28 years ago

Date: 16th March 1996

Venue: MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada

Title: WBC World Heavyweight Title

Promoter: Don King Productions

Tv: Showtime, KingVision

Frank Bruno
( 40 - 4 - 0 )
Weight: 247 lbs

Mike Tyson
( 43 - 1 - 0 )
Weight: 220 lbs

Six years after losing his undisputed heavyweight championship to James 'Buster' Douglas in Tokyo, Mike Tyson challenged WBC titleholder Frank Bruno at The MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. The two had met previously in February 1989 when Bruno was the challenger to Tyson. That fight ended with a 5th round Tko win for the champion.

This was Tyson's third comeback fight after a stint in prison, but still, he entered the ring as a 5-1 favourite.

Bruno was making his first defence of the WBC heavyweight title, which he had won from Oliver McCall six months earlier.

Bruno looked like a rabbit caught in the headlights, grabbing Tyson round the back of the neck every time the challenger got close enough to throw punches. Referee Mills Lane continually warned the 247lb champion and eventually took a point away in the 2nd round.

Points were never in Tyson's mind, he started the fight with the sole intention of knocking out the champion and he did just that at 0:50 of the 3rd round, Bruno left sat on the bottom rope as Referee Lane waved the fight off.