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Frank Bruno and Lennox Lewis foe Oliver McCall who spoiled mega fight plans still boxing at 60

American boxer Oliver McCall visited London twice in 12 months and came out on both the winning and losing sides of two of the most important nights in British heavyweight history

[Oliver McCall in his classic battle with Frank Bruno]

Oliver McCall in his classic battle with Frank Bruno(Image: Getty Images)

"London is one of my favourites places, as far as all the places Ive travelled to in the world," says Oliver McCall, a veteran of 78 professional contests who, incredibly, is still an active fighter at the age of 60.

Matter of fact, first time I ever went out of the United States was when I went to London to spar [Frank] Bruno, way before I became a ranked contender. It was before he fought Bonecrusher Smith [in May 1984]. I was more scared of the driving on the opposite side; I wasnt used to it. I liked Bruno because he gave me the opportunity to enhance my technique before I got ranked. He looked out for me as a person when I wasnt a known fighter. That rapport with Bruno from the first time, that always stuck with me but it backfired as I didnt take him as serious...

McCall and Bruno fought for real in Londons Wembley Stadium on September 2, 1995, and a lot had changed not only since the last time theyd met, but since the last time McCall had boxed in London, just a year earlier. That was when McCall arrived in the English capital as a long-shot challenger to WBC heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis. When he returned to face Bruno, it was as defending champion, having stunned Lewis with a second-round stoppage.

[Oliver McCall stunned the world when he knocked out Lennox Lewis]

Oliver McCall stunned the world when he knocked out Lennox Lewis(Image: Getty Images)

Bruno was different by then; more experienced, more determined, but still the underdog. It was felt that if McCall could beat Lewis, he would surely beat Bruno, too. McCall subscribed to that logic, and was further lulled into complacency by his fond memories of the affable Big Frank of more than a decade earlier.

He, more than anybody, should have understood the dangers of underestimating a well-prepared, resolute challenger for that had been him against a Lewis who had clearly overlooked him, having prematurely signed to fight Riddick Bowe next. That was the biggest fight to be made in heavyweight boxing at the time, but McCall scuppered it with one right-hand bomb inside Wembley Arena even though he himself wanted to see Lewis vs Bowe.

[The cover of this week's Boxing News]

The cover of this week's Boxing News

"I really wanted to see that fight," he says. I dont know why they didnt [fight earlier]. I think it was Bowes fault. Bowe was great, nothing to play with back then, but I think he remembered what had happened in the amateurs [when Lewis stopped Bowe in the final of the 1988 Olympics].

Lennox really wanted to fight Bowe [as a professional] because of that, so yes, I really did think he was overlooking me. Lennox underestimated me and thought it would be an easy day out.

The promoters looked after me. Everything was real nice. But they had that perspective in terms of what they thought was going to happen: they thought I was gonna be a lay-down type of fighter.

The press, though, they was pretty lively. I liked the British press. They knew I could punch, so they was looking forward to Lennox fighting me, because of the way he got the titles versus Razor Ruddock [Lewis had beaten Ruddock in an eliminator and was retroactively awarded the WBC belt after Bowe relinquished it]. The belt was given to him, so they was wondering if he could take a punch.

[Boxing legend Oliver McCall pictured in 2015]

Boxing legend Oliver McCall pictured in 2015(Image: Getty Images)

I knew he was going to be a big task, but Id been the underdog before on several occasions, against [Bruce] Seldon, Buster Douglas, [Tony] TNT Tucker, [Francesco] Damiani. A couple of them I won [Seldon and Damiani] and a couple I thought I won [Douglas and Tucker], but they gave them the decision. I really had to work my way up the ranks.

The day of the fight, oh wow, I felt fantastic. I was really excited. I opened up the hotel window and looked as far as I could see and I told myself, By 12 oclock tonight, Im gonna be heavyweight champion of the world. I knew my time had come.

I knew he [Lewis] was going to be a big task, looking at the way he was built, as hes long and lanky. But then I thought hed be clumsy, and I thought my footwork was better and I had a better corner. I had Emanuel Steward in my corner; that gave me an advantage.

I saw him fight [Phil] Jackson in his last fight and thought I had what it takes to beat him with my right hand. I saw the way he telegraphed his right hand. Being so tall, he draws it back it goes back before it comes back. With my reflexes, I knew Id be able to throw a straight right straight down the middle when he threw his right. I knocked out a sparring partner that way and I said thats what Im gonna knock Lennox out with. And thats exactly what I did.

[Oliver McCall upset Lennox Lewis]

Oliver McCall upset Lennox Lewis(Image: Getty Images)

It was just an overwhelming feeling. That high jump in the pictures shows my enthusiasm right there. Im the heavyweight champion of the world and all that that mean. I couldnt wait to get back to my father and my grandfather he boxed back in the 30s and show them my title belt.

