The Flower of Scotland and the Filipino Rose: Ken Buchanan Vs Manny Pacquiao, Part I
By Peter “The Emperor” Stitt
Ringside Report
Ken Buchanan was born on June 28th, 1945, in the beautiful city of Edinburgh and, in a career that spanned seventeen years, established himself in many people’s minds as the greatest boxer ever to hail from my homeland of Scotland. He was a graceful stylist and a true sportsman whose class and silky skills often distracted the viewer from recognizing the grittiness of the man’s spirit because Buchanan was a fighter first and foremost. It is ironic, given the clichés about wildly drunken Scottish warriors and English slurs about the barbarity of the people “north of the border”, the rugged terrain and the fearsome climate, that Scotland historically produced exceptional legal, educational and health care systems, writers, poets, musicians, scientists and engineers, then produced soccer sides that English teams felt were vastly superior in terms of skill, and then developed a style of boxing that relied upon brain rather than brawn. Paradox or God smiling on an awesome but unkind landscape, on an indomitable people and their poetic spirit?
Buchanan is a complex personality, largely outgoing and friendly but occasionally introspective, sometimes even greedy and resentful, a man who finds it hard to forget long past slights and injustices. He started boxing at the age of eight and was known as the most diligent trainer at the Sparta Amateur Boxing Club in Edinburgh. As Ken often explains, boxing was all he had ever known since such an early age and this led to severe problems in later life. His biggest support and inspiration was his mother and she died before he won his world title, a regret that lives within him still. As an amateur, Buchanan frequently represented Scotland at fight meets around the world and got very used to the idea of fighting in “the lion’s den” as it were and this would serve him well in his future professional career.
Ken Buchanan’s style would have been perfect for a long and illustrious amateur career but it’s pinnacle came in him winning the British ABA featherweight title in 1965 and he turned professional that very year, winning his debut with a 2nd round TKO against Brian “Rocky” Tonks that September. Many people had suspected that Ken’s classical stand-up style, working behind his majestic left jab, would not transfer to the pro ranks but, as Reg Gutteridge put it: “He turned into a real hard pro” as he ran up a 23 fight winning streak, competing mainly in London, before challenging for his first major belt, the British Lightweight title. On February 19th 1968 Buchanan beguiled and bedazzled the unfortunate Maurice Cullen and put him down a total of five times in scoring an 11th round KO, announcing his arrival as a serious contender on the world stage.
In those bygone times fighters still took on risks and our Ken bravely took on the excellent Spaniard Miguel Velasquez in Spain in a challenge for the European title in January 1970. Buchanan was 33-0 and Vasquez was 38-1-1 so it was a very even looking fight but Velasquez, the future WBC Light-Welterweight Champion, did enough to win a 15 round points decision. It was very noticeable that Ken was fighting mainly foreign opposition and didn’t appear terribly interested in defending the domestic title he picked up or in challenging again for the EBU title, he seemed to realise he was good enough for the world and his rankings reflected this aspiration. He didn’t have to wait long for the chance to prove the point.
After three more fights and three more wins, Ken Buchanan was matched with two-time world champion Ismael Laguna from Panama to fight for the world title in Puerto Rico on September 26th 1970. Unfortunately the WBC had withdrawn recognition from Laguna when he failed to defend against their No.1 contender, Mando Ramos, from whom he had taken the title with a 9th rounds cuts stoppage. Because of this alphabet chicanery Ken was challenging for only the WBA title and that, in itself, brought problems because the British Boxing Board of Control were in dispute with the WBA and were, at the time, refusing to recognize WBA title holders.
The result was that, when Ken Buchanan won the title from Laguna via a split decision over 15 rounds, he knew that he was going to be a travelling champion. In overcoming Laguna in Puerto Rico Buchanan had become the first Celt to win a world title in a climate in which Celts normally melt and struggle (remember the complaints after Cruz-McGuigan?). The temperature ranged between 100 and 120 degrees and Laguna’s team had shrewdly taken the corner of the ring that was in the shade whilst the potato-white Scot took his between rounds breaks in the full glare of the sun. The fight itself was a master class of boxing contested between two excellent champions and Ken managed to shake Ismael late in the fight which probably clinched the judges’ verdict. After the result had been announced, Ken turned to his father in the ring and said ruefully: “I wish my mum were here.”
