Boxing: Bruno back in the reckoning

THE showdown between Lennox Lewis and Frank Bruno, ruled out on financial grounds just days ago, has a good chance of taking place this autumn.

If tomorrow's deadline is not met for a 5 November commitment to tie Lewis to a defence against Tommy Morrison in Las Vegas, Bruno will re-emerge as the next likely challenger for the World Boxing Council heavyweight champion. The Morrison fight would then be put back to February or March.

Lewis's manager, Frank Maloney, said: 'It is now 70-30 that Bruno comes back into the reckoning for the autumn. If we have to take another opponent before Morrison, I would like to think it would be Bruno.

'We have been working on this for a week or so behind the scenes with Bruno's promoter, Mickey Duff. Things are progressing well and the money problems have been ironed out.'

Glenn McCrory, who held the International Boxing Federation cruiserweight title for nine months before being knocked out by Lewis in 1991, was beaten by Alfred 'Ice' Cole on Saturday. Cole, who knocked down McCrory twice in the sixth round, won a unanimous points decision in the first world title fight to be held in Moscow.

The American, beaten just once in 23 contests, damaged his right hand but his combination punches frequently had Mc- Crory defending on the ropes.