Boxing hero Ken scoops top award

SCOTS boxing champ Ken Buchanan has finally been honoured by his home city – 45 years after scooping the world title.

The former undisputed world lightweight champion was handed the prestigious Edinburgh Award at a special ceremony on Friday, with his famous fighting hands immortalised in gold on a flagstone outside the City Chambers.

Leith-born Buchanan, once voted “Britain’s Greatest Ever Boxer” by the Boxing News, is the only living British fighter in the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

He famously fought on the same bill as Muhammad Ali in Madison Square Garden twice – and twice successfully defended his world title.

His staggering achievements include winning his first 33 professional fights and becoming WBA world lightweight champion in 1970, defeating Ismael Laguna in Puerto Rico. In 1971 alone, he became the undisputed world lightweight champion, undefeated European champion and undefeated British champion – as well as being handed an MBE.

He said: “I am absolutely overwhelmed to have this prestigious honour presented to me. The fact that I’ll have everlasting hand prints on the Royal Mile is just amazing and I would like to thank everyone who voted for me and who joined me at the ceremony. This is a moment I will never forget.”

Previous Edinburgh Award recipients include JK Rowling, Chris Hoy and crime novel king Ian Rankin. Winners must either have been born in Edinburgh or have lived in the city for the past 12 months.