Mourners from the world of boxing gathered for a memorial service for Scottish great Ken Buchanan.
The service was held on Tuesday at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh, the home city of the former undisputed world lightweight champion, who died earlier this month aged 77. Barry McGuigan, Steve Bunce, Alex Arthur, Jim Watt and Tommy Gilmour were among those in attendance.
The hearse passed the former site of Sparta Boxing Club, where he had trained as a youngster, and his statue in St James' Quarter, as per his wishes. A pair of white gloves were placed on top of the boxing star's coffin as it was carried into the cathedral from the hearse.
Mourners were encouraged to hang their tributes to fencing that was in place around his statue. A Saltire flag was hung from the statue out of respect by one fan.
The service was conducted by Rev Calum I MacLeod. The order of service featured a photograph of Ken on the rear, encased in a border of Buchanan tartan.
Born in Edinburgh in 1945, Ken grew up in a council house in Portobello and took up boxing at the age of eight. He vowed to become a world champion after watching a film about American heavyweight Joe Louis.
The Scot fulfilled his ambition in 1970 when he defeated Panamanian Ismael Laguna in Puerto Rico. He cemented his title a year later when he defended his World Boxing Association lightweight title and added the World Boxing Council belt to his trophy cabinet, becoming undisputed lightweight world champion.
He received an MBE in 1972, retired a decade later and was inducted into the International Hall of Fame in 2000. His death came a year after his family confirmed that he had been diagnosed with dementia.
Ken's passing on April 1 led to an outpouring of tributes. Scots world champion boxer Josh Taylor – who emulated his icon's undisputed feat 50 years later – said: "Ken is the greatest – an absolute legend. What a legacy he has left."
He added: “He was a huge inspiration to me. He was called the Tartan Legend – while I’m the Tartan Tornado."
Fellow world champion Jim Watt said: "I honestly thought he would last another decade at least so his sudden passing has come as a massive shock. You can’t go through what Kenny and I did without forming a bond of mutual respect, which turned into friendship in our case, and I feel a real sense of loss and deep sadness.”
First Minister Humza Yousaf tweeted at the time: “Sad to hear Scotland’s first undisputed champion of the world Ken Buchanan has died. He inspired and mentored a generation of boxing talent here in Scotland and beyond. Rest in peace, Champ.”
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