How good was Kirkland Laing?

Steve M · Post by **Steve M** » 17 Dec 2003, 20:58

i see his name come up every so often when wasted talent and british fighters that could have been very good are mentioned.Looking at his record the Duran upset was definately his high point but he didn't accomplish much else.

How good was he? and what was the Duran fight like?

Southpaw Stylist · Post by **Southpaw Stylist** » 18 Dec 2003, 05:40

That's what I don't understand, he beat a faded Duran, and not much else. His skills were pretty good I hear though.

TerribleTerry · Post by **TerribleTerry** » 18 Dec 2003, 06:28

Duran wasn't faded - just jaded and under prepared. After Kirkland took a decision over him Duran still went on to beat Davey Moore and Iran Barkley.

The Gifted One as Kirkland was known was a case of talent over application. His hands down style made it difficult to gauge where punches were coming from and his ability to judge distance was exceptional.

If Kirkland had the work ethic of say Hagler, he would of been a long standing world champ IMO.

Hardhitters11 · Post by **Hardhitters11** » 18 Dec 2003, 06:50

Kirkland Laing had heaps of talent and could have been a decent long term champ...

Such a shame what happened to "The Gifted One"...

Get some of his fights on tape and have a look at him.

HH

Goz · Post by **Goz** » 18 Dec 2003, 07:48

This question is oftne asked on boxing forums, I guess fans are browsing down Duran's record and notice this L10 against Laing and want to know what he was like.

Kirkland had all the tools but little application. Take the boy out of the street but can't take the street out of the boy and all those cliches apply to Laing, had a gift to make some money and a name for himself but seemingly more interested and getting shit-faced.

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 18 Dec 2003, 16:23

Laing had an awsome talent to be able to stand in range hands down and make very good fighters miss.... he had lightning reflexes. His problem was that he was a very erratic person, I think also not very confident in himself and so all through his career just when it seemed that he was on the verg of 'making it' he'd foul up.... ie go missing for ages, or lose to a fighter he shouldn't lose to. He had two epic British title fights with big hitting Colin Jones (who later fought Milton Mccorry) and was winning each fight hands down with brilliant boxing before being suddenly tagged in the 9th round of both fights. He was in the wilderness for a few years after that but came back to Beat Duran in that huge upset.... although I agree that Duran wasn't in the best shape for that fight I think Laing would always have given Duran a hard fight.
Its not preposterous to say that in terms of talent Laing was on a par with Benitez. Many later marvelled at the hands down approach of Hamed and Herol Graham but Laing was fighting in this style long before even Herol Graham. If Laing had had Grahams dedication he would have won a wotld title.
After Laing beat Duran he was in line for huge pay days.... including I think a world title shot against Mccory.... but he went missing for about a year!.... his manager just couldn't contact him.
Perhaps he was afraid of success.
But he still acheived a lot.... aside from the Duran fight he later (when well into his mid thirties) regained the british Welter weight title and then picked up the Europeon title ....and for a while it seemed that even in his 30s he was finally going to get his world title shot.... but again crucial defeats to fighters he should have beaten (including one to Buck Smith) ruled him out. Its terrible that a man with so much talent never fought for a world title, but I'm sure that everyone who ever saw him box will never forget it.... I saw him fight 'live' a number of times and it was an incredible experience..... a moment when you are aware that you are watching nothing less than a genius in action....

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 18 Dec 2003, 18:52

silkov wrote:Laing had an awsome talent to be able to stand in range hands down and make very good fighters miss.... he had lightning reflexes. His problem was that he was a very erratic person, I think also not very confident in himself and so all through his career just when it seemed that he was on the verg of 'making it' he'd foul up.... ie go missing for ages, or lose to a fighter he shouldn't lose to. He had two epic British title fights with big hitting Colin Jones (who later fought Milton Mccorry) and was winning each fight hands down with brilliant boxing before being suddenly tagged in the 9th round of both fights. He was in the wilderness for a few years after that but came back to Beat Duran in that huge upset.... although I agree that Duran wasn't in the best shape for that fight I think Laing would always have given Duran a hard fight.
Its not preposterous to say that in terms of talent Laing was on a par with Benitez. Many later marvelled at the hands down approach of Hamed and Herol Graham but Laing was fighting in this style long before even Herol Graham. If Laing had had Grahams dedication he would have won a wotld title.
After Laing beat Duran he was in line for huge pay days.... including I think a world title shot against Mccory.... but he went missing for about a year!.... his manager just couldn't contact him.
Perhaps he was afraid of success.
But he still acheived a lot.... aside from the Duran fight he later (when well into his mid thirties) regained the british Welter weight title and then picked up the Europeon title ....and for a while it seemed that even in his 30s he was finally going to get his world title shot.... but again crucial defeats to fighters he should have beaten (including one to Buck Smith) ruled him out. Its terrible that a man with so much talent never fought for a world title, but I'm sure that everyone who ever saw him box will never forget it.... I saw him fight 'live' a number of times and it was an incredible experience..... a moment when you are aware that you are watching nothing less than a genius in action....

Great post, Silkov. God, we were spoilt at welter in the 80's with the likes of Jones, Honeyghan, Laing and Mittee. Jones handed over the baton to Honeyghan, but only because Lloyd had more dedication than Laing (Lloyd was a great trainer). But Laing peaked around the same time as Lloyd in the mid to late-80's (and destroyed Mittee in five one-sided rounds in '87) and deserved a crack at his stablemate in my opinion. It didn't make sense business-wise - but who's to know who would have won! For a while, both men were unbeatable.

