FIGHT legends Barry McGuigan and Jim Watt were among those in attendance at St Giles Cathedral today to say their final farewells to Ken Buchanan.
The iconic Scottish boxer passed away earlier this month at the age of 77.
The Edinburgh fighter achieved legendary status – becoming UNDISPUTED lightweight champion of the world in 1970.
And mourners gathered to show their last respects – including his one-time rival Watt.
Also in attendance was former world featherweight champion McGuigan, who remembered SPARRING with him.
Other respected figures from the boxing world including Alex Arthur, Tommy Gilmour and veteran journalists such as Jim Black and Steve Bunce also took their place at the memorial service.
Buchanan had huge crossover appeal across sport – and he was joined too by former Rangers winger Willie Henderson.
A pair of white boxing gloves took pride of place on Buchanan’s coffin as he made his final journey.
Josh Taylor, the super-lightweight who idolised Buchanan and recently followed him to becoming a Scottish undisputed world champion, sent his apologies from the United States, where he is currently in a training camp.
Widely regarded as Scotland’s greatest fighter, Buchanan’s record stood at 61-8 in a career spanning 17 years.
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Born in Edinburgh, ‘the Tartan Legend’ rose to the top of his sport, picking up the British lightweight title three years after his first pro bout.
But it was his epic win over Ismael Laguna in Puerto Rico that placed him on top of the world.
His glory led to further high-profile bouts – the controversial defeat to Roberto Duran in Madison Square Garden where he shared a dressing room with Muhammad Ali.
He also fought an epic with future world champ Jim Watt and regained the British belt.
His undisputed success led to a statue erected in his home city – unveiled on Leith Walk last August.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
