Ken Buchanan MBE
Born 28 June 1945
Passed Sun 2 Apr 2023
Scottish professional boxer from Edinburgh and former undisputed world lightweight champion.
Nicknamed the Fighting Carpenter
He would fight in the Buchanan Tartan
Buchanan took up boxing at eight years old, after persuading his dad Tommy to take him to Edinburgh's Sparta Club, and won his first medal aged eight and a half and weighing 3st 2lb.
He said: "I got bullied a wee bit at school because I was skinny. I had a wee bit of a chip on my shoulder but only because guys wanted to fight me, and then his brother would want to fight me because I would knock him out.
Before turning pro, Buchanan was the 1965 ABA featherweight champion. He started boxing professionally on 20 September 1965, beating Brian Tonks by a knockout in the second round in London.
After 23 consecutive bouts he challenged Maurice Cullen on 19 February 1968 for the British lightweight title in London. He knocked Cullen out in the 11th round and became a world classified lightweight challenger.
In September 1970 he travelled to Puerto Rico to challenge Ismael Laguna, the world lightweight champion from Panama. Many experts believed San Juan's warm weather would affect Buchanan, but he defeated Laguna by a 15-round decision to become world's lightweight champion.
At that time, the WBA and the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBC), were in the middle of a feud, and Buchanan was not allowed to defend the WBA title fight in Great Britain.
Buchanan defeated Rubén Navarro in Los Angeles on 12 February 1971, defended the WBA championship, and acquired the vacant WBC championship. And, he became the undisputed world lightweight champion.
Buchanan defeated former world junior welterweight champion Carlos Morocho Hernández by knockout in round eight, in Wembley on 11 May 1971. But he was stripped of the WBC title for failing to defend against Pedro Carrasco on 25 June 1971.
Buchanan retired in 1978, leaving the European lightweight title vacant.
In 2000, he was elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
In 2002 he was inducted into the Scottish Sport Hall of Fame.
Source: Wikipedia
69 professional fights
61 wins
27 wins by knockout
8 losses, no draws and 0 ‘no contests’
The only living British fighter in the International Boxing Hall of Fame, following his retirement he suffered from alcoholism and, recently diagnosed with dementia, he now receives round the clock care.
The Scottish boxing great Ken Buchanan, who became the undisputed world lightweight champion in 1971 and won his first 33 fights, has died at the age of 77. He finished his career with a 61-8 win-loss record.
His death was announced in a Facebook post from the Ken Buchanan Foundation. “It’s with great sadness that we have to inform you that Ken Buchanan passed away peacefully in his sleep this morning.
“Further announcements will come and please give the family some time to process this sad news. RIP Ken, always a gentleman and one of the best champions we will ever see.”