The Lion Roars, Once More - Bruce ‘Lionheart’ Scott - Past, Present and...Future?
By Gianluca (Rio) Di Caro
11th May 2009
On the 19th May 2009, one of Jamaica’s greatest boxers of all time, Bruce ‘Lionheart’ Scott, returns to the ring for the first time in over three years to compete in the unique and highly successful, Matchroom Sports conceived, Prizefighter 7 - The Cruiserweights tournament at Earl’s Court in West London.
During his magnificent career Scott has won the British Southern Area title, twice held both the BBBofC British and Commonwealth Cruiserweight belts, won a coveted Lonsdale belt outright and retired, in 2006, as the reigning WBU International Cruiserweight Champion. He also challenged for a World crown no less than three times.
Before I venture further into Bruce Scott’s illustrious career I would like to mention that I have been lucky enough to spend quite some time with Bruce over the past month or so. One day, early in May, whilst we were kicking back and chilling after one of his grueling training sessions I showed him the first draft of this article. Afterwards Scott spoke of some of his Championship encounters and as they are insightful and entertaining I have decided to include them. Ok, now back to the important stuff - Bruce ‘Lionheart’ Scott.
As an amateur Scott had an impressive record of 57 fights, suffering only four losses. ‘Lionheart’ won a silver medal in Caribbean competition and became the Jamaican Light Heavyweight Champion. During this time Scott represented Jamaica three times and was bestowed with the honour of being named the captain of his national team.
At just 20 years of age Scott, a product of the now defunct Dragon gym in Montego Bay, left the balmy climes of his Caribbean home for the much cooler temperatures of London, England in his quest to become a World Champion.
Scott, who turned pro in 1991, gained his first professional championship, the BBBofC Southern Area Cruiserweight Title, on the 21st April 1998 where he dominated proceedings from the outset before finally stopping Dominic Nequs in the ninth round.
Five months later ‘Lionheart’ ventured across the Irish Sea to face then Commonwealth champion Darren ‘Raging Bull’ Corbett, who is also competing in Prizefighter 7 - The Cruiserweights tournament, in his home town of Belfast. The fight got off to a slow start for Scott as, with the partisan crowd behind him, Corbett pushed hard for an early finish. A couple of rounds in Scott started to take control of the proceedings, walking down his opponent, by midway through the Jamaican had started to build a slight lead. Scott continued to dominate round after round and in the ninth, having rattled ‘Raging Bull’, with a bomb of a right hand, Jamaica’s finest went in for the finish with a vengeance forcing the referee to step in to save the defenseless Corbett from further punishment. ‘Lionheart’ not only took the Irishman’s coveted Commonwealth title but also secured the vacant BBBofC British belt.
Scott’s face lit up as he recalled his Irish adventure, “Well, I fight Darren in Belfast. It was a good fight, it was a hard fight. You have to understand that. Darren Corbett, I know he’s a big puncher and strong. But I knew I was fitter and stronger than him, and did him in ten rounds.”
It was clear that Scott felt ready to step up and challenge for a World title. So on the 15th May 1999 ‘Lionheart’ found himself in deepest, darkest Sheffield facing WBO Cruiserweight King, Johnny ‘The Entertainer’ Nelson, on home turf. Scott’s first attempt came to nothing as after twelve entertaining, albeit virtually brutal action free, rounds the judges unanimously declared that ‘The Entertainer’ had retained his title, much to the delight of the partisan crowd.
Of his fight with Johnny Nelson, Scott had said, “My fight with Johnny Nelson that go the twelve rounds. He’s a good fighter, very tricky. He didn’t want to get involved with me, he didn’t want to get punched so he just run and he run. That’s how he fight anyway. It was very difficult for me, you know, chasing him round the ring. He won the fight because he’s a cheeky fighter, a crafty guy.”
Just two months later, on the 17th July 1999, ‘Lionheart’ flew to Dusseldorf, Germany to battle with his regular sparring partner and the reigning WBC champion, Juan Carlos ‘Black Panther’ Gomez from Cuba. Just 15 seconds from the end of the sixth round his dream again ended when the referee, Daniel Van de Wiele, stopped the fight following a barrage of punches that had Scott reeling.
Scott recalled how his second title opportunity arose, “I went on holiday to Jamaica after the fight with Johnny Nelson. Then I got this phone call saying that Juan Carlos want to fight me. I cut me holiday short, I’d been eating and drinking, I’d been having party every night so it was um, not the best preparation. So I come back to train, just two weeks to go for the fight. He beat me.
I was spar with Juan Carlos. I spar with that guy um, about twenty, twenty five time. So he know me and I know him, right. So that’s why I took the fight actually. He beat me inside the sixth round. It was a good fight.”
Scott regained the BBBofC British cruiserweight title with a stunning sixth round knockout of John ‘Buster’ Keeton, another of Scott’s fellow competitors in Prizefighter 7 - The Cruiserweights, at the Sheffield Arena on the 16th December 2000. He then went on to secure the coveted Commonwealth (British Empire) crown again after Garry Delaney quit at the end of the third round at the York Hall, Bethnal Green on the 10th March 2001.
With both the British and Commonwealth titles firmly in his grip once again Scott focused on securing another shot at a World title. His first step in this quest was to secure the vacant WBU International title by convincingly beating René Janvier at the Wembley Conference Centre on the 28th July 2001.
