Was Oliver McCall paid to lose to Frank Bruno on purpose?

[FLINT ISLAND]

Frank Bruno V Oliver McCall - September 1995.

London, England, UK.

Packed out Wembley Stadium.

Frank Bruno the nations sweetheart having his 4th and surely his final shot at the World Heavyweight Title.

All of Britian behind him.

Everything had been set up in his favour - all he had to do was win the fight.

And then the promise of a career high pay day to defend the World Crown against the Come Back Boy Mike Tyson in Las Vegas.

Problem was Bruno was a limited fighter at the highest level.

That night McCall came to the ring in his usual cry baby ring walk all psyched up.

But his performance was a complete contrast to this psyched up pre fight frenzy he portrayed.

Anyone would have thought Don King had put him on sedatives.

His performance that night has always left me doubtful about his true intentions.

He fought very passively for much of the fight.

He did next to NOTHING.

Bruno was allowed to build up a big points lead.

In the final round McCall suddenly came to life a bit and poor old Bruno was hanging on for dear life as his strength began to ebb away.

Why did McCall only come to life so late.

Why not earlier - surely he would have had too much for Bruno if he had fought a true fight.

Maybe the plot was for McCall (paid handsomely by Don King) to give up his title so Bruno could realise his "dream"

giving McCall his promise he would be able to fight for the heavyweight title again further down the line when the likes of Bruno had long lost his title (which McCall did)

and also maybe Don King wanted Bruno as a easier to knock out scarificial lamb for Tyson to devour and reclaim the heavyweight title.

This may sound far fecthed

but behind the scenes the likes of Don King are businessmen who want certain results to happen and will do everything in their power to get their way

[Claypole]

Frank built up a big points lead because that was what he excelled at. With the one notable exception in Tyson, Bruno just about out boxed everybody he fought. He was well schooled (if somewhat robotic) with a ramrod jab and monster power.
This was not enough to get him past Lewis, Tyson, and Witherspoon, but Mcall wasn't quite as good as them (in my opinion), and Frank prevailed.

This was no set up job. I think Mcall tasted Franks power early on and didn't like it. He went into his shell a bit and waited until the sting was gone from Bruno's punches, by which time it was too late.

[achillesthegreat]

Frank had tools. He was suspect but he's beaten top dogs and trouble greats like Lewis and Tyson. Frank was always a tough customer. That night he beat a McCall who was always an erratic fighter. McCalls a nut. He can walk to the ring crying and then spark Maskaev and then he can walk to the ring crying and get beaten by Lewis. He's a nutter. Simple as.

Frank beat him. No foul play to my knowledge.

[JonOli]

Nah, Bruno was given far too tough a time imo... It would have been a far simpler job had there been a back hander involved.

[FLINT ISLAND]

No foul play to my knowledge.

However I think it strange he went so in his shell.

He didnt shy away from Lewis power - he put his hands by his side and let lewis have a free open shot

[Beeston Brawler]

All that shows is an insane chin

But Lennox wasn't exactly lamping him to death either, spent most of the time running around him to get in a position to punch

[achillesthegreat]

No foul play to my knowledge.

However I think it strange he went so in his shell.

He didnt shy away from Lewis power - he put his hands by his side and let lewis have a free open shot
Did he go into a shell or does a Bruno jab keep you off balance and unable to get off?

If that worked against Lewis then it could v McCall.

[Claypole]

He didnt shy away from Lewis power - he put his hands by his side and let lewis have a free open shotThat was crazy against Lewis, but it would have been suicide against Bruno. He may not have been slick and stylish, but give him a free shot and you're finished.

[kurt2006]

Yes it was fixed. I paid McCall off with a bag of dope and 2 russian prostitutes.

[Beeston Brawler]

If Bruno had survival instincts he would have beaten Lewis and Tyson.

Lennox wasn't getting through at all until the huge bomb which landed on Frank and caused him to drop his hands.

Tyson on the other hand simply wasn't all that good (in the grand scheme of things) and would have opened himself up allowing Frank to land.

[FLINT ISLAND]

But look at that last round - McCall upped the pace - Bruno was clinging on for dear life.

Surely if McCall had upped the pace earlier he would have probaly stopped Bruno.

Its all very well being a bit cautious early on but he was defending his World Heavyweight title - and he didnt seem to care that he was letting it slip away

[JonOli]

Franks stamina was never great as well. That may perhaps be why McCall came on late. Just a thought -I haven't seen the fight for a fair while...

