Dave Charnley v Ken Buchanan

From what I have seen and read about Charnley, he was one tough nut. But I have to go with Ken over 15 rounds

 

My Dad also raved about Charnley.
He was one tough bull like fighter with with good power and a southpaw at that.
He seemed to be inconsistent though, against the top fighters he won some, lost some.
There’s a consensus that he was robbed against Joe Brown in his second challenge for the World Title it was the Ring Magazine’s fight of the year.
We assume the fighters are prime for prime in these matches and I think Buchanan with his jab, skill set and movement would just keep himself ahead of Charnley throughout to take a UD.
It would be extremely hard fought though.

 

I knew there was some angle to this regarding the ref, I couldn’t remember what it was.
I think there is a line of thought that Charnley was mismanaged. I mean they done him no favours putting him in with Emile Griffith in his last fight!
I’m just glad someone posted a thread involving Charnley, he seems to be a bit of a forgotten fighter on here, although as you said there’s not a great deal of footage on him, so thanks for that pal.

 

Bump.

 

Actually I only saw Buchanan live once ,he was far over the hill boxing a youngster way down on the support. .I believe Ken got about
£ 2000 for that one, and if memory serves he only had I more fight.
I saw Charnley also just once, though he came from the neighbouring town.It was against Curvis and I was still at school, close fight which Curvis just nicked after being dropped.
I worked with Charnley's brother once, he had some interesting tales about Dave and his fights with Joe Brown.Many thought Charnley was robbed against Old Bones over here. I did see Charnley in action once more,it was years after he was retired in the Princes Hotel at Dartford,or more precisely on the forecourt of it.Charnley, who was quiet in public was with a couple of guys having a drink at the bar,a big Traveller got a bit lairy with him and they went outside,Dave was back in finishing his short in a couple of seconds,I think he hit him with a left hook and that was," all she wrote".
Enough of my rambling.I agree the two best Uk lightweights,Buchanan the more polished, Charnley the better banger.I pick Kenny by decision he really was a terrific boxer and a lot tougher than some supposed.
Charnley,like Rudkin was unlucky to be around when the division he was in had some top talent in it in another era they both may well have won titles. Charnley was also managed, or mismanaged if you like by Arthur Boggis who put him into some silly mismatches the fight with Emmile Griffith being one of them,that was criminal imo.

 

Not sure Charnley rates above Welsh, after all Freddie was a credited champion for over 3 years and it took a fighter of Leonard,s stature to beat him, unlike Charnley who, for all his undoubted skills did not achieve championship statures ! Also Welsh beat the likes of Abe Attell, Johnny Dundee, Jem Driscoll, Joe Rivers, and he only lost 5 times out of 166 or so fights, so no I don,t think Charnley was the better fighter and I would have Buchanan @ Welsh as my top 2 LW.

 

Just as an aside, in no apparent order, what would be maybe the best 10-12 best British lightweights? Some of you guys are more intimate with British 135 than I am, but if I was to start the ball rolling chronologically I would think it would be something like

-Freddie Welsh
-Jack Kid Berg
-Eric Boon
-Arthur Danahar
-Ronnie James
-Joe Lucy
-Dave Charnley
-Ken Buchanan
-Jim Watt
-
-
-

I had thought about Owen Moran who did fight such lightweights as Battling Nelson and Packey McFarland, but he simply ventured there and went back to feather. Also, was Charley White from England? Anyways, I may have included some that you guys wouldn't have included, but again, just to get the ball rolling.

 

Lightweight?

 

Yes, Lightweight.

 

Ronnie James is an excellent shout. Perhaps also Dave Crowley and Jimmy Walsh.