He returned to Edinburgh and was met at the airport by a crowd of five people! Ken knew that, by being forced to fight away from home, his chances of being recognized as a national icon in his homeland were being severely limited and Edinburgh had never been the centre of boxing Glasgow had been so there was little “hometown” support for the lightweight king. The recognition would, however, come in time and, in 1971 Ken received an MBE from the Queen and was voted British Sports Personality of the Year following his unification of the title. Eventually, many years later, Scotland came to realize what a gem we had had in Ken Buchanan but only when he was elected into the Boxing Hall of Fame and our man could then, finally, lay to rest some of the seething resentment that had stemmed from being largely ignored by his own people whilst he was champion.
Ken made two successful defenses of the WBA Title, beating the highly respected Ruben Navarro to also pick up WBC honors via a points decision in Los Angeles in February 1971 and winning stylishly on points in a rematch with Laguna in a Madison Square Garden appearance in September 1971. Buchanan had been stripped of his WBC Title prior to the Laguna rematch for failing to sign to fight Pedro Carrasco who was an over-protected if possibly underrated Spanish fighter. Carrasco got his chance later and won the WBC title via an outrageously officiated fight in Spain but the result was voided and he lost the rematch with the ever-present Mando Ramos. A study of this period in the lightweight division gives the student a headache with alpahabet interference at every turn!
During this time Buchanan also managed to fit in four non-title fights in order to stay busy, an approach today’s stars might wish to consider. Despite being primarily a stylist, Ken Buchanan’s regular fighting in the States had established him as a popular fighter with US fight fans who appreciated the skills and grit of the Scottish hero. Sadly, all wonderful stories have a horrible ending and they do not come more horrible than this one. Dear reader, in your worst nightmare, who would you least like to see at the other side of a boxing ring when the referee has gone on mental vacation and there are no boxing rules? I think that most sane and knowledgeable boxing people would answer that question with the two chilling words “Roberto Duran.”
On the 26th June 1972 the great Scottish stylist accepted the challenge of the unbeaten Roberto Duran at Madison Square Garden. For thirteen rounds Buchanan tried to hold his own against the future Panamanian legend in spite of the endless stream of head-butts, elbows to the face and low blows that referee Johnny LoBianco almost completely ignored (one warning for low blows in the 13th round). The New York crowd was aware of the fouling but, in one of boxing’s most notorious episodes, the rule breaking went without punishment. Disqualification would have been a moderate punishment and that was before the final insult. The fight had started badly for the Scot who slipped as he dodged a punch, went down and took a count as the chime of the opening bell was still fading but it simply went from bad to gruesome.
An exchange towards the end of round 13 continued beyond the bell and the significant strike was (according to some accounts Duran used his knee!) a sickening low blow that left Buchanan writhing in agony (even though he clearly told the referee that he wished to continue) so Duran won the title in one of the most foul filled title fights in history. Duran never wished to give Ken Buchanan a rematch and bitterness festered within the Scot for years though Duran’s subsequently stellar career was some consolation to Ken. And, should anyone doubt the brutality of the fouling throughout that fight, Buchanan was hospitalized and actually needed surgery following the disgusting abuse of the rules on display that night. (Turn away now the more squeamish readers) Buchanan actually suffered a burst testicle and still suffers related pains to this day. Oh, and that final blow to the gonads that was clearly delivered after the bell to end the round? Referee LoBianco ruled that whatever had landed was a “legitimate punch.” How? It was low and launched and delivered after the bell? There can be no argument. I have deep admiration for the great Roberto Duran but his performance that night against Buchanan was a total disgrace to the sport of boxing. Significantly, the bout was Referee LoBianco’s first world title fight, it was also his last….
Following the loss of his world lightweight title Ken fought on and beat former champ Carlos Ortiz with a 6th round retirement in 1972, again in New York, and also managed to beat future WBC champ and fellow Scot Jim Watt over the distance in 1973 to retain his British title and he also picked up the EBU title in this period. Interesting points relating to these fights give some glimpse into Buchanan’s enigmatic character. Whilst he held the world title he had jealously refused to relinquish his British title so Jim Watt entered their fight a very angry young man having been denied the opportunity to challenge for the domestic title for two years. There was a great deal of bad feeling surrounding that fight although the two are now great friends, perhaps because of Watt’s generous and forgiving nature.
