Hall Of Fame Nominee: Ken Buchanan

[WelshDevilRob]

Ken Buchanan

 

http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/images/buchanan-ken-11.jpg

 

Boxing record

Total fights 69

Wins 61

Wins by KO 27

Losses 8

Draws 0

No contests 0

 

Ken Buchanan (born 28 June 1945) is a former boxing undisputed world lightweight champion. Many consider Buchanan to be the best boxer ever to come out of Scotland.

 

Early career

 

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 two rounds in London. He spent much of the early parts of his career fighting undistinguished opponents in England. His Scottish debut came in his 17th fight, when he outpointed John McMillan over 10 rounds on 23 January 1967. Prior to that, he had also beaten Ivan Whiter by a decision in 8 rounds.

[edit] Lightweight challenger

 

Buchanan ran his winning streak to 23 consecutive bouts before challenging 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.

 

He continued his way up the world Lightweight rankings by defeating Leonard Tavarez, Angel Robinson Garcia and Whiter (in a rematch) among others, but on 29 January 1970, he found his first stone on the boxing road when he challenged future world Jr. Welterweight champion Miguel Velazquez in Madrid, for the European Lightweight title. Buchanan lost a 15 round decision to Velazquez, but nevertheless, he continued his ascent towards the number one spot in the rankings by beating Tavarez in a rematch, Chris Fernandez and Brian Hudson, the latter of whom was beaten by a knockout in five in a defence of the British Lightweight title.

 

Champion

 

http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00810/Ken_Buchanan_682x40_810031a.jpg

 

On September of that year, Buchanan travelled to Puerto Rico, where he would meet Ismael Laguna, the world Lightweight champion from Panama, on 26 September. Many experts thought that San Juan's warm weather would affect Buchanan, but he upset those who thought that way and beat 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 fight in the United Kingdom. He had to resort to fighting overseas for a short period of time.

 

He finished 1970 beating Donato Panuato by a 10 round decision in a non-title bout, and then he began 12 February 1971 by going to Los Angeles, where he was recognized as champion by WBC, with a 15 round decision over Rubén Navarro. After that, he was allowed to fight in the United Kingdom again, and he returned there to beat former world champion Carlos Morocho Hernández by a knockout in eight.

 

Then, he flew to New York to meet Laguna again, this time defending his world title. Buchanan retained the title with another decision over Laguna, and then he had a couple of non-title affairs, one in London and one in South Africa. The South African fight against Andries Steyn in Johannesburg was a mismatch with his opponent's corner throwing in the towel in the third round.

 

Stripping of title

 

He was stripped of the WBC title for failing to defend against Pedro Carrasco on 25 June 1971. But he remained the WBA world Lightweight champion. His next defence came on 26 June 1972, against Panama's greatest, the then undefeated Roberto Durán at the Madison Square Garden (MSG) in New York.

 

http://www.boxing-memorabilia.com/images/buchanan,ken.jpg

This bout proved to be one of the most controversial fights in boxing history. Durán was ahead on all three cards at the end of the 13th round, at which time the fighters spent an additional 20 seconds punching each other. Buchanan was knocked down writhing in pain from a groin injury, that Buchanan's trainer, Gil Clancy, said was caused by a knee to the groin. Referee Johnny LoBianco awarded the fight to Durán, insisting that the blow that took down Buchanan was "in the abdomen, not any lower" and that he felt that Buchanan would be unable to continue fighting.

Columnist Red Smith of The New York Times wrote that LoBianco had to award the victory to Durán, even if the punch was a low blow, as "anything short of pulling a knife is regarded indulgently" in American boxing. Regardless of the circumstances of the fight's conclusion, the fact is that Buchanan took a beating throughout the bout and required hospitalization and surgery after the bout. Buchanan never received a rematch with Duran during the remainder of his boxing career; according to Gil Clancy this was because of no fan interest.

