Scottish boxing icon Ken Buchanan has died at the age of 77. The news comes a year after his son Mark announced that Buchanan had been diagnosed with dementia. He died peacefully in his sleep.

The former world champion’s death was confirmed by The Ken Buchanan Foundation on Saturday afternoon. “It is with great sadness that we have to inform you Ken passed away peacefully in his sleep this morning,” it stated.

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“Further announcements will come and please give the family some time to process this sad news. RIP Ken, always a gentleman and one of the best champions we will ever see,” the statement added.

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Who was Ken Buchanan?

Ken Buchanan was a professional boxer and former undisputed world lightweight champion. He became Scotland’s first undisputed world champion in 1971 by defeating Ruben Navarro in Los Angeles and winning the WBC Crown. His record was untouched for another 50 years when Josh Taylor was crowned undisputed champion of the super-lightweight division.

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Buchanan fought 69 times in an illustrious career. He won his first 33 fights and fought for the last time in 1982. He retired with a 61-8-win-loss record. He faced several renowned boxers including Langton Tinago, George Feeney, and Charlie Nash.

In 1970, he won the WBA lightweight title by winning over Ismael Laguna in a famous fight in Puerto Rico. The boxer won the WBC crown the following year by defeating Ruben Navarro.

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Buchanan was stripped of the WBC title after failing to defend it against Pedro Carrasco. He lost the WBA belt when he controversially suffered just a second defeat against the legend Roberto Duran.

The Scottish boxing legend was awarded an MBE in 1971. His statue was unveiled in his home city in 2022. Ken is survived by his wife Carol and children Mark, Raymond Fraser, and Karen.