Frank Bruno won the heavyweight championship in his fourth attempt Saturday night, registering a unanimous decision over Oliver McCall to take his WBC title.
Having lost to Tim Witherspoon in 1986, Mike Tyson in '89 and Lennox Lewis two years ago, the 33-year-old British fighter earned his first title in front of 23,000 fans at Wembley Stadium."It was very very hard the last round, I took some shots." Bruno said. "I've got some bumps and bruises. But I got the belt. It's hard to believe. I got my dream. I feel on top of the world.
"I tried to pace myself. I knew he had to try and knock me out."
Judge Malcolm Bulner of Australia scored the fight 115-113, while Newton Campos of Brazil and Fay Solis of Mexico had it 117-111 to spark a night of celebration for the British fans.
It was the first time a British-born fighter won a heavyweight title in a British ring. Bob Fitzsimmons won it in 1897 in the United States and Lewis was handed the WBC belt after Riddick Bowe dumped it in a garbage can.
"It was his time," promoter Don King shouted from ringside in acknowledgement of Bruno's victory. King has promised that the winner will defend the title against Tyson some time next year.
McCall, who won the title from Lewis by knocking him out a year ago, had one successful defense, a decision over Larry Holmes in April.
McCall, of Chicago, had to protect swelling under his left eye for 11 rounds. Bruno landed several big right hands, but McCall never looked in trouble and had the British fighter holding on with a fierce barrage in the final round.
McCall, who weighed 234 pounds, paced around the ring before the fight, looking very emotional, while Bruno appeared cool.
Bruno, 247, landed a big right hand at 1:58 of the first round that stunned McCall and, at the end of the round, a large lump was building under the champion's left eye.
Bruno, who has 38 knockouts in a 40-4 record, tried to do more damage to that wound but failed to find the target as McCall covered up and weathered the early storm.
In the third round, Bruno connected with a right uppercut and the champion, looking stronger with each round, responded with a left that had the British fighter pinned on the ropes.
McCall connected with a right hand in the fifth round and Bruno missed wildly with some rights.
Bruno got through with a left hand 30 seconds from the end of the seventh round.