“When I retired and went back on the tools I was just known as “Ken The Joiner”, my work pals didn’t know I was Ken Buchanan the boxer as I wore a cap, glasses and beard. One day I got asked for an autograph and one of the lads said “Jesus, Ken! You must be some fucking joiner!!”
Without doubt, one of the saddest ever tweets i’ve posted. RIP Ken Buchanan. One of THE greatest fighters ever to have come from the U.K. I think Ken’s reputation will grow with time. I for one - as I’m sure many will, am raising a wee dram for the great Scotsman tonight 🥊❤️🏴
Wishing the late, great Ken Buchanan a fine send off as the former World Lightweight Champion of The World is laid to rest in his beloved Edinburgh later today. 🏴❤️🥊
A young Prince Naseem Hamed sits at the feet of the late, great Brendan Ingle after another day at his iconic Wincobank gym, Sheffield in October 1986.
Happy 70th Birthday to Dave “Boy” Green, a fighter who was unlucky to run into two all-time greats in Carlos Palomino and Sugar Ray Leonard in his pursuit of a World Title.
“I make my living by producing winners. That’s what I do so I know what I’m talking about. But the key in boxing isn’t the sculptor- it’s the marble.” - Emanuel Steward
Absolutely fantastic statue of one of our finest boxers to come from these shores unveiled today - Ken Buchanan. Hope to pay a visit here in the near future!!!! A long overdue accolade
Reading unconfirmed reports that the great Kirkland Laing has passed away. What an incredible - although unfulfilled, talent he really was. The Gifted One. One of our very best.
Looks like Alan Minter is getting a fine send off down in Crawley judging by some of the videos on social media today. A fitting send off for an icon of British boxing - RIP Champ
“Prince Phillip once said to me - do you look at their gloves or their eyes when you’re fighting? I told him I always look at the gloves. When he asked why I look at the gloves and not at the eyes, I replied well a pair of eyes has never punched me in the face!!!”Ken Buchanan MBE
Mike Tyson and Frank Bruno look the best of friends as they pose for a promotional photograph prior to their 1989 World Heavyweight Title fight at The Hilton, Las Vegas
Ran the Rocky Steps today and also took a “Rocky Film Tour” around Philly. I know they’re not everyone cup of tea but I loved the movies growing up. Was great to stand outside Micks Gym!
Great day 🇺🇸 Off to the old Joe Frazier Gym in North Philly tomorrow, photos to follow..
Was nearby today so paid a visit to Freddie Mills’ grave at Camberwell New Cemetery. It was a bit neglected so I gave it a spruce up and laid some flowers. Best I could do with my bare hands, a bottle of mineral water, and some supermarket roses. Before and after 👍🏻🥊
Waking up to the absolutely devastating news that the great Marvin Hagler has unexpectedly passed away at the age of just 66. A bona fide all time great, the former middleweight king is pictured below at the Craven Arms, Battersea before his 1980 fight with Alan Minter.
#RIPChamp
A belt laden Lloyd Honeyghan arrives at Heathrow Airport after writing his name into British boxing folklore with a famous victory over the unbeaten Donald “Cobra” Curry in Atlantic City in September 1986.
A triumphant Lloyd Honeyghan shows off his new World Title belts on an open top bus tour around South London following his epic 1986 defeat of Donald Curry in Atlantic City.
Thirty years ago today Nigel Benn floored the hard Iran “The Blade” Barkley three times in the opening round in Las Vegas to retain his WBO Middleweight Title. An underrated win by a Brit abroad...
22 year old Herol “Bomber” Graham picks ups the prestigious “Young Boxer Of The Year Award” at The Boxing Writers Club annual dinner in London in January 1982.
Legenay trainer Brendan Ingle shows off his Wincobank stable of Johnny Nelson, Fidel Castro Smith (aka “Slugger O’Toole”) and Herol “Bomber” Graham in October 1989
#London
comes to a standstill as new WBC World Heavyweight Champion Frank Bruno leads an open top bus parade to celebrate his victory over Oliver McCall at Wembley Stadium in September 1995
I’ve posted this before but it’s absolute gold. The Royal Oak team of Frank Black, Frank Bruno, Terry Lawless and Jimmy Tibbs pose as Murdock, BA, Hannibal and Face from TV’s “The A-Team” in September 1985.
