In this day of the ‘sports superstar’ it seems inconceivable that Britain’s greatest lightweight boxer, if not its greatest ‘pound for pound’ boxer only received the acclaim his talents deserved not in British rings but across the Atlantic in the old Mecca of boxing: Madison Square Garden. His success and appeal in the States was unusual as the style their fans usually favour is of the more swashbuckling, aggressive and explosive kind at odds with Buchanan’s upright, cautious ‘European style’ of boxing behind a ramrod jab and looking for openings. He was no knock out artist but he was a fantastic craftsman whose quality in the ring could not be denied. Couple his sublime skill with sheer grit, honesty and a naturally modest nature and he should have been lauded on both sides of the pond. Today he would have arguably been worth a fortune.

Of all the boxers I have read about or watched Buchanan has to be the biggest enigma. A man with undeniable talents: being voted The American Boxing Writers’ Association ‘Fighter of the Year’ for 1970 when the likes of Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier among many others were active is testament to how good he was, at least he had the satisfaction of knowing the experts at least saluted his gifts. Still, that does not put money on the table.

It is unbelievable that while he was defending his title abroad against the best he was a relative unknown back at home. I have no doubt in my mind that with terrestrial television, satellite television and the internet his skills would not go unnoticed had he boxed today. Still respected and lauded by those in the know in the trade, this is the story of perhaps Britain’s greatest unsung boxing hero.

Born in Edinburgh, Scotland on 28 June 1945 Buchanan had the full support of his parents, aunts and uncles in his ambitions for a career in the boxing ring. Boxing out of the reputable Sparta club Buchanan began competing in amateur contests at the tender age of eight, weighing no more than 49 pounds! (three and a half stone).

As Buchanan later recalled ‘…I won my first championship in 1953. When I came out of the ring I said ‘Right Dad, that’s my first title, I’m going to be world champion.’ He said ‘You stick in son, just leave the women alone, leave the drinking alone and leave the smoking alone.’ I said ‘Dad, I’m only eight.’ And he said ‘I mean when you get older.’’

This slightly comical scene shows an early determination to make it big and his father’s full support and backing. When he was seventeen Buchanan won his first senior title and in a glittering amateur career he won the Scottish ABA’s and fought in the European Championships.

Turning pro in 1965 at the age of twenty with respected Welsh manager and trainer Eddie Thomas he found himself the victim of the politics which at the time meant anyone involved in the sport not working with the commercial faction were forced out of necessity to fight on bills in private dinner clubs or in obscure provincial venues. Thus the man who should have been Britain’s hottest featherweight prospect fighting in front of thousands at venues like Wembley and millions on television was instead boxing in front of small crowds of bow tied businessmen. The best amateur of his day became a forgotten man.

Under Thomas he built an excellent 34 fight undefeated record beating Maurice Cullen on an impressive stoppage in eleven rounds of controlled aggression which saw the experienced 30 year old Cullen on the deck no less than five times. At the age of twenty two Buchanan was the new British lightweight champion. He began to move up the world ratings finally appearing on BBC television in 1969 in a brilliant showcase of his talents in defeating the decent Puerto Rican boxer Frankie Narvaez on points.

There were frustrations as well and after a final eliminator for the world title against Dominican contender Carlos Teo Cruz fell through together with no defences of his British title forthcoming, Buchanan felt left out in the cold. His stablemate the great Howard Winstone had fought for the world title on many occasions in front of sell out audiences in the arenas as well as on television, all Buchanan could do was watch exasperated on the sidelines as no similar opportunities came his way.

In a state of depression the now married Buchanan at the age of twenty four took the shocking and unprecedented step of announcing his retirement, sending his boxing licence and Lonsdale belt back to the British Boxing Board of Control. He was later to regret this decision, but it just showed how upset, neglected and frustrated he felt.

He went back to work as a carpenter (his trade when an amateur boxer) and declared himself happy as he could now enjoy a drink and not worry about making fighting weight. The reverie was not to last as tragedy struck when his mother died barely two months later. Eddie Thomas travelled to Edinburgh for the funeral and Buchanan’s influential father persuaded him that his mother would have wanted him to continue his boxing career. Buchanan and Thomas who always had a strained relationship tried to wipe the slate clean and the Scotsman went back to his Welsh manager to serve out the final two years remaining of his contract.

In January 1970 he was back in the ring challenging Miguel Velazquez for the European lightweight title in Madrid. In a torrid and close encounter Buchanan had to get off the floor in the ninth round after building up a steady lead. He eventually lost for the first time on points, arguing that it was a ‘hometown decision.’