 

It is interesting that both fighters, his predecessor and his successor at the WBA championship were both Panamanians, Laguna and Duran.

 

In his next fight, Buchanan beat former 3 time world champion Carlos Ortiz by a knockout in six, also at the MSG, and he finished 1972 with a win over Chang Kil Lee.

 

Later career

 

In 1973, Buchanan started out by beating future world Lightweight champion Jim Watt by a decision after 15 rounds, to regain the British lightweight title. Soon, he embarked on another international tour that included more fights in the United States, several fights in Denmark, and one fight in Canada. He won each of those fights, leading towards a challenge of European Lightweight champion Antonio Puddu in Italy, and Buchanan added the European Lightweight championship belt to his shelf by defeating Puddu by a decision in 15 rounds. He retained the title by beating Tavarez for the third time, this time by a knockout in 14 at Paris, and then he travelled to Japan to fight for the world title again. This time, however, he was defeated by a decision in 15 rounds by the WBC's world champion, Guts Ishimatsu.

 

Buchanan re-grouped once again, and won in a defense of the European Lightweight title against Giancarlo Usai by a knockout in 12. But he retired from 1976 to 1978, leaving the European Lightweight title vacant.

 

When he returned to professional boxing in 1978, he won two straight bouts, but everything else started going backwards for him. Challenging Charlie Nash in Copenhagen, he lost by a decision in twelve. In 1980, he won two bouts in a row, but after that, he lost five bouts in a row, finally retiring for good after losing to George Feeney by a decision in eight on 25 January 1982. In 2000, he was elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

 

Possible return to the ring

 

Because of financial problems, Buchanan intends to make a comeback to boxing even at 63 years of age. He mentioned his desire for a rematch with Roberto Durán, himself 58 years old.

 

Source: wikipedia

[WelshDevilRob]

Nominated by The_Budweiser

 

Ken Buchanan

 

Ken Buchanan - A Look Back At A True Great

Total fights 69 , Wins 61, Losses 8

 

Ken Buchanan was born on June 28, 1945 in Northfield, Edinburgh. He joined the Sparta club aged eight and turned professional in 1965 aged 20. Before turning pro, Buchanan was the 1965 ABA featherweight champion.

 

Professional Career

 

At the age of 20 years old, Ken's burning ambition to be a boxer started to unfold. His debut fight was at London's National Sporting Club were he took on Brian Tonks (1-1-0). The fight was over fairly quickly when Buchanan won by a second round KO. This was the first win of the unknown boxer from Scotland, but it wouldn't take long until Ken Buchanan's name was known on a bigger stage.

 

Ken spent a lot of his early career fighting in England, mainly London's National Sporting Club where ten of his first sixteen bouts were held. Ken's next fight was held outside England for the first time, it was in his homeland with Glasgow's Central Hotel being the venue. The fight was for the vacant Scottish area lightweight title, the challenger John McMillan (6-10-3) lost a close decision to Buchanan. This was victorious Ken's first belt as a professional boxer and his seventeenth straight victory. With only sixteen months experience as a professional boxer things were looking bright for the young Scotsman, but what did the future have ahead for Ken?

 

Full of new-found confidence Ken's run continued, adding another five straight wins to his record beating better opposition than he previously faced. Not long after turning twenty-two Ken faced his first real challenge in his career. With his record now standing at 22-0, he was up against a highly experienced fighter in Jim 'Spike' McCormack, who had a record of 42-38-12. They met on the 19th of February 1968 at a familiar venue, London's National Sporting Club, this fight was a eliminator for the British lightweight title, which Ken went onto win on points.

 

aThe British lightweight title was to be fought over fifteen three minute rounds at London's Hilton Hotel in Mayfair. This was Ken's (23-0) first 15 round fight, and Maurice Cullen (40-5-2) was the opponent. A determined Ken came through the fight with flying colors, twice flooring his opponent in the sixth round. Buchanan's dominance continued and McCormack hit the canvas twice in the ninth round. The fight was over in the eleventh round when McCormack was unable to beat the referee's count.

