's WBA title for electing to fight Holyfield instead of WBC number one contender Lennox Lewis. Showtime promoted the event as a heavyweight title tripleheader, as two other champions were