Happy 64th Birthday to one of Britain’s toughest champions in Leicester’s Tony Sibson. “Sibbo” is pictured here as an 18 year old 8-0 middleweight before his 1976 fight with Tim McHugh at The Gala Baths, West Bromwich.
On this day 43 years ago, the great Marvin Hagler had his only professional fight on U.K soil when taking Alan Minter’s World Middleweight Title at Wembley on a night marred by crowd trouble. Hagler would be pelted with missiles in the ring after the referee waved it off in RD3.
Herol “Bomber” Graham makes easy money as he takes on all comers at a Yorkshire Working Man’s Club in 1985. The British champion would sometimes tie his hands behind his back in an effortless show of his ghost like elusiveness in the ring.
A focused Marvin Hagler shadow boxing at Freddie Hill’s Craven Arms Gym, Battersea before his 1980 challenge to Alan Minter for the middleweight title at Wembley.
Highbury Stadium - home of
@Arsenal
F.C plays host to 46,000 fight fans as brash American Muhammad Ali takes on hometown hero Henry Cooper in a May 1966 rematch. Ali would stop a badly cut Cooper in RD6
Remembering the late, great Welsh boxing legend Johnny Owen who 40 years ago today stepped between the ropes in Los Angeles for what would tragically be the final time when he bravely challenged Lupe Pintor for the World Bantamweight Title.
#RIPJohnnyOwen
I’ve been reading
@TrisDixon
’s absolute gem of a book on Matthew Saad Muhammad throughout my trip to Philly. I sat by Matt’s grave at Ivy Hill Cemetery this morning and read the last chapter. Fittingly it’s 45 years today since his epic rematch win over Marvin Johnson. RIP Champ
Condolences to the Ingle family on the passing of Alma Ingle, an integral part of the Sheffield boxing scene with her much missed husband Brendan.
#RIP
The Frank Bruno team of Terry Lawless, George Francis and Frank Black look across the ring at opponent James “Quick” Tillis at Wembley in March 1987. Bruno would stop the seasoned American heavyweight in 7RDs
Nigel Benn stops tough New Yorker Doug De Witt to win the WBO World Middleweight Championship at Caesars Palace, Atlantic City in 1990. A brilliant and often overlooked victory by a British fighter on foreign shores.
Olympic Champion Terry Spinks appears to photobomb a conversation between Ronnie Kray and Sonny Liston as the former heavyweight champion pays a visit to the capital in 1965
A young Brendan Ingle pictured when he was an aspiring professional middleweight in 1969. Ingle would retire with a modest 19-14 record in the paid ranks before retirement saw him carry out some voluntary work at The St Thomas Boys Club, Wincobank. The rest as they say is history
A very Happy 63rd Birthday to the tough former British & European Middleweight Champion Tony Sibson, pictured here stopping Alan Minter in September 1981 at Wembley.
#Sibbo
Happy 72nd Birthday to a true British boxing great and all round top man in the wonderful John Conteh. The former World Light Heavyweight king is pictured here celebrating his 30th birthday with the glamorous Diana Dors at his west end restaurant “JC’s” in May 1981.
The faces say it all. Lloyd Honeyghan and his team are all smiles after beating Donald Curry in Atlantic City to become undisputed welterweight king in September 1986.
Jimmy Tibbs gives some words of advice as he helps Barry McGuigan prepare for his fight with Brazilian Francisco Da Cruz at Luton Town FC in June 1988.
The late Alan Minter gets a heroes welcome as he returns from Las Vegas to his native Crawley after a victory over Vito Antuofermo sees him crowned the undisputed Middleweight Champion Of The World in March 1980.
Michael Watson checks out the Finsbury Park “Supertent” construction that will hold his 1989 Commonwealth Middleweight Title bout with Nigel Benn. Watson would snatch away the Ilford man’s unbeaten record and title with a 6th RD stoppage.
Contenders for the vacant British Middleweight Title, Johnny Melfah, James Cook, Herol Graham and Micheal Watson face the cameras in May 1988. Graham would KO Cook in 5 to win the belt the following month in Sheffield.
19 year old amateur star Mark Tibbs turns professional with promoter Frank Warren in August 1988. The Eastender would compete at lightweight under the tutelage of father and former pro Jimmy.