Mike Tyson Retires Frank Bruno Via TKO – March 16, 1996 (This Day In Boxing History)

Mike Tyson made his return, and it was a dangerous one.

Tyson reclaimed the WBC world heavyweight title by a third-round TKO, which sent Frank Bruno to the ropes with a crushing body blow and enormous right hands. The referee halted the fight 50 seconds into the third round.

“I was going for the knockout from the first round,” Tyson said at the time.

It was Bruno’s first title defense after winning it from Oliver McCall six months earlier. This was Tyson’s third fight after serving three years in prison for a rape conviction.

In the second round, Tyson continued to stagger Bruno with no room for answers.

Tyson unleashed a deadly 13-punch sequence in the third, which forced the fight to be waived off.

Bruno retired shortly after the loss.