Pleased Robbie Burns Day, struggle followers, as as soon as once more we mark a day to rejoice for all Scottish warriors. However as a substitute of reciting “To A Haggis” and breaking out the bagpipes, we’ll accept Scotsman Shaun Brown’s rating of the all-time best preventing Bravehearts. Listed below are the kilt-clad battlers who left an indelible mark within the historical past of the prize-ring, one virtually as deep as that made in Alba by the Bard of Ayrshire. So pour a wee dram and luxuriate in! Test it out:
12. Paul Weir: Received the WBO world minimal weight title after simply six fights in 1993 and the diminutive determine would seize two-weight glory one 12 months later at gentle flyweight earlier than being defeated by Scottish scourge, ‘Child’ Jake Matlala on two events. Fast, powerful and at all times eager to take the struggle to his opponent.
11. Pat Clinton: Scotland has had a knack of manufacturing good little males and Clinton was actually certainly one of them. Clinton, from a household of 10 brothers and sisters, would try this uncommon factor of profitable a struggle on continental soil when he took the European flyweight title in 1990 and two years later he he received a world flyweight title from Isidro Perez. Technically glorious and by no means lacked guts or self-belief.
10. Alex Arthur: A cultured operator inside and out of doors the ring who, regardless of defeat, was concerned in one of many best British fights of this century when he went to warfare with Michael Gomez for 5 rounds in 2003. Arthur, an incredible physique puncher, received British, Commonwealth, European and world honours at tremendous featherweight.
9. Ricky Burns: One of many nation’s extra unlikely world champions. Studying fights in opposition to Alex Arthur and Carl Johanneson noticed the boy develop into a person. Roman Martinez was meant to blow him away, and the remainder is historical past. Burns would seize that WBO tremendous featherweight title and go on to win one other world title at 135. Defeats to Julius Indongo and Anthony Crolla did nothing to tarnish the “Rickster’s” accomplishments.
8. Scott Harrison: Menacing, brooding and in his prime a power to be reckoned with. Sadly, his fights with the mistaken aspect of the regulation could make it laborious to recollect his ferocious ring exploits. A two-time WBO world featherweight champion who had been linked with fights in opposition to Barrera again within the day.
7. James “Tancy” Lee: The spotlight of Lee’s profession is his stoppage of the legendary Jimmy Wilde in spherical 17 to take the British, European and world flyweight titles, however he additionally holds wins over Charlie Hardcastle, Danny Morgan and Younger Joe Brooks and received European and Lonsdale titles at featherweight.
6. Jim Watt: Watt, now an extended serving co-commentator for Sky Sports activities, stunned many by deciding to forego the 1968 Olympic Video games and as a substitute flip professional. He would go on to win a world light-weight title in 1979, defending it in opposition to Charlie Nash, Robert Vasquez and Sean O’Grady earlier than surrendering it to the nice Alexis Arguello. Watt has the excellence of being one of many few pugilists to go the 15 spherical distance with the legendary triple crown champ. His third title protection was a factors win over undefeated Olympian Howard Davis Jr. on Scottish soil in a memorable upset. Davis and the Individuals stated ‘Jim who?’ beforehand, however they knew Watts’ title afterwards. So did everybody else.
5. Johnny Hill: Scotland’s first ever world champion, southpaw Hill would win British, European and world flyweight titles inside two years. He was one of many largest boxing stars of the 1920’s, and was coached by Tancy Lee. With a terrific left jab and punishing proper hook, his rise to the highest was a whirlwind. He died aged 23 of pneumonia, one night time earlier than he was on account of defend his world title in opposition to Frankie Genaro.
4. Walter McGowan: England bought the World Cup in 1966, however Scotland bought a world boxing champion when the son of a miner defeated Salvatore Burruni and claimed the WBC flyweight title. McGowan had ambitions to be a jockey earlier than embarking on a stellar beginner profession. Coronary heart and brains combined in with intelligent punching took him to the highest. Two defeats to Chartchai Chionoi have been bloody and valiant.
3. Jackie Paterson: Paterson picked up the baton from Lynch to develop into world flyweight champion. A corporal within the Royal Air Drive, Paterson bought himself a crack at Peter Kane, who had narrowly misplaced to Lynch in 1937. Kane and Paterson met at Hampden Park in 1943 and went for one another’s throats, culminating in a one-round KO victory for Paterson, thus turning into the primary ‘lefty’ to win the flyweight crown. He would additionally win Commonwealth and European titles at bantamweight.
2. Ken Buchanan: A former world undisputed light-weight champion with glorious boxing expertise and an excellent jab, he survived the Puerto Rican warmth to defeat Ismael Laguna for the world light-weight title in 1971. And he beat the Panamanian once more one 12 months later. Scotland would by no means see him defend or struggle for a world title on house soil due to a WBA/British boxing board feud, however they did see him put up a valiant battle in opposition to the nice Roberto Duran in New York. Buchanan’s profession is understood for that controversial loss as a lot as his best victories, which embrace wins over Carlos Ortiz, Chang-Kil Lee and Jim Watt.
1. Benny Lynch: One of many best flyweights of all-time and Scotland’s best ever boxer. Born out of the powerful Gorbals space of Glasgow, he developed his scrawny neck by doing particular weight workout routines. His defining bout got here in opposition to Small Montana at Wembley in 1937 to develop into world champion. Tragically, alcoholism would show to his hardest opponent because it took his life at simply 33.
Honorable mentions: Stylish Calderwood, Bert Gilroy, Gary Jacobs, Murray Sutherland, Peter Keenan, John Simpson, Willie Limond.