Unbowed Buchanan won two points wins in early 1970 and at long last achieved two earlier goals by defending his British title at the Empire Pool, Wembley. His opponent was Brian Hudson. Buchanan illustrated perfectly the gap in class between himself and the best of the domestic opposition by knocking his challenger out in five rounds.

An even greater ambition was soon to be realised as Buchanan was brought in as a substitute in a world title fight against champion Ismael Laguna of Panama when his original opponent former champion Mando Ramos was forced to pull out. Opportunity finally knocked for Britain’s most talented boxing secret and he faced Laguna in the open-air Hiram Bithorn Stadium at San Juan, Puerto Rico in September 1970. Once again he had to travel to get a big chance.

The hot sun seemed to sap the pale challenger after three rounds, but surprisingly by the middle rounds the talented Scot rallied and began to assert himself courtesy of his textbook jab. In the twelfth round Buchanan staggered the champion and although the afternoon heat inevitably took its toll on the exhausted European fighter he toughed it out to the last round producing a superb workrate, finishing stronger than Laguna to take a split decision win and the title!

It was a seismic win for Buchanan and British boxing. At twenty five years old he had become the first British lightweight world champion since Freddie Welsh way back in 1917. To celebrate he poured champagne in his bath, basking in his long-awaited and thoroughly deserved glory. The euphoria was not to last however as Buchanan had fought for the title in defiance of the wishes of the British Boxing Board of Control who only recognised the WBC portion of the title and not the WBA version that Buchanan now held. It was a ridiculous situation that would never happen today and what should have been a triumphal return home was marred by the fact that the Board thanks to some dubious politics failed to recognise Buchanan’s fantastic achievement.

Buchanan was also to experience the same emotions that former heavyweight world champion Sonny Liston must have felt a few years earlier, when arriving at Edinburgh wearing a sombrero to meet the expected rapturous crowds who would flock to meet their conquering hero he was met only by a reception consisting of just six, four of those in attendance were his wife, his son and his in-laws. It was a bitterly sobering experience. The snub by his home city was a particularly hurtful one.

It was not long before he found somewhere that did appreciate his talents. In December 1970 he made the first of his appearances at Madison Square Garden on the undercard of the Muhammad Ali versus Oscar Bonavena contest. His opponent was the unbeaten Canadian welterweight Donato Paduano who was nearly a stone (fourteen pounds) heavier than Buchanan at the weigh-in! The world lightweight champion had to use all of his skill, guile and courage to master such a dangerous foe. He delivered a boxing masterclass that evening winning a decisive points victory without a mark on his face. To his surprise and delight Buchanan had so won over the American crowd that his superb performance won him a rare standing ovation and from then on he would be a popular performer at the hallowed arena.

At long last it seemed the good times were beginning to roll. In 1971 Buchanan began to enjoy the respect his talents deserved and he made his first defence against late sub Ruben Navarro who stepped in for Mando Ramos. The fight was in Navarro’s backyard of Los Angeles but Buchanan did not mind as his $60,000 purse was substantially more than the $10, 000 won he earned when taking the title.

He had to get off the canvas after a flash knockdown in the first round, although referee Arthur Donovan ruled it a slip. Navarro was a tough challenger but from the fifth round onwards it was all Buchanan as he rocketed to a wide and conclusive points win. This victory now earned Buchanan the title of undisputed world lightweight champion and the accolades poured in. Even the British Boxing Board of Control finally recognized him.

In June of 1971 Buchanan fought a rematch with former champion Ismael Laguna this time being paid $100,000 for his efforts. The contest in New York once again showcased the Scot’s impeccable boxing skill and he controlled the fight taking a clear point’s win and almost stopping Laguna in the last round. The crowd cheered a great fight and Buchanan must have felt on top of the world, sealing his credentials as champion and best in the world.

Sadly Buchanan and Eddie Thomas parted acrimoniously shortly after the Laguna rematch. But at long last there was something to cheer him up from back home as he was voted British Sportswriters Sportsman of the Year. His first fight without Thomas in his corner was when he outclassed the Canadian champion Al Foord who boasted a 41-1 record before meeting Buchanan. The Wembley non-title contest was yet another boxing masterclass from the champion. Next up was Andries Steyn who was knocked out in Johannesburg.

