Ken Buchanan vs. Roberto Duran ~ June 26, 1972

[Bill Paxtom]

Roberto Duran

The 'word' was, just exactly who has this 'cocky' 21 year-old Panamanian beaten.

Back on March 28, 1970 - an 18 1/2 year-old Roberto was given all sorts of trouble
by #16 WBA Junior-Lightweight - {Los Angeles} - Felipe 'The Flash' Torres, where
he was staggered 'twice' and badly hurt, only to recover and win a hard-fought
10-Round Decision at the Arena Coliseo in Mexico City.

And in his next bout {May 16, 1970}, Roberto battled tooth-and-nail with his
countryman - the crafty but light-hitting Ernesto Marcel who was the #10 WBA
ranked Featherweight. In that bout the fight was 'all-even' after 9-Rounds. But
Roberto did come on in Round 10, where an over-anxious Referee stopped the
bout with only 10-Seconds left in the fight.

[TitoFan]

They showed this fight on ESPN Classic just the other day. Some people forget just how tough Buchanan was. He battled Duran throughout, in a fight where Duran was a young, hungry lion... using all of his skills and power to try to derail Buchanan. Makes you wonder just how much higher ranked Buchanan would've been ranked all time if Duran hadn't come along.

[Bill Paxtom]

This bout almost didn't happen.

Originally, Ken Buchanan was supposed to defend his WBA Lightweight Championship
against former Wolrd Featherweight Champion - Sugar Ramos.

They were tentavely set to fight in Los Angeles for late-May 1972.

But, Sugar Ramos was 'upset' {TKO'd in 10} by the African Congolese Lightweight
- Cesar Sinda on April 24, 1972 in Los Angeles, in a tune-up bout.
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Ken Buchanan knew that Roberto was rough and tough, and he was not taking
the Panamanian lightly.

Kenny was involved in an intense 5-Week training camp.

[Master]

[roberto duran legend]

Ken Buchanan is so underrated imo, he should be in top 5 greatest British boxers.
His misfortune was to run in to a young Duran.

[Bill Paxtom]

Ken Buchanan

Age......... 27 years, 0 months
Height..... 5' 7 1/2"
Reach...... 70"
Record.... 43-1-0 {16 KO's}

General Facts

Ken was offered $150,000 to defend his WBA Championship in Panama
against Roberto Duran.

Ken opted for less {$125,000} to defend the Title at Madison Sqare Garden,
where he felt that he would get 'fair' scoring as opposed to Panama.

Ken, who had a tremendous double left-jab, was working on setting down
more, to deliver harder punches on Roberto.

Ken knew that Roberto was tough, but the Buchanan Camp felt that Duran's
defense was porous, and he would be easy to counter.

Robeto was 'confident', and predicted that he would stop Ken by Round 9.

[C.J.Rock]

The sad part about this was the way Duran "won" It was a blatant foul in two ways
Duran deliberately hit Ken in the family jewels AFTER the bell had ended the round.
Referee Johnny Lo Bianco claimed the punch was legal & before the bell. BULLCRAP!!
Watch the fight you'll see it for yourself Ref was definitely wrong likely paid off. He'd let Duran get away with about every foul in the book throughout the fight. The fact Ken spent the night in hospital with his badly damaged family jewels iced up by Lo Bianco's "legal punch" He was seriously hurt. Duran would never give Ken a rematch would he Wonder why