Ken Buchanan news.
Posted: 18 Jul 2004, 09:23
I found this-
Fri 16 Jul 2004
Buchanan rekindles glove affair
RING legend Ken Buchanan can now relive the most glorious moment of his boxing career at the same Sparta gym where his quest for glory began in 1953.
Buchanan, the British, European and undisputed world lightweight champion between 1968 and 1972 and also voted Britain’s greatest-ever boxer by sportswriters in 1978, unveiled the plaque which has been returned to its rightful place in McDonald Road after being stolen 20 years ago.
The plaque depicts Buchanan’s stunning WBA title victory in Puerto Rico over Panama’s Ismael Laguna in 1970.
Admiring the plaque, which is strategically located above the Sparta ring, Buchanan’s dad and former cornerman Tommy, 90, said: "I hope that this depiction of Ken’s greatest win will serve to inspire the present crop of youngsters in the club.
"Looking at this brings it all back. Laguna told Ken later that he was a better boxer than Roberto Duran whom Lugana had employed as a sparring partner before fighting Ken.
Again a delighted Ken Buchanan said: "American ring great Sugar Ray Robinson couldn’t handle 104 degrees of heat in 1952 when he collapsed in the 13th round against Joey Maxim in a world title fight.
"I beat Laguna over 15 hard rounds in 120 degree plus heat. It was my greatest fight and in fact this plaque used to hang in my hotel in Ferry Road so I’m glad to seeing it hanging back in my old amateur club again."
Meanwhile, Buchanan took time out to show Sparta’s 15-year-old Scottish schoolboys flyweight champion Sean Harper how to throw a left hook, prompting young Harper to say: "I’m really chuffed as it isn’t every week I get tips from a world champion like Ken Buchanan."
Again, Sparta leader George Forsyth received nods of assent from fellow club official Bob Walker when saying: "Not only are we delighted that Ken agreed to unveil the plaque but we have put it exactly on the wall of the gym above the ring because we want our young up-and-coming kids to see what can happen when you combine ring talent with hard work and self belief as Ken did when he first came here in 1953 as a kid himself."
Fri 16 Jul 2004
Buchanan rekindles glove affair
RING legend Ken Buchanan can now relive the most glorious moment of his boxing career at the same Sparta gym where his quest for glory began in 1953.
Buchanan, the British, European and undisputed world lightweight champion between 1968 and 1972 and also voted Britain’s greatest-ever boxer by sportswriters in 1978, unveiled the plaque which has been returned to its rightful place in McDonald Road after being stolen 20 years ago.
The plaque depicts Buchanan’s stunning WBA title victory in Puerto Rico over Panama’s Ismael Laguna in 1970.
Admiring the plaque, which is strategically located above the Sparta ring, Buchanan’s dad and former cornerman Tommy, 90, said: "I hope that this depiction of Ken’s greatest win will serve to inspire the present crop of youngsters in the club.
"Looking at this brings it all back. Laguna told Ken later that he was a better boxer than Roberto Duran whom Lugana had employed as a sparring partner before fighting Ken.
Again a delighted Ken Buchanan said: "American ring great Sugar Ray Robinson couldn’t handle 104 degrees of heat in 1952 when he collapsed in the 13th round against Joey Maxim in a world title fight.
"I beat Laguna over 15 hard rounds in 120 degree plus heat. It was my greatest fight and in fact this plaque used to hang in my hotel in Ferry Road so I’m glad to seeing it hanging back in my old amateur club again."
Meanwhile, Buchanan took time out to show Sparta’s 15-year-old Scottish schoolboys flyweight champion Sean Harper how to throw a left hook, prompting young Harper to say: "I’m really chuffed as it isn’t every week I get tips from a world champion like Ken Buchanan."
Again, Sparta leader George Forsyth received nods of assent from fellow club official Bob Walker when saying: "Not only are we delighted that Ken agreed to unveil the plaque but we have put it exactly on the wall of the gym above the ring because we want our young up-and-coming kids to see what can happen when you combine ring talent with hard work and self belief as Ken did when he first came here in 1953 as a kid himself."