 

Buchanan continued his winning streak against Leonard Tavarez, Ivan Whiter, Angel Robinson Garcia, Ameur Lamine, Frankie Narvaez, Mike Cruz, Jose Luis Torcida, Jerry Graci and Vincenzo Pitard who were all well beaten. The undefeated record had now stretched to a impressive 33-0. Ken continued to rise up the world Lightweight rankings, which in his next fight earned him a chance to fight for the vacant European title. Ken was making great strides in his career, could anyone stop this ambitious 24 year old?

 

The vacant European title was to held in Madrid, Spain. Going into the fight Buchanan was in tremendous form having won all of his thirty-three fights. In the opposite corner he faced a very confident Spaniard, Miguel Velazquez (38-1-1). Ken was on unfamiliar territory having never fought outside of the UK before. Ken went onto lose his first ever fight going down in the ninth round before losing on a points decision over fifteen rounds. however, Buchanan wasn't about to throw the towel in yet as we will find out....

 

aKen returned to his usual stomping ground, London's National Sporting Club. There couldn't be a better place for Ken to get back on track, having won a total of fourteen times there previously. Ken went on to win a points decision against Leonard Tavarez (16-16-4). His momentum was back and Ken notched up another two wins, as well as getting his way to number one spot in the rankings.

 

The thirty-eighth fight was against Ismael Laguna (63-6-1) for the WBA World lightweight title in Puerto Rico's Hiram Bithorn Stadium. Many experts thought that San Juan's warm weather would affect Buchanan, but Scotland had a new WBA world lightweight champion. The fifteen round battle ended in a split decision favoring the Scotsman.

 

The WBA and the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBC), were in the middle of a feud, and Buchanan was not allowed to fight in the United Kingdom. He had to resort to fighting overseas for a short period of time. Ken went on to win 2 bouts in the United States before returning to fight Carlos Hernandez (60-11-4) in London, which he also won by KO in the eighth round.

 

Ken flew to New York were he was to fight at Madison Square Gardens against Ismael Laguna (65-8-1), an opponent Ken previously fought to win the WBA belt by split decision in Puerto Rico. This time Ken was fighting to retain his belt, and this he did. Buchanan won the match with a points decision over 15 hard fought rounds. Ken then had a couple of non-title affairs, one in London and one in South Africa, both of which he won.

 

Ken was stripped of the WBC title for failing to defend it against Spain's Pedro Carrasco on the 25th of June 1971. He remained the WBA world lightweight champion however, and was set to face a undefeated challenger in Panama's Roberto Duran (28-0) two days before his twenty seventh birthday. The fight took place in New York's Madison Square Gardens and proved to be one of the most controversial fights in boxing history.

 

Duran was in charge of the fight, but in the final seconds of thirteenth round Buchanan appeared to have received a low blow. Ken was on his knees writhing in pain from the low blow, his trainer said it was due to a knee in the groin. The referee Johnny Lo Bianco awarded the fight to Roberto Duran ignoring a strong protest from Ken's trainer and father, the referee said that Buchanan took a blow to the abdominal area and not a lower area and therefore was unable to carry on. Ken was left frustrated about the decision of the referee for many years, maybe even til this day. Ken never received a rematch with Duran during the remainder of his boxing career, according to Gil Clancy, because of no apparant fan interest.

 

Ken's next fight was against three time world champion Carlos Ortiz (61-6-1), at Madison Square Garden where Ken had just lost his WBA belt. Buchanan won with a KO in the sixth round, and finished 1972 with a win over Chang Kil Lee(19-0).

 

On January 29th 1973, Ken was to fight in Scotland for the fourth time in his career against future world champion Jim Watt (15-2-0). He went on to win the fight with a points victory over 15 rounds, and he was crowned the British lightweight champion for the third time. After defeating Watt, Buchanan went on a run of 10 fights undefeated before taking on Italy's Antonio Puddu (52-2-1) in Calgary. Ken knocked Puddu out in the sixth round to be crowned new European Champion.

