After picking up the WBC Heavyweight Championship by knocking out Frank Bruno for a second time, Mike Tyson targets the WBA title held by Bruce Seldon rather than defend his own belt against Lennox Lewis. In the very first round, Tyson appears to overshoot a right hand, but Seldon drops onto his belly for a knockdown anyway. Seldon gets back to his feet but is knocked into the ropes and again ends up face down after a left hook from Tyson. The WBA Champion again beats the count but wobbles into the corner, prompting Referee Richard Steele to stop him on his feet. The fans react with anger and chant about the bout being fixed, but Tyson collects another title.

Liberation: Bruce Seldon vs. Mike Tyson

Seldon's purse was $700,000 and Hipp's was $180,000.Tim Dahlberg of the Associated Press reported on August 20, 1995:Bruce Seldon, fighting in the shadow of Mike Tyson's return to the ring, used his jab to stop a bloodied Joe Hipp in the 10th round Saturday night to retain his WBA heavyweight title. Hipp was bleeding from a big cut under his left eye and his right eye was swollen shut when referee Richard Steele finally moved in to stop the scheduled 12-round bout at 1:47 of the 10th round. In the main event, Mike Tyson defeated Peter McNeeley by a first-round disqualification. Due to a rape conviction and subsequent prison term, it was Tyson's first fight in four years and two months. AP

Bruce Seldon vs Joe Hipp

Bruce Seldon vs Jesse Ferguson

Bruce Seldon vs Jose Ribalta

On November 5, 1994, 45-year-old George Foreman knocked out Michael Moorer in 10 rounds to win the WBA and IBF heavyweight titles. On January 27, 1995, the WBA Championship Committee unanimously denied Foreman's request to fight Axel Schulz on April 22 and threatened to strip him of the title if he didn't make his first title defense against the top available contender. Foreman appealed the decision, but his appeal was unanimously rejected by the WBA Executive Committee on March 4. Foreman chose to go ahead with the fight against Schulz and was stripped of the title.A teleconference was held on March 14 to announce that Tony Tucker, the No. 1 contender, would fight Bruce Seldon, the No. 2 contender, for the vacant WBA heavyweight title on April 8 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada.The card included four other world title fights: Felix Trinidad vs. Roger Turner for the IBF welterweight title, Julio Cesar Chavez vs. Giovanni Parisi for the WBC super lightweight title, Terry Norris vs. Luis Santana for the WBC super welterweight title and Oliver McCall vs. Larry Holmesfor the WBC heavyweight title. Bernard Fernandez of the Philadelphia Daily News reported:

Tony Tucker vs Bruce Seldon

Trailing on the cards by 2, 2 and 4 points, McCall had three knockdowns in round nine, all by right hands to the head. The third came after a 30 second barrage against the ropes, achieving the TKO at 2:37.

Liberation: Bruce Seldon vs. Mike Tyson

Bruce Seldon vs Joe Hipp

Bruce Seldon vs Jesse Ferguson

Bruce Seldon vs Jose Ribalta

Tony Tucker vs Bruce Seldon

Oliver McCall vs Bruce Seldon

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