Goz · Post by **Goz** » 19 Dec 2003, 05:47

As I recall that KO loss by Buck Smith was pretty brutal, Laing was out cold?

Smith had one of those incredible records compiled in the backwaters of the US against 59 year old cowboys and they bought him over to the UK for Laing and suprisingly Smith clobbered him.

In Laing's previous fight he had finished the protected George Collins.

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 19 Dec 2003, 06:26

Yeah Bennie, Laing vs Honeyghan would have been a cracker.... I'd lean toawards a peak Honeyghan overcoming Laing ...but on the other hand can also see a peak Laing (in confident mood) out-boxing Honeyghan.... Laing certainly had the kind of slick rangey style that would have bothered Loyd. Laing could also punch a fair bit too when he set himself.
Incidentially Bennie do you happen to know how Kirkland is now.... the last I heard about him was when he suffered that bad fall a little while after his interview with Steve Bunce.

knockout artist · Post by **knockout artist** » 19 Dec 2003, 09:10

[quote="TerribleTerry"]Duran wasn't faded - just jaded and under prepared. After Kirkland took a decision over him Duran still went on to beat Davey Moore and Iran Barkley.

And took Hagler to the wire.

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 19 Dec 2003, 09:14

silkov wrote:Bennie do you happen to know how Kirkland is now.... the last I heard about him was when he suffered that bad fall a little while after his interview with Steve Bunce.

You're not the first to ask that, Silkov, and, regrettably, no-one seems to know. Boxing News, for example, don't know, and I've come across nothing on any websites.
I suppose no news is good news, but it is frustrating after all the publicity his fall garnered in the first place. Bunce should do a follow-up.

DIRT SUGAR · Post by **DIRT SUGAR** » 19 Dec 2003, 09:17

Laing was a real enigma. Great talent but as so often happens, the guys who have all the talent don't always have the discipline to get the best out of it.

I mean, that Buck Smith fight, I remember thinking, 'serves you bloody right' when he got knocked out. I mean, Laing couldn't really hurt him and just stood in front of him, hands down and 'BOOM!!' that was it.

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 19 Dec 2003, 10:51

Yeah, but that was Laings style... to stand in front of an opponent hands down daring them to hit him and then coming back with counters. Against Smith though he had one of his bad days... he was winning every round but I remember thinking a round or so before the end that Kirk looked to be tiring.... and thats what happened he got tired and got caught.

Chambers · Post by **Chambers** » 19 Dec 2003, 11:57

silkov wrote:Laing had an awsome talent to be able to stand in range hands down and make very good fighters miss.... he had lightning reflexes. His problem was that he was a very erratic person, I think also not very confident in himself and so all through his career just when it seemed that he was on the verg of 'making it' he'd foul up.... ie go missing for ages, or lose to a fighter he shouldn't lose to. He had two epic British title fights with big hitting Colin Jones (who later fought Milton Mccorry) and was winning each fight hands down with brilliant boxing before being suddenly tagged in the 9th round of both fights. He was in the wilderness for a few years after that but came back to Beat Duran in that huge upset.... although I agree that Duran wasn't in the best shape for that fight I think Laing would always have given Duran a hard fight.
Its not preposterous to say that in terms of talent Laing was on a par with Benitez. Many later marvelled at the hands down approach of Hamed and Herol Graham but Laing was fighting in this style long before even Herol Graham. If Laing had had Grahams dedication he would have won a wotld title.
After Laing beat Duran he was in line for huge pay days.... including I think a world title shot against Mccory.... but he went missing for about a year!.... his manager just couldn't contact him.
Perhaps he was afraid of success.
But he still acheived a lot.... aside from the Duran fight he later (when well into his mid thirties) regained the british Welter weight title and then picked up the Europeon title ....and for a while it seemed that even in his 30s he was finally going to get his world title shot.... but again crucial defeats to fighters he should have beaten (including one to Buck Smith) ruled him out. Its terrible that a man with so much talent never fought for a world title, but I'm sure that everyone who ever saw him box will never forget it.... I saw him fight 'live' a number of times and it was an incredible experience..... a moment when you are aware that you are watching nothing less than a genius in action....

Good post. Another George Best or a Gazza

Steve M · Post by **Steve M** » 19 Dec 2003, 12:23

Does anyone have any of his fights on tape that they could upload to the ftp?.

Dark Destroyer · Post by **Dark Destroyer** » 19 Dec 2003, 13:40

I have the Duran fight as well as the fight with Kevin Lueshing.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 19 Dec 2003, 15:42

TerribleTerry wrote:Duran wasn't faded - just jaded and under prepared. After Kirkland took a decision over him Duran still went on to beat Davey Moore and Iran Barkley.

The Gifted One as Kirkland was known was a case of talent over application. His hands down style made it difficult to gauge where punches were coming from and his ability to judge distance was exceptional.

If Kirkland had the work ethic of say Hagler, he would of been a long standing world champ IMO.

Yep, Duran vs Barkely was one of his greatest accomplishments/performances. He was close to (if not in) his 40's, but looked in tremendous shape and was very sharp.