 

Ken's next fight was a warm up before his defense of the European belt against Tavaez, his opponent, Winston Noel (5-19-1) was demolished inside two rounds. Leonard Tavarez (28-14-5) who Buchanan was about to fight for the third time was the opponent for his defense. Tavarez corner threw in the towel in the fourteen round, their fighter having taken too much punishment.

 

Ken then travelled to Japan to fight for the world title again. This time, however, he was defeated by a decision over fifteen rounds by the WBC's world champion, Guts Ishimatsu (28-11-6).

 

A dejected Buchanan took five months out of the sport after his loss in Japan, before coming back with a defense of his European belt against Giancarlo Usai (27-2-0) which he won by KO in the twelth. Ken subsequently announced his retirement to the world, vacating the European title in the process.

 

Buchanan (57-3-0) came out of retirement in 1978 to win two straight bouts against Benny Benitez (3-0-0) and Eloi Emiliano De Souza (5-25-1). The next fight was for the European belt challenging Charlie Nash (20-1-0). Ken lost to a decision over twelve rounds, and the end of his reign as a fearsome warrior was truly over. In 1980 Ken won two more bouts, but things got worse after that when he lost four fights in a row. Buchanan finally hanged up his gloves up for good in 1982.

 

Buchanan had a tremendous career spanning over sixty-nine fights and was elected into the International Boxing Hall Of Fame, and today is still the only living British Fighter to be in the list.

 

Life after boxing

 

The once fearless Ken Buchanan is known by many as the best ever boxer to come out of Scotland, possibly the UK. Ken has stated his desire to return to the ring aged 63 in unlicensed boxing bouts, in a last bid attempt to aid his financial troubles. Seeing a legend of the sport thinking of fighting aged 63 is very saddening, especially for his fans. It has been reported one of the reasons of Ken's downfall was a battle with alcohol. Buchanan revealed he sold the Lonsdale, European, WBC, WBA and Ring magazine belts to businessman Willie Garriok so they could be exhibited in the National Museum of Scotland.

 

On a more positive note Ken wasn't forgotten by the boxing world and was inducted in the International hall of fame in 2000. He was also voted the greatest ever British boxer in a 1978 poll by the respected trade paper Boxing News. The fearless warrior's rise to stardom will never be forgotten, and his journey was a pleasure to the British fans who had the priveledge of seeing the master at work.

 

Read More: http://ringnews24.com//index.php/writers-columns/73-thebudweiser/249-ken-buchanan-a-look-back-at-a-true-great.html#ixzz1VIEqRPPY

[WelshDevilRob]

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[davemurphy]

I suspect some will argue against him, but I think he did enough!

[Dallen]

To win a World Title away from Home,and win the return match in the USA against a very good Champion.It speaks volumes about Kens ring career,just a shame we never got to see more of Kens fights in Public arenas.I did see Ken defeat Carlos Hernandez at Wembley and he won easily against a World class fighter in Hernandez.A yes vote for me.

[McBride]

Yes for me. Running to the most destructive Lightweight for years can not be held against a great technician called Ken Buchanan.

[Crusader]

Yes, Buchanan deserve, he was a true champion at a time when his weightclass was full of great fighter

[smokin]

no and and definate no at that , buchanan is overrated by so many laguna it can quite rightly be argued was not at his peak when buchanan beat him and ortiz was certainly past his best . buchan was as RAY ARCEL put it a very good stand-up european boxer , very good yes but great NO . buchanan is overrated

[McBride]

The above is all fair comment, but do you think Arcel would have come out of retirement for anyone other than Duran?

[smokin]

The above is all fair comment, but do you think Arcel would have come out of retirement for anyone other than Duran?

