I’ll pay tribute to Ken in Madison Square Garden
Boxing grieves for ring king as Josh vows to shine at his New York palace
Josh Taylor is planning an emotional tribute to boxing legend Ken Buchanan when he fights in the super Scot’s spiritual home in New York.
The reigning champ led the tributes after ring king Buchanan passed away yesterday at the age of 77.
Taylor hailed his hero as the greatest sportsman this country has produced – and vowed to pay his own homage when he squares up with Teofimo Lopez in New York on June 10.
The undisputed world champion will defend his WBO crown at Madison Square Garden in the Big Apple – where Buchanan ruled supreme in the 70s.
The Tartan Legend stepped into the ring five times in the American boxing Mecca – and had top billing alongside the greatest names in the fight game such as Muhammad Ali.
Taylor said: “I can’t think of a better place to pay tribute to Ken than Madison Square Garden.
“He was known as the King of the Garden and now I’ll be going there in June. Some things are just fate.
“Ken was such a huge inspiration to me. I first met him as a kid and he backed me all through my career.
“It has been a huge honour just to follow in his footsteps and emulate his achievement of becoming world champion and then undisputed world champion.
“I was hoping to get the chance to fight at Madison Square Garden when I won the undisputed title against Jose Ramirez.
“It was during Covid and it couldn’t happen, so we went to Las Vegas instead.
“But it will be special to go there now – especially after losing Ken.”
Taylor takes huge pride in being able to follow in the trail Buchanan blazed and he knows New York has special significance for the Scottish fight legend.
The Prestonpans Puncher said: “New York was like Ken’s back garden for a while. He would get mobbed when he walked down Fifth Avenue and there’s a great story about how he was top of the bill at Madison Square Garden – above Muhammad Ali.
“You look at the pictures from back then.
“He was pals with the most famous people in the word and he was just cool.
“He wasn’t just a boxer – he was a rockstar.
“It was a shame he didn’t quite get the recognition in his homeland as he did elsewhere.
“The world is different now with social media and stuff but, even so, Ken should have been a superstar in this county. He should have got a knighthood for what he achieved back then.”
Taylor has modelled his style on his hero and he will have something up his sleeve for New York.
He said: “I’ve always looked up to Ken and you see it with the tartan shorts I wear.
“I’ll have the tartan on over there, that’s for sure. In fact, I might have to dig out the tartan trews like he used to love.
“I’ll need to have a think about it but we’ll definitely have a tribute to him. Ken has done so much for the sport of boxing in this country. “He really put Scotland on the map. It was such sad news to hear he’d passed away. “I know he had been keeping poor health for a while but it was still heartbreaking.
“But what a legacy he leaves. He was the greatest.
“Ken was at the peak of his powers 50 years ago but he’s still as well known now. “That shows you what he achieved.
“I was proud to get close to him and it’s a huge honour to be able to fol low in his footsteps.”