How good was ken buchanan

He was a terrific boxer/puncher, with springs for legs 'n tough as a cob

 

Would he clean up today's 135-140 Jg?

 

He'd sure-as-hell be in the mix for titles at '35 'n '40, G. He looked Marquis of Queensbury, but shrunk from no exchange.

 

Duran flatly stated in a very late career live televised interview after an easy knockout win [when there was substantial airtime to fill, and Roberto was in a mood to leisurely reminisce] that Ken Buchanan was the BEST opponent of his career, PERIOD.

 

Ken Buchanan was an excellent boxer - very quick with an amazing jab. He won the title by outboxing master boxer Ismael Laguna in the torrid tropical heat in 1970, and repeating his victory the following year in Madison Square Garden, despite a badly cut eye. In one particular moment late in the fight, Laguna launched a sustained flurry of punches with great speed, and Buchanan deftly dodged nearly all of them with his footwork and body motion. The crowd erupted in applause at this demonstration of defensive brilliance. In a non-title fight against up-and-coming hot prospect Donato Paduano in late 1970, he pitched a near shut-out, earning a standing ovation from the crowd.

Against Roberto Duran, the latter never really let him bring his A-game to the fore. Duran scored a flash knockdown just seconds into the first round and never let up. Still, among knowledgeable boxing followers, a significant number felt that Buchanan might reverse the loss in a rematch. Unfortunately, that never happened.

The last significant Buchanan victory I can recall offhand was against former lightweight champion Carlos Ortiz on Sept. 20, 1972 in Madison Square Garden on the undercard of Ali-Patterson II. Buchanan stopped Ortiz in six rounds, behind his famed jab.

As brilliant and flashy as was Buchanan's boxing, he really didn't have the punch to match, and that was his undoing against Duran. Remember, in Duran's very next fight - a 10-round non-title fight against Estaban Dejesus, Duran was floored and lost the decision in his first professional defeat. If Buchanan had a stiffer punch he may have been able to hold Duran off. While Duran may have always had his number, it is nevertheless regrettable that a rematch never came about.

 

I was surprised Ken didn't wind-up singing lead in the Vienna Boys Choir after Duran's blatant nut crusher, A

 

Duran was breaking Ken down (without the shot in the tropics),'n probably would've stopped him if it continued, but Ken fought him tooth 'n nail, firing back no matter how hard he was hit.

 

Serious question, Ec? Ken was never more than a '40-pounder