By Terence Dooley
Edinburgh-based boxing legend Ken Buchanan, 69, has been admitted to a psychiatric hospital to receive treatment for alcohol addiction. The former fighter was found on a bench in Edinburgh clutching a bottle of wine, according to the Daily Record, who also reported that he has received medical help three times in the past month as he continues to fight his alcohol addiction.
His son, Raymond, told the Scottish publication that: “It is so sad thinking of him in that state. He achieved so much in his career and is worth so more than that. I’m very worried and hope he can recover. He has obviously had his issues with alcohol, which he has spoken publicly about before.”
The former British, European and World lightweight Champion racked up 61 (27 KOs) wins (against eight losses). In a late-career profile piece, Hugh McIlvanney wrote that Buchanan had made around £200,000 in purse money during his career [The Observer, December 9 1973] including a purse of £52,000 for his rematch with former champion Ismael Laguna at Madison Square Garden in 1971, the highest ever paid to a lightweight at the time. However, and in a story familiar to too many ex-boxers, he fell on hard times after retiring for good in 1984.
As a youngster, Buchanan made newspaper headlines before he had even made his pro bow. He boxed in an England Vs Scotland amateur competition at the Albert Hall in 1964, suffering a loss to Winston Laud. However, the tearful loser made such a big impression on the home crowd that they jeered the result [Daily Mail, January 31 1964].
Two years later, the 21-year-old contender had moved to 16-0 and was handed the prestigious Best Young Boxer of the Year award by the Boxing Writers’ Club [Daily Mail, December 23 1966]. Four years later, he shocked Ismael Laguna in Puerto Rico (W SD 15) to pick up the lightweight world title.
Despite being regarded in some quarters as a tough, spiky character, not to mention the fact he only had four fights in his home country, 100, 000 Scottish fans reportedly turned out for a five-mile parade when he returned from New York after defending his belt against Ismael Laguna [The Evening News, September 17 1971]—he was paid a reported $100,000 purse for that one [Herald-Journal, February 13 1972].
Buchanan told the same publication that his diminutive size captured the attention of local childhood bullies, but it worked to his favour, as they were responsible for his fighting abilities. He said: “The bigger boys took advantage of me when I was growing up. I started to fight back and used speed and agility to beat them.”
Buchanan achieved the rare feat of winning over the tough U.S. crowds and their writers, he was highly-rated over there and was awarded the Edward J. Neill Memorial Trophy in 1971; edging out former winner Joe Frazier by a single vote (13-14) [The Montreal Gazette, February 19 1971].
Buchanan was only the fourth non-American fighter to win the award, joining previous winners Kid Gavilan (1953), Inegmar Johansson (1959) and Dick Tiger (1962 and 1966). When he signed on to fight Duran in June 1972, the Ellensburg Daily Record stated that he was: ‘Considered by many the best pound-for-pound boxer around today.’
The New York fans in particular loved the visiting fighter. He took up a residency at the city’s famous Madison Square Garden. One win—a decision over Donato Paduano in December 1970—prompted the fans to compare him to Sugar Ray Robinson, according to McIlvanney [The Observer, November 29 1981]
Controversy came calling in the bout with Duran when the challenger, hammered home a right hook to the champion’s groin in round thirteen to register a TKO win. To Buchanan’s lasting fury, the result wasn’t changed to a DQ; he made his feelings clear in the following days.
“He (referee Johnny Lo-Bianco) stopped the fight because I was hit with a low blow at the end of a round. He should have called it (a) no-contest, that’s what he should have done.” [Lawrence Journal-World, June 28 1972]. The ref, though, maintained that he had made the correct call, saying: “Duran landed a hard blow to the solar plexus area. It was a fair blow.” When the film footage revealed the truth, the official added that the champion had “absorbed a beating” and that had prompted his decision to end the contest.
By 1974, though, the former champion was struggling to recapture the form that had brought him worldwide acclaim. His European title defence against Leonard Tavarez was a slog and prompted Ken to decaled that: “I just couldn’t raise a gallop. I didn’t seem to get going. But I managed in the end and I am, of course, delighted to retain the title.” [The Glasgow Herald, December 17 1974].
For this writer, Buchanan’s fight against compatriot, and future world lightweight titlist, Jim Watt summed the Scotsman up. It took place just six-months after he lost his title to Duran; two wins at Madison Square Garden had kept him in the hunt, but the rematch seemed a remote possibility.
After disposing of Korea’s Chang Kil Lee, Buchanan said: “If he (Duran) beat me as easily as he claimed, why is he waiting so long to give me a return match?” [The Guardian, December 6 1972]. Sadly, the rematch with Duran was not to be, so he came home to fight the pretender to the throne for the British title, winning a deserved decision after a tough tussle.
The seesaw battle went on past midnight. Buchanan handed Watt a few harsh lessons during the first British title fight to take place in Scotland in over eight years. “I don’t need too many nights like that,” he said when speaking to John Rodda of The Guardian [January 31 1973].
“I have fought the best lightweights in the world and take it from me that boy is good,” he added. “He did a fine job there tonight—just look at my face.”
An EBU title win over Leonard Tavarez (W TKO 14) in December 1974 led to a WBC world title shot against Guts Ishimatsu in February of the following year (L UD 15 in Tokyo) and he retired shortly after. A comeback in 1979 was derailed when Charlie Nash handed him a 12-round decision defeat. Unlike the prime years, there were an increasing number of losses amongst the wins.
An eight-round decision defeat to George Feeney in January 1982—his fourth successive defeat—was a clear signal that it was time to call it a day. There were tears in the former champion's eyes as he announced his decision to retire, this time for good. “That was my last fight,” he said.
“I made my professional debut in this same ring 17 years ago. I am 36 and feel that the young ones are now catching up on me.” [The Guardian, January 26 1982]
By 1984, he was deep into retirement and new fighters were coming through. Upcoming boxer Danny Flynn stated his intention of bringing big fights back to Edinburgh, something that “…the great Ken Buchanan never had (the chance to do)” [The Glasgow Herald, March 23 1984].
Other Scottish boxers followed Buchanan to world level, most notably former opponent Jim Watt and Alex Arthur; however, there has never been another Buchanan, and probably never will be. Arguably one of the best Britain has ever produced, he is certainly the greatest Scottish fighter of all-time. BoxingScene wishes him a speedy recovery.
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