25 April 2023 , 19:51
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Boxer Ken Buchanan was hailed as “one of the greatest” yesterday as hundreds turned out for his funeral.
The Scottish former undisputed world lightweight champion died aged 77 on April 1.
And big names from the sport honouring him in Edinburgh included Mirror columnist Barry McGuigan, Jim Watt and John H Stracey, along with Rangers footie legend Willie Henderson.
The procession passed the site of the former Sparta Boxing Club and the Ken Buchanan Statue en route to St Giles’ Cathedral. After the service, former world featherweight champion McGuigan, 62, told of his early sparring with Buchanan.
He said: “I got hit that often I thought I was surrounded. He was fabulous. It was the best education I had.
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Ken's coffin was topped with a pair of white boxing gloves (PA)“He’s one of the greatest fighters the UK has ever had and certainly one of the best Scotland has ever had.”
When Buchanan beat Ismael Laguna in Puerto Rico in 1970 to claim the WBA belt it was the first time in 50 years a British boxer had won a world title abroad.
Former boxer Jim Watt attended the send-off (PA)
Former Rangers footballer Willie Henderson was also among the mourners (PA)He was voted the American Boxing Writers’ Association’s Fighter of the Year, ahead of Muhammad Ali. And in 1971, he beat Ruben Navarro in Los Angeles to add the WBC belt.
Buchanan retired in 1976 after an eye injury but returned in 1978, ending his career in 1982 with a record of 61 wins, eight losses. He passed away in a nursing home after fighting dementia.
Barry McGuigan, centre, with Ken’s son Mark, left (PA)