He won the World Boxing Association (WBA) world title after defeating Oliver McCall 1995. He had previously made 3 unsuccessful attempts to win a world title, against Tim Witherspoon 1986 (WBA title), Mike Tyson 1989 (undisputed world title), and Lennox Lewis 1993 (World Boxing Council (WBC) title). Bruno was born in London and had an ambition from an early age to become world heavyweight champion. He won the Amateur Boxing Association (ABA) championship 1980, and in 1982 fought his first professional fight, defeating Lupe Guerra by a knockout in the first round. In 1985 he won the European heavyweight championship against Anders Eklund. After his second world title defeat in 1989 Bruno retired, but returned to boxing in 1992.
