Boxing Classics. Duran vs. Buchanan. - kensoldtimeboxingchat.com

When Roberto Duran signed to fight WBA lightweight champion Ken Buchanan on June 26, 1972, he predicted he would knock out the ‘Fighting Carpenter’ in 9 rounds. Buchanan was listed as a 2-1 favorite over the 28-0, 21 year old Duran but downplayed his record by saying, “He may be the #1 contender, but he hasn’t beaten anyone of note in his career.” Ken’s purse was a guaranteed $125,000 and Roberto’s $35,000. Despite the buildup, the bout from Madison Square Garden in New York City was not broadcast live, but shown on ABC’s Wide World of Sports 5 days later.

Roberto was the aggressor from the opening bell and scored a flash knockdown of Buchanan in the first round. Duran kept Ken on the defensive for most of the bout, and was well ahead on the scorecards as the fight entered the 11th round. The defending champion had struggled with Duran’s bruising and bullying style all night and rarely landed effective blows himself.

Just before the 13th round ended, both men landed punches after the bell, but Roberto hit Ken with a thudding punch below the belt that put him on the canvas. Despite the obvious foul, the referee declared Duran the winner saying Buchanan couldn’t answer the bell for the 14th round. Every time I watch this fight it amazes me at the incompetence of referee Johnny LoBianco for not penalizing Duran and allowing Ken time to recover to continue fighting. That despite the fact that Buchanan insisted he could continue but was denied the chance to finish defending his title on his feet. No doubt one of the all time bonehead referee calls and it still drives me crazy all these years later! Even the New York State Athletic Commission backed up Ken’s claims of a low blow when an examination revealed an ‘extreme swelling of his testicle.’

Nowadays with instant replay, justice would have been served and Buchanan would have been given a chance to finish the fight. It doesn’t matter to me that he was well behind on points and would have lost anyway. It just makes me livid when a referee can’t do his job right and gets in the way of a proper ending. Duran would go on to have a hall of fame career, while Buchanan would box until 1982 before retiring for good.