 

 

he did he worked with Alfonso "Peppermint" Frazer for his tittle victory over Nicolino Locche then Duran's manager who also managed frazer got him to work with Duran and Arcel brought in Freddie Brown . but whether or not arcel would of come out of retirement for anybody else has nothing to do with Buchanan being worthy of a place in a hall of fame . It in all honesty burns me a little that people seem to fawn all over buchanan but cant vote for Benn when actually has the better record for me at world level

[Yiddle]

no and for the reason's stated above a couple of post's back , the man in my avatar would of licked buchanan

[londoner]

It's a yes from me.

 

I can see why people wouldn't put Ken in though. For me it boils down to his two wins over Ismael Laguna. Laguna was not past his prime. Check the lineal title of the era. Carlos Ortiz lost his WBC/WBA titles to Carlos 'Teo' Cruz. He then lost the titles to Mando Ramos. And finally Mando Ramos lost the titles to Ismael Laguna. The WBC title wasn't on the line when he fought Buchanan which i assume is because of boxing politics.

 

Lineal lightweight title: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronological_lightweight_boxing_champions

 

When Laguna fought Buchanan he was 27 years old and had been boxing as a pro for 10 years. They then had a rematch a year later and Buchanan won again. Ken beat him in Puerto Rico to win the title and then in MSG. We all know about home town decisions and Ken fought 24 of his fights outside of the UK in numerous different countries. He also beat a pretty decent level of opposition throughout his career. Five of his eight losses were in the last 3 years of his career.

 

I'd say considering he beat the lineal lightweight champion in Puerto Rico and then the USA, 5 of his losses were at the end of his career, he became British, European and lineal World champion and the fact he fought abroad 24 times he warrants a place in the RN24 HOF.

[smokin]

It's a yes from me.

 

I can see why people wouldn't put Ken in though. For me it boils down to his two wins over Ismael Laguna. Laguna was not past his prime. Check the lineal title of the era. Carlos Ortiz lost his WBC/WBA titles to Carlos 'Teo' Cruz. He then lost the titles to Mando Ramos. And finally Mando Ramos lost the titles to Ismael Laguna. The WBC title wasn't on the line when he fought Buchanan which i assume is because of boxing politics.

 

Lineal lightweight title: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronological_lightweight_boxing_champions

 

When Laguna fought Buchanan he was 27 years old and had been boxing as a pro for 10 years. They then had a rematch a year later and Buchanan won again. Ken beat him in Puerto Rico to win the title and then in MSG. We all know about home town decisions and Ken fought 24 of his fights outside of the UK in numerous different countries. He also beat a pretty decent level of opposition throughout his career. Five of his eight losses were in the last 3 years of his career.

 

I'd say considering he beat the lineal lightweight champion in Puerto Rico and then the USA, 5 of his losses were at the end of his career, he became British, European and lineal World champion and the fact he fought abroad 24 times he warrants a place in the RN24 HOF.

 

 

good points but buchanan for me still falls short of being hall of fame worthy and again i feel laguna although 27 when he lost to buchanan was just past his peak .after all a fighters peak is not dependant on his age surely, and if i may bring nigel benn into this again his record at world level for me is better than buchanan's and his best win is better than buchanan's best win . for me it just goes to show how one fighter can get remembered and elevated in status compared to others i guess i think that buchanan is viewed by most through rose tinted glasses. come on people how can benn be doing so badly in his poll and buchanan be doing so well

 

 

thats my rant over with

[londoner]

Well, i voted yes to both Benn and Buchanan as i think their biggest wins were against genuine elite fighters. We should know how in today's era just trying to get two elite fighters in the ring is tough enough so i place a lot of importance on wins against the elite. With Buchanan, it boils down to the two wins over one elite fighter and does that put a guy in the HOF? Because had Buchanan NOT beaten Laguna he is nowhere near good enough for the HOF. I think the two wins, both abroad, put him in IMO.

