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
Tony Bellew 116–113, and 117–112. After losing to Nathan Cleverly, Bellew took on Danny McIntosh for the vacant British light heavyweight title, knocking McIntosh out in the 5th round. Next he took on former World title challenger Edison Miranda for the WBC International belt, and stopped Miranda in the 9th round. On 17 November 2012 he beat Argentine Roberto Bolonti for the WBC silver title. Bellew was cut badly but went the full 12 rounds to a win unanimous decision, taking him one step further to a second world title fight. On 30 March 2013, he fought Malawian boxer Isaac Chilemba in