BoxRec

PUNCH DRUNK Oct 27 2004


Boozed-up boxing champ Ken kicked off easyJet flight

By Lynn Davidson



BOXING legend Ken Buchanan was kicked off a plane because a pilot ruled he was too drunk to fly.

The former world lightweight champ was hauled from an easyJet flight to Glasgow by security guards.

The plane, with 146 passengers on board, was delayed by 30 minutes at Bristol.

Buchanan, 59, later admitted: 'I had had a wee drink with the boys.'

The boxer had boarded with fellow champ Gary Jacobs and a Glasgow businessman around 4pm on Monday. A spokeswoman for easyJet said: 'There was one passenger who was taken off the flight by security.

'He was clearly under the influence of alcohol.

'Staff believed that, in the unlikely event of an emergency, he would be unable to respond to instructions.

'It was not because of aggressive behaviour or because he was making a nuisance of himself.'

Yesterday, Buchanan appeared confused but claimed he had not been too drunk to fly and insisted he left the flight of his own accord.

He said he had suffered a memory lapse and got off the plane after realising he had another speaking engagement in Bristol.

Buchanan added: 'That's what happens to boxers.'

He claimed: 'I had tickets to fly but forgot I had a gig. I said, 'What the hell am I doing here?' I had to honour my gig. I said 'cheerio' and came off.

'I can assure you I was not put off the plane because I had too much to drink. I never had to be helped off.

'I wouldn't embarrass myself. I'm Scottish. I had a wee drink with the boys, there was nothing really nasty about it at all.'

But one furious passenger insisted: 'I saw Gary Jacobs and another man propping up Buchanan and helping him up the stairs to the bar at Bristol. He could hardly walk by himself.

'When he got to his seat, he wouldn't fasten his seatbelt.

'Jacobs went down to speak to the pilot and explained who Ken Buchanan was. But the pilot said he didn't care who he was and that the man was a security risk and had to get off his plane.

'Then two security guards came and escorted him off.'

Edinburgh-born Buchanan has suffered more than his fair share of heartbreak since losing his world title in 1972.

His wife Carol left with their two children and he was forced to sell his hotel to pay debts.

Last night, Buchanan appeared to be uneasy on his feet as he finally arrived back at Glasgow on another easyJet flight .

Asked again about Monday's incident, he said: 'Go away.'



http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/tm_ob ... _page.html

Was a bit taken aback when I saw someone reading the paper this morning and this being splashed over the front page. Pity they didn't give Buchanan such attention when he arrived back from Puerto Rico:

"Coming down the steps from the plane, I was immediately met by my wife Carol and our twelve-day old son, Mark. It was one of the happiest moments of my life. My wife and son were going to want for nothing. Their lives were going to be rosy. I didn't get a king's ransom for the title fight, but there would be big purses in defending my title. As I held my new son, I scanned the place, half looking for press. It took me a few seconds to realise that the airport was devoid of the press. Scotland had a world champion and only a few friends turned up to welcome me home." (Tartan Legend, p.69)

...


"The next day I learned that nobody had known about the fight, none of the general public that is. The Scottish papers practically ignored it. There was a wee bit here and there in some of the papers." (ibid, p.70)

Its a tradgedy the way Ken never got the support he deserved whilst Champ, but now he gets a bit pissed it makes big news in the small minded 'rags'

Also tragic is that he gets more support when he is over in the states, where he is treated with respect from all and now he has to put up with this crap in the papers from his own country.

Im pretty sure Ken made it into the hall of fame recently which shows how well he should be treated.


Big deal the man enjoys his whisky, He's a proud Scot remember

Exile wrote: Im pretty sure Ken made it into the hall of fame recently which shows how well he should be treated.

He sure was Exile. He was inducted in 2000. The only living British boxer in the hall of fame. some acheivement.

You're absolutely right guys, Buchanan has a session and makes more news than his world title exploits did. Outrageous.

This is actually the reason that tabloids are totally off my radar....

Goz wrote:This is actually the reason that tabloids are totally off my radar....

Same hear mate. I never buy those rags.

I think the reason Ken was more popluar in the states than in the UK is that most of his UK fights were under The National Sporting Club and were not open to the general public.

with fellow champ Gary Jacobs

Say no more.

For "one furious passenger", read the hack who wrote the story.