Titles: Lightweight champion 1970-1972 Record: 62-7 Born: January 28, 1945 in Edinburgh, Scotland Years active: 1965-1982 Nickname: None It is sad that a great fighter like Ken Buchanan will be forever remembered for a loss rather than his many victories. While many remember his loss to Roberto Duran on a borderline low blow he is perhaps one of England's 4 greatest fighters. It is also strange that he enjoyed more popularity in America than England. His early fights as a pro were held in sporting clubs where only members got to see the fights and thus limited his exposure and popularity in England. He was regarded as a easy win for then champion Ismael Laguna but he outboxed the champion and won the title on points in Puerto Rico! Ken became the undisputed champion but was stripped by the WBC for giving Laguna a rematch. He then lost his title over 13 brutal rounds to Roberto Duran whom few if any lightweights during any era could have defeated on that night. He earned the respect of Duran however who refused to ever give him a rematch. Some good wins were still ahead as he beat Jim Watt and Antonio Puddu which in turn earned him a shot at Guts Ishimatsu in Japan. A points loss forever took him out of title contention. He fought on but did not achieve any more significant wins. Now lives in Scotland in meager conditions after a failed business and costly divorce. Occasionally attends bouts as a celebrity guest and still works as a carpenter, his original trade.
1965 Sep 20 Brian Tonks London KO 2 Oct 18 Vic Woodhall Manchester, England KO 2 Nov 1 Billy Williams London KO 3 Nov 22 Joe Okezie London KO 3 Dec 13 Junior Cassidy London W 8 1966 Jan 24 Tommy Tiger London W 8 Mar 7 Manley Brown London KO 4 Apr 4 Tommy Tiger London W 8 Apr 19 Chris Elliot Manchester, England W 8 May 11 Junior Cassidy Manchester, England W 8 Jul 12 Brian Smith Aberavon, England KO 1 Aug 6 Ivan Whiter London W 8 Sep 6 Mick Laud London W 8 Oct 17 Antonio Paiva London W 10 Nov 29 Al Keen Leeds, England W 8 Dec 19 Phil Lundgren London W 10 1967 Jan 23 John McMillan Glasgow, Scotland W 10 Feb 14 Tommy Garrison London W 10 May 11 Franco Brondi Paisley, Scotland KO 3 Jun 28 Winston Laud London W 8 Jul 26 Rene Roque Aberavon, England W 10 Sep 14 Al Rocca London KO 7 Oct 30 Jim McCormack London W 12 1968 Feb 19 Maurice Cullen London KO 11 (Wins British Lightweight Title) Apr 22 Leonard Tavarez London W 8 Jun 10 Ivan Whiter London W 8 Oct 23 Angel Robinson Garcia Mayfair, England W 10 Dec 11 Ameur Lamine Hamilton, Scotland KO 3 1969 Jan 2 Frank Narvaez Piccadilly, England W 10 Feb 17 Mike Cruz Mayfair, England KO 5 Mar 5 Jose Luis Torcida Solihull, England W 10 Jul 14 Jerry Gracy Nottingham, Scotland KO 1 Nov 11 Vincenzo Pitardi Mayfair, England KO 2 1970 Jan 29 Miguel Velazquez Madrid L 15 (For European Lightweight Title) Feb 23 Leonard Tavarez Piccadilly, England W 10 Apr 6 Chris Fernandez Nottingham, England W 10 May 12 Brian Hudson London KO 5 (Retains British Lightweight Title) Sep 26 Ismael Laguna San Juan W 15 (Wins World Lightweight Title) Dec 7 Donato Paduano New York W 10 1971 Feb 12 Ruben Navarro Los Angeles W 15 (Retains World Lightweight Title) May 10 Carlos Hernandez London KO 8 Sep 13 Ismael Laguna New York W 15 (Retains World Lightweight Title) 1972 Mar 28 Al Ford London W 10 Apr 29 Andries Steyn Johannesburg KO 3 Jun 26 Roberto Duran New York KO by 14 (Loses World Lightweight Title) Sep 20 Carlos Ortiz New York KO 7 Dec 4 Chang Kil Lee New York KO 2 1973 Jan 29 Jim Watt Glasgow, Scotland W 15 (Regains British Lightweight Title) Mar 27 Hector Matta London W 10 May 29 Frankie Otero Miami Beach W 10 Sep 1 Edwin Malave New York KO 7 Oct 11 Frankie Otero Toronto KO 6 Dec 6 Miguel Araujo Copenhagen KO 1 1974 Feb 7 Jose Peterson Copenhagen W 10 Apr 4 Joe Tetteh Copenhagen KO 3 May 1 Antonio Puddu Cagliari, Italy KO 6 (Wins European Lightweight Title) Nov 21 Winston Noel Copenhagen KO 2 Dec 16 Leonard Tavarez Paris KO 14 (Retains European Lightweight Title) 1975 Feb 27 Ishimatsu Suzuki Tokyo L 15 (For WBC Lightweight Title) Jul 25 Giancarlo Usai Cagliari, Italy KO 12 (Retains European Lightweight Title) 1979 Jun 28 Benny Benitez Randers, Denmark W 8 Sep 6 Eloi De Souza Randers, Denmark W 8 Dec 6 Charlie Nash Copenhagen L 12 (For European Lightweight Title) 1980 May 15 Najib Daho London KO 7 Oct 20 Des Gwilliam Birmingham, England W 8 1981 Jan 26 Steve Early Edgebaston, Scotland L 12 Apr 4 Langton Tinago Salisbury, England L 10 Nov 24 Lawrence Williams London L 8 1982 Jan 25 George Feeney Piccadilly, England L 8