Who was boxer Ken Buchanan and what was his record?
SCOTTISH boxing legend Ken Buchanan is one of the greatest boxers the UK has had the pleasure to produce.
The man dubbed the “fighting carpenter” became the undisputed lightweight world champion in 1971.
Who was Ken Buchanan?
He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland on June 28, 1945.
Even before turning pro, Buchanan showed he really had something special as he won amateur titles.
The proud Scotsman worked hard as a fighter and finally got his chance to turn professional.
It took some time before he had the opportunity to fight in his native Scotland.
Once becoming a pro boxer, he had some 16 fights before getting that chance, defeating John McMillan on points in a gruelling bout.
What was Ken Buchanan’s cause of death?
Ken Buchanan had been battling with dementia.
It was announced that he had passed away in his sleep.
His family and friends will take some solace in the news that the former world champion passed away peacefully.
What was Ken Buchanan’s boxing record?
After turning pro in 1965, Buchanan had to earn his stripes, facing a number of relatively low-key opponents to get his chance.
It took 23 bouts before he got his chance to face Maurice Cullen for the British lightweight title in London in 1968.
Having won the title, he worked hard to keep making his way up the rankings and it was not all plain sailing as he lost an epic 15-round encounter with Miguel Velasquez for the European title.
Buchanan continued working hard and eventually got his first world title fight some five years after turning pro.
Upsetting the odds, he won the WBA lightweight title but could not defend it in the UK due to an ongoing feud between the BBBC and the WBA.
In 1971, Buchanan defeated Rubén Navarro to defend his crown and was awarded the vacant WBC championship, making him the undisputed lightweight champion of the world, the first ever Scotsman to hold that record.
He won his first 33 professional fights and ended his career with a record of 61 wins and 9 losses with 27 victories coming by knockout.
Buchanan was awarded an MBE in in 1972 and was inducted into both the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the Scottish Sport Hall of Fame.
As the tributes flood in for the former world champion, one thing is for sure, the sport of boxing has lost a true legend.