We caught a Concorde back and did a celebration in New York. I met the press in Manhattan. I was just enjoying being champion of the world. It was surreal. It took nine years.

But it lasted less than one. McCall was back in London inside of 12 months, making the second defence of his title, having outpointed Larry Holmes in April 1995.

As champion, there were parallels with the man hed dethroned. Now it was McCall who was overconfident, looking past an underdog opponent he thought was no more than a stepping stone to a blockbuster fight with a superstar, as the WBCs mandatory contender was by now a certain Mike Tyson, who was on the comeback trail after a three-year prison sentence.

[Frank Bruno fighting Oliver McCall on his way to winning the WBC Heavyweight belt]

Frank Bruno fighting Oliver McCall on his way to winning the WBC Heavyweight belt(Image: PA)

The whole concept was different [to the last time hed fought in London], says McCall. Entering that fight as champion, that part was awesome. They really rolled out the red carpet for me on account of being heavyweight champion of the world. The way they treated me was phenomenal. They treated me better there than here when I fought Larry Holmes.

And I thank the fans in London. The treated me nice and everything. Of course, they loved Bruno, they definitely wanted Bruno to beat me, but on both occasions, when I won the title and when I lost the title, they way they conducted themselves was excellent. They were some of the best fans.

But one thing I definitely wouldnt have done if I knew what I know now I took my wife and kids over to my training camp. Biggest thing I shouldn't have done. That was a no-no. If Id had my family with me when I fought Lennox, I wouldnt have won that.

But then, if Id taken Bruno as serious as I did Lennox, I would have won that fight. I did not take it as serious as I should have took it. I kind of underestimated Bruno, I really did. I was thinking how Id sparred [Tim] Witherspoon and got the better of him, and he knocked out Bruno.

[Oliver McCall is still an active fighter]

Oliver McCall is still an active fighter

Bruno was different to when I first met him and sparred him. He was focused and determined and wanting to get it on; definitely a big difference in his attitude. I should have made adjustments, and it cost me the fight. He put his all into winning, and it backfired on me.

The day of the fight, I picked out a Mercedes Benz for when I got back to the United States. Other things Id prepared even before the fight. Of course, I was thinking Im gonna leave there with the belt.

But I aint taking nothing away from Bruno. He was one of the hardest punchers I ever fought. He hit me in the eye in the first round and it swelled up and I had to deal with that.

The referee let Bruno hold excessively in the later rounds, when I was whooping Bruno. But thats how it is sometimes; thats the politics of boxing when youre in someone elses backyard in another country.

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When the decision was announced [Bruno won a unanimous verdict], I felt regret. I felt like the things Id experienced there were things Id participated in that I shouldnt have. Ive grown spiritually since and I know now that I shouldnt have put myself in those situations.

But it [fighting Bruno] was one of the biggest things in my life, as far as sports goes. I was blessed to be on that type of stage. Wembley Stadium was awesome. I look at some of the fights taking place there now and think wow, I fought there. Just it would have been nice if it was full, like Anthony Joshua fills the place up.

Losing the belt meant also losing out on the Tyson fight. Bruno went on to that six months later, and was taken apart in three one-sided rounds, but McCall feels he would have done a whole lot better than that.

It was a big thing to miss out on, because I definitely wanted to fight Tyson, and I think I would have whooped Tyson, he says. I would have knocked Tyson out. From sparring, I knew I could get him where I needed him to ne, and with the little gloves on, I would have knocked him out.

[Frank Bruno raises his arms in jubilation after defeating Oliver McCall at Wembley]

Frank Bruno raises his arms in jubilation after defeating Oliver McCall at Wembley(Image: The People)

[Evander] Holyfield couldnt take a punch like I could take a punch. I mean, yeah, he was able to take Tysons punches and come out victorious, but I would have been able to lay my hands on him earlier and with more power than what Holyfield was able to. In sparring, I was almost able to hit him at will at times.

McCall never got the Tyson fight, but he outlasted him. When Tyson fought Jake Paul on November 15 last year, it made him, ever so briefly, the oldest former heavyweight champion to have boxed professionally, at 58. Just four days later, McCall broke the record at 59, and he has boxed twice more since then.

And, now 60, he wants to box on. Hey, maybe Ill come over to fight in London again! he says.

He would likely find the British Boxing Board of Control more reluctant to license him than the Tennessee Athletic Commission, which has approved his comeback, and if so, he has another idea reuniting with Bruno for a dinner show tour to celebrate 30 years since Bruno beat McCall for the title.

Id love to do that, he says. That was his pivotal moment. I look at Bruno as a friend, and Im glad to have been a part of it.

This article was originally published in BOXING NEWS, the worlds oldest boxing magazine and the longest-running sports weekly. Published every Thursday, it offers unrivalled coverage of the sweet science. Buy it now at boxingnews.imbmsubscriptions.com

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