This magnificent victory earned Scott the right to face Welshman Enzo ‘Big Mac’ Maccarinelli for the vacant WBU title at the Cardiff International Arena, on the 28th June 2003. In under two minutes of the first round ‘Lionheart’ sent ‘Big Mac’ crashing to the canvas. What followed next was one of the most outrageous refereeing ‘mistakes’ I can recall. For some reason veteran referee, Mickey Vann, carried out a ridiculously long count which allowed Maccarinelli the time to recover his senses and get to his feet. Instead of being rightly declared the winner by a first round knockout, Scott was forced to fight on. Just three rounds later the tables were turned and it was ‘Lionheart’ sent to the canvas by Maccarinelli. As Scott returned to his feet ‘Big Mac’ was all over him like a rash, then just 11 seconds from the end of the fourth round referee Mickey Vann stepped in to stop the fight. Scott’s dreams of a World title were in tatters once more.
To give some insight into just how outrageous this mistake by Mickey Vann was, both Bruce Scott and myself recently had the pleasure of meeting Ola Afolabi, who had beaten ‘Big Mac’ in a WBO title eliminator in March, at Miguel’s Gym in Brixton. When I introduced them to each other Afolabi instantly responded that he had watched tape of Scott’s fight with Maccarinelli during his preparations and said to Scott, “ You were robbed man. I watched that and couldn’t believe the count. It was long, so long, it must have been 20 seconds or more! He counted one and then looked away, maybe two seconds, then two and looked away again and again. You were robbed man!”
Afolabi’s words almost mirrored those of Scott’s just the day before when he said, “My best fight I had, I would say is Enzo. I win that fight. I did. The referee he took a long time with the count. You Know the fight should have finished in the first round. I didn’t see it until I watched it again after the fight. Everyone was telling me what happened. I didn’t notice because everything going on when you’re in the ring, you know. After the fight people say “Oh, the referee he took a long time”. My trainer he say “It’s a long count, it’s a long count”. I think Enzo’s a good puncher. He’s a nice guy, I don’t have anything bad to say about him. It wasn’t him. That’s all I say, I’m not getting in trouble, I’m not saying anymore on this (laughs).”
Bruce ‘Lionheart’ Scott retired in March 2006 after losing to Zimbabwean Hastings Rasani in Newport, Gwent by a close decision. Scott was devastated by this loss as he had only taken the fight to help prepare for his upcoming challenge for the IBO Cruiserweight World Title against Carl ‘The Cat’ Thompson.
As you already know the story doesn’t end there; a new chapter in the colourful life of Jamaica’s favourite son opens with Scott preparing to return on the 19th May 2009 at the Prizefighter 7 - The Cruiserweights tournament and should he be victorious on the night this will also herald his championship comeback as he will win the right to compete for the BBBofC British title.
The only thing standing between Scott and the possible winning of his third BBBofC British championship belt are his opposition in the uniquely formatted, 8 fighters, 7 bouts of 3 x 3 minute rounds and one winner - all in one action packed night, Prizefighter tournament.
So easily said, however this will be no walkover for Scott as all seven of his fellow combatants, in Prizefighter 7 - The Cruiserweights, are former champions in their own right. Commonwealth Cruiserweight Champion Darren ‘Raging Bull’ Corbett (27-4-1), British and European Cruiserweight Champion Terry Dunstan (20-2), British, Commonwealth and European Light Heavyweight Champion Dean ‘Star’ Francis (30-3-1), British Cruiserweight Champion John ‘Buster’ Keeton (26-16), British and Commonwealth Light Heavyweight Champion Neil ‘Simmo’ Simpson (26-18-1), British Southern Area Cruiserweight Champion Micky Steeds (12-4) and replacing Mark Krence, who pulled out following an injury sustained during training, Commonwealth Light Heavyweight Champion Ovill ‘The Upsetter’ McKenzie (14-9)
Scott, who has already beaten two of his fellow Prizefighter 7 - The Cruiserweights competitors; Darren ‘Raging Bull’ Corbett and John ‘Buster’ Keeton, is clearly confident of his chances of winning the tournament, as he announced, “I believe this is going to be one of the best Prizefighter. All the guys are good fighters. Ex-Champions, There ain’t no mugs in it, they’re all people that can fight. They all earned the right to be Champions. They know how to train to win fights. But I think I’m gonna win it. I’ll make this a great victory and have a lot more coming. Maybe this could be the greatest comeback in British boxing history.”
Whatever the outcome on the 19th May 2009, British boxing fans will have the pleasure of watching Jamaica’s magnificent Lion (heart) roar once more - Bring it on!
Prizefighter 7 - The Cruiserweights is a don’t miss event and will be held at Earl’s Court in West London on Tuesday 19th May 2009 and will also be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Tickets cost £25 (unreserved) and £50 (reserved, ringside) and are available by calling 0870 264 3333 or 01277 359900.
About the writer: Gianluca Di Caro, better known as Rio, is an International boxing writer/photographer based in London, UK and Philadelphia, PA, USA. He is also publicist for various British and American professional boxers including former IBF Cruiserweight Champion, Steve ‘USS’ Cunningham.