[The Galveston Giant]

A definate yes from me, Ken was a great fighter and i have him as my 3rd best ever british fighter.

[smokin]

A definate yes from me, Ken was a great fighter and i have him as my 3rd best ever british fighter.

 

 

3rd cry//

[McBride]

A definate yes from me, Ken was a great fighter and i have him as my 3rd best ever british fighter.

 

 

3rd cry//

 

Would you mind expanding on your refusal of Buchanan?

 

Is it global appeal thats the problem? After all you can be a child molester and still have global appeal like Michael Jackson.

 

Is it sensationalism? Because you can be a dirty rapist likeTyson, and create sensationalist headlines.

 

Exactly what is it about Ken Buchanan inside the ring that makes you want to disqualify him, when there are people already inducted that wouldn't have a clue technicaly about what he was capable of?

[DemolitionDan]

Yes for me. He was a successful road warrior. Winning in the States quite a bit, and of course, in Puerto Rico. Not much of a resume, but all he did was win quite a bit. Only 8 losses in his career, and 5 of his last 7 fights were losses. He is a borderline fighter, because he doesn't have any really stand out wins besides a couple, but I say yes.

[smokin]

A definate yes from me, Ken was a great fighter and i have him as my 3rd best ever british fighter.

 

 

3rd cry//

 

Would you mind expanding on your refusal of Buchanan?

 

Is it global appeal thats the problem? After all you can be a child molester and still have global appeal like Michael Jackson.

 

Is it sensationalism? Because you can be a dirty rapist likeTyson, and create sensationalist headlines.

 

Exactly what is it about Ken Buchanan inside the ring that makes you want to disqualify him, when there are people already inducted that wouldn't have a clue technicaly about what he was capable of?

 

 

i suppose its just comes down to what i have already stated the fact that for me laguna was posssibly not at his best and in world tittle fights he beat no else really approaching laguna's quality . its not that i think buchanan was not a good fighter because anybody who tries to say he was an average fighter is wrong . for me he is a very good boxer but just not a great boxer . buchan was a very good european style straight up boxer a superb jab but he was not elusive , and as i have said it does burn me a bit that benn's vote is so bad compared to buchanan's . and as i have said he is one of those fighters that history probably favours and is for me 2nd or 3rd in the list of lighteights to come out of britain so its not that i dont rate him i just dont see him to of accomplished more than the likes of benn on a world stage

[McBride]

I cant really fault your argument smokin, and I do realise this is Budweiser Boxings HOF, but I cant get the Canastota one out of my head, and the inevitable comparisons.

 

As I say there are guys in there that had nowhere near the ability of KB, stand up European or not.

[grapevine241]

ehhhhhhhhhhhh, yes

[WelshDevilRob]

Buchanan will go to the 30 votes stage. 75% pass need to be entered into the ringnews24 Hall of Fame.

 

Please keep voting.

[smokin]

I cant really fault your argument smokin, and I do realise this is Budweiser Boxings HOF, but I cant get the Canastota one out of my head, and the inevitable comparisons.

 

As I say there are guys in there that had nowhere near the ability of KB, stand up European or not.

 

yeah comparisons will be made but then if comparisons are all that matter then why vote, just induct everyone that is already in canastota in every hall of fame . i really enjoy watching mcguigan but i think they got it wrong by inducting him

[themanknownas]

no and and definate no at that , buchanan is overrated by so many laguna it can quite rightly be argued was not at his peak when buchanan beat him and ortiz was certainly past his best . buchan was as RAY ARCEL put it a very good stand-up european boxer , very good yes but great NO . buchanan is overrated

 

Pretty much what i was gonna say to be fair has been said here by smokin he was overrated Laguna was past his best hernandez was not a world class fighter and duran would of beat ken i honestly believe even without the cheating.

 

I like Ken but just like michael Spinks i have to say no again

[WelshDevilRob]

More votes needed for Buchanan.