Steve Frank moved up to the light heavyweight division when he took on Willie Driver on December 9, 1994 in Saint Petersburg, Florida. Nicknamed `The Punching Preacher’ the American born Driver found himself at the losing end when the six-round fight concluded.Frank, the elder brother of former world rated welterweight Raul Frank would become the first Guyanese to challenge Bernard `The Executioner’ Hopkins. The two met in January 1996 with Hopkins’ International Boxing Federation (IBF) middleweight title at stake.
The fight lasted only 24 seconds as a three-punch combination from the champion floored Frank, who took the fight on seven days’ notice. Referee Robert Farrara waved it off after the Guyanese rose on wobbled legs.
The `Lion Heart’ turned pro on April 18, 1986, three days after his 21st birthday and moved on to win the NBA super middleweight title in 1997. Frank stopped competitive boxing the same year. His record includes 17 victories (5 KO s), four defeats and one draw.