[FLINT ISLAND]

I remeber in the 1st round Bruno did cacth him with a monster over hand right that knocked McCall back and into the ring ropes

from then on he fought like a sparring partner going through the motions

in a WBC WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT title defense

[Rob3]

Well King would of had to pay McCall an mega fortune for him to take it easy. What was McCall's purse for the fight? Atleast double that, and take into account what McCall could of earned defending his title against Tyson. It's been a while since I've seen the fight but from what I remember it seemed McCall was simply gambling that Bruno would run out of steam like he had in most of his big fights. If he was throwing the fight he wouldn't of came on strong in the last round.

[FLINT ISLAND]

Nigel Benn tried to lift big Frank aloft

Benn was recovering from his little scare on the undercard fight

also on the same card

Virgil Hill beat Drake Thadzie

Thadzie would go on to beat James Toney

[brown bomber]

Larry Holmes came pretty close to beating McCall too.....He just wasn't that good Right hand and chin excepted.

[TBooze]

McCall was a journeyman with a top promoter. I guess he shows how you can become a factor in the Heavyweights if you have a brilliant chin and a fair right hand.

Bruno had finally learnt to cling on for dear life if hurt and McCall was that limited that Bruno managed to survive the full 12 rounds, but the last round was a close run thing.

[DamonD]

McCall, much like he did against Holmes, was really unfocused and went into his shell as the jabs kept coming.

Against Holmes he was finally able to galvanise himself into that big 9th round and pulled out the close win, but he left it too late against Bruno.

Give that bout a 13th round and it could well have been McCall the winner, but Bruno managed to survive the 12th and deserved the win.

No fix. McCall could just drift in and out of a fight like that, and tended to be a notoriously slow starter (and very strong finisher).

[Leif Erikson]

Yeah, McCall was just extremely inconsistent. I know it was six years later, but his fight against Akinwande was another example - He was shit until he found that one big punch.

That Bruno momentarily gave him a case of the jelly legs in the opening round probably didn't encourage him to open up as much as he otherwise might, either.

[scurlaruntings]

Yeah, McCall was just extremely inconsistent. I know it was six years later, but his fight against Akinwande was another example - He was shit until he found that one big punch.

That Bruno momentarily gave him a case of the jelly legs in the opening round probably didn't encourage him to open up as much as he otherwise might, either.Henry was throughly spent in that fight. I remember watching it live. The guy could barely stand by the championship rounds and was KO`ed from McCalls relentless pressure and chin.

[kurt2006]

Bruno Bruno Bruno Bruuuuuuuuuuno

[FLINT ISLAND]

Remeber McCall making his way to the ring

here comes the bull - ooooooooo - here comes the maniac killer - OLIVER MCCALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

McCall is a dodgy fucker not to be trusted - he was in the gym before with Glen McCory and his brother

he said for Glens brother to spar with him and he would take it easy

then he broke his nose on purpose - the cunt

[DamonD]

Now, a McCall that could've had Manny Steward in his corner for more than one fight...that could've been very interesting.

[Diablo]

Iv wondered the same thing...but I think he just left it too late in stepping up the pace.

He was always dangerous for the full 12 rounds due to his iron chin - best heavyweight chin of the past 25 years imo. If Amir Khan had 10% of his chin he might have actually won some fights above british level.

[kurt2006]

Iv wondered the same thing...but I think he just left it too late in stepping up the pace.

He was always dangerous for the full 12 rounds due to his iron chin - best heavyweight chin of the past 25 years imo. If Amir Khan had 10% of his chin he might have actually won some fights above british level.

Please dont give the Khan camp any ideas, Shah will be down the motorway in his old taxi to see some Harley St specialists and ask if they can transplant a bit of McCalls chin onto Amir.

[kurt2006]

he said for Glens brother to spar with him and he would take it easy

then he broke his nose on purpose - the cunt

That must have been well funny to watch. Oliver always looked like a mad maniac.

[9Ball]

Remeber McCall making his way to the ring

here comes the bull - ooooooooo - here comes the maniac killer - OLIVER MCCALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

McCall is a dodgy fucker not to be trusted - he was in the gym before with Glen McCory and his brother

he said for Glens brother to spar with him and he would take it easy

then he broke his nose on purpose - the cunt

Yeah but Glens brother was only 9 years old at the time!!!

:rofl

[kurt2006]

Yeah but Glens brother was only 9 years old at the time!!!

:rofl

:lol: :rofl