Edinburgh’s Ken Buchanan shocked the world and returned home to Scotland as world champion in 1970 when he dethroned Puerto Rican legend, Ismael Laguna.
Waiting crowds greeted the Edinburgh fighter like a rock star as he returned to the city after the fight, and some reckon it remains the biggest feat a Scot has ever achieved in the ring.
Some even go as far to say it was the greatest ever achievement from a UK boxer.
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Born in June 1945 as the second world war was ending, Ken grew up hard and by the age of 20, in 1965, he had turned to the professional boxing ranks.
After scraping around in England beating journeymen his career really began to take off when he travelled to Madrid to take on Miguel Velasquez for the European lightweight title.
He lost out to a narrow decision in a fifteen round scrap on January 29, 1970, but he put his name on the world map, and into contention for bigger fights, with many international observers impressed by the Scottish pugilist.
The opportunity to fight with the future hall of famer, Ismael Laguna, for the world title suddenly was presented to Buchanan and eagerly accepted.
Many felt this was simply a step too far. Travelling to Europe was one thing, but how could a pasty Scot cope with the sweltering heat of a Caribbean Island?
The fight took place in San Juan, the tiny island’s capital city, in baking heat but it didn’t slow down the Edinburgh fighter.
A small crowd of just over 3000 were in attendance to see the seminal match up, with Laguna said to be the heavy favourite with bookmakers, at odds of 5/2.
It was thought Buchanan would start well but wilt quickly in the sapping heat.
And so it proved, he did start well. But he didn’t slow down and traded blows and footwork with Laguna throughout the opening parts of the fight.
It seemed an even contest by the halfway point and although many had predicted that it would be the Scot who would tire, he seemed to get stronger as the fight went on, and a long unchallenged barrage to a cowering Laguna in the 12th round had him in the ascendancy in the fight.
He came on stronger in the 14th round again, and one sustained attack knocked Laguna through the ropes.
By the closing bell it seemed obvious to most ringside observers that Ken Buchanan had won the fight and dethrone the champion, Ismael Laguna.
Only the judges could disagree and despite them returning a split decision, it went in the favour of the Edinburgh man.
Scotland had a new lightweight champion, and Buchanan had only gone and achieved one the country’s greatest sporting achievements.
He returned to Scotland a national hero and became world famous in an instant.
Buchanan went onto become the undisputed champion at lightweight and took on other household names like Roberto Duran, and shone on the world stage like no other Scottish boxer before or after.
He retired having fought 69 fights, and lost only nine of them.
Now aged 76 and settling down into retirement, many feel that the Edinburgh man does not receive the recognition he should for his remarkable career.