When fighting Ortiz at Madison Square Garden, Ken received a visit in his dressing room from Angelo Dundee as Ali was fighting Floyd Patterson on the same bill. Angelo meekly asked “Ken, do you mind if Ali shares your dressing room?” and an amazed Buchanan (who adored Ali) replied in disbelief “Ah, away with you! Don’t be daft.” Angelo went on to explain that it was not a joke and that Ali really did need a dressing room so Ken said “No problem.” When Muhammad arrived in the room he found Buchanan drawing a chalk line on the floor so he asked Ken what he was doing. Buchanan replied “That’s your side and this is my side and if you cross this line you’ll get this.” (Ken pointed to his fist). Ali’s entourage went silent, anticipating trouble, but Muhammad got the joke and just burst into laughter with the sardonic Scot. Another noteworthy result from this period was Ken’s 2nd round stoppage of the excellent Chang Kil Lee in 1972 because Lee was the OPBF Light Welter Champ from 1970 to 1975 and also challenged Antonio Cervantez for the WBA title in the higher weight class in 1974. That’s the level Ken Buchanan was fighting at and still Duran didn’t return his calls.
In spite of lighter moments and continuing success in the ring, Ken Buchanan was not having a great time of it and split with his long-time manager and mentor Eddie Thomas, taking on his father instead, and Ken’s eyebrows were becoming increasingly prone to cutting, not a good sign for a future in boxing. Travelling to opponents’ countries, Buchanan remained unbeaten until he challenged Guts Ishimatsu for the WBC Lightweight title in Japan in February 1975 when he lost a unanimous decision. Ken took the logical and sensible option and retired but then found life outside the ring more difficult than the fighting. He was simply missing boxing and then his wife decided to file for divorce and Ken started drinking heavily. Finding that he was going broke, he reached out for the easiest source of money he knew and the place he had been happiest and returned to the boxing ring.
Eventually he started to suffer permanent damage to his sight and the British Boxing Board of Control revoked his boxing license. Ken’s desperate situation drove him to participate in three unlicensed and illegal fights before he finally realized that the magic had gone and quit permanently in 1982. The modest Scotsman returned to the profession he had entered after leaving school and could be found working happily as a joiner in Edinburgh to pay the bills.
Ken Buchanan was elected into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in the year 2000 and this really launched his legend in Scotland. His record when he finally, belatedly, retired was 61-8, 27 KO’s, and Scotland slowly began to realise that her greatest ever fighter was gone. He had only ever been stopped once and then it was down to Roberto Duran’s “out of hours” whack to the gonads and that result can therefore be discounted as something that should never occur in a boxing match. What we have in Ken Buchanan is a master boxer who can also take whatever the opposition throws at him without flinching and he was a natural born lightweight. When asked who was the best fighter he ever faced in his career, Roberto Duran answered immediately and with absolute conviction: “Buchanan.” Consider the man’s results against the men he fought. The boxrec all-time lightweight rankings show the following results: 1. Roberto Duran, 2. Carlos Ortiz, 12. Ismael Laguna, 16. Ken Buchanan.
This is the man that Manny Pacquiao faces in this article.
What need I say about Manny Pacquiao because his stellar career is still ongoing and, deservedly, he is the biggest news in boxing right now with an outstanding record of 47-3-2, 35 KO’s. Manny is more than a national hero in the Philippines, he is an icon and a national treasure and his influence has spread the length and breadth of Asia.
In short, Pacman inspires people and discussion of this phenomenal fighter is often couched in almost religious solemnity which can sometimes lead to the neglect of objectivity. Whilst most Manny fans are aware of (and openly discuss) such limitations as he displays in the ring, there are a minority of others who would back their man to KO King Kong and Godzilla if those fights could be made (and I’m sure Freddie Roach has tried!). As a writer whose words often attract criticism and praise from readers, I cannot afford to lose sight of objectivity so the second part of this article is unlikely to please everyone.
I am either going to upset a lot of people in the Philippines or I am going to infuriate the folks back home in Scotland but no boxing fan will ever doubt the courage of RSR writers in the future. Tune in for Pac two of this article, same Pac-time, same Pac-channel tomorrow…