In June 1972 Buchanan defended his crown against the scowling, fearsome, ferocious Panamanian prospect, the unbeaten Roberto Duran. Their contest at Madison Square Garden, New York was a hugely anticipated affair. Buchanan boxed to the best of his abilities and looked impressive at times but the twenty one year old Duran was remorseless and his boring-in rough-house tactics had the Scot on the back foot for much of the fight, on many occasions Duran’s head rubbed dangerously against Buchanan’s and he found himself backed against the ropes and nearly even through them on occasion! Although boxing brilliantly, the vaunted jab that had held off so many previous opponents was sneeringly shrugged off by the menacing challenger.

By the thirteenth it was clear Duran was ahead on points but also that Buchanan had given him the toughest fight of his career so far. Then just before the bell rang to end the round and on the blindside of the referee, Duran landed what looked to me like a perfectly timed uppercut to the champions testicles. Understandably Buchanan fell to his knees clutching his groin in agony, his face a rictus of pain. Many world title contests have ended on disqualification in similar circumstances, for example Max Schmeling won the heavyweight title after being hit low by Jack Sharkey, but this time the referee stopped the contest in favour of Duran.

I’m British and perhaps bound to be a little biased but it looked lucky that Duran was not disqualified whether the blow was unintentional or not. Had they fought today Buchanan would have been given several minutes to recover or it may have been declared a ‘no contest.’ Whatever way the arguments go the title had gone and Duran did go on to become probably the greatest lightweight of all time. I’m personally a big fan of the Panamanian but that night he won by hitting someone below the belt. Sadly for Buchanan he never received a return bout with Duran. The title of the chapter in his autobiography that addresses the Duran contest is titled ‘Robbed’ and Buchanan must have felt understandably hard done by.

Between 1972 to 1974 Buchanan won an impressive thirteen contests in a row, Stopping another lightweight great in Puerto Rico’s former world lightweight champion Carlos Ortiz and outpointing fellow Scot and future champion, Glasgow’s Jim Watt in a British title defence. In 1974 he travelled to Sardinia to take the European crown from Italy’s Antonio Puddu, no mean feat as the saying goes to get a draw in Italy against an Italian you have to knock the other fellow out!

Seven months later Buchanan again travelled to his opponent’s backyard to stop Frenchman Leonard Tavarez in the fourteenth in Paris in a defence of the European title. Things were on the up again. Okay, there was no Duran rematch in the offing but he was defeating everyone in Europe and in fine style and in February 1975 he was given a world title shot for the WBC crown held by Japan’s Guts Ishimatsu. Again, Buchanan had to travel to the lions den of his opponent’s back yard, this time Tokyo. Although he boxed well he lost on a unanimous point’s decision.

After that setback he successfully defended his European title again in Calgari against Giancarlo Usai winning by stoppage in the twelfth round. The contest was marred by some moronic fans who threw missiles into the ring including bottles and bricks(!) Buchanan’s father, Tommy required seven stitches to a head wound afterwards. Back in the safety of Edinburgh the 30 year old Buchanan retired.

In 1979 he returned to the ring after a four year absence due to financial pressures after his wife divorced him. He won two fights in Denmark and in December of that year he fought Ireland’s Charlie Nash who was the European champion and lost a narrow decision. Sadly Buchanan fought on too long, losing four of his last six contests before retiring in 1982 aged 37.

In 1983 he was tempted back to the ring this time as an unlicensed boxer. He won one and lost one and thankfully jacked it all in for good. It was a sad way to end what was an exceptional ring career that had hit such phenomenal highs and sunk to such sad lows. Life outside of the ring in the ensuing years was hard for the former champion, his second marriage ended in divorce and his attempts to run a pub fell through.

He found work on building sites and at the age of sixty three announced he wanted to box again on an unlicensed bill again. Thankfully this did not transpire. He still attends boxing events around the globe and is one of its most respected former champions and personalities. It is such a pity that things did not turn out brighter for such a boxer of his calibre.

As the man himself later said ‘The fighter's hardest fight is once he's retired, definitely. You sit down and you get time to reflect upon things you've done in the boxing ring and you think to yourself: ‘I was worth a lot more than that, how did I let them take that off me, how did I fight for that amount of money?’’

Even in his sixties Buchanan continues to chase that elusive rematch with old rival Roberto Duran. The boxing ghosts of his past continue to haunt him. I hope he finds peace and solace in the fact that in his day he was probably the greatest fighter to emerge from these shores.

World Champion 1970-1972

World Title Fights: 5 Wins: 3 Lost: 2

Career Fights: 69 Wins: 61 Lost: 8 Knockouts: 27