Ken Buchanan vs Roberto Duran

On June 26, 1972, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, a highly anticipated title fight between Ken Buchanan and Roberto Duran took place. With a record of 43-1-0, Buchanan was supposed to be the favorite over Duran, 28-0-0, who had fought his way out of poverty in Panama City. Up until then, Duran was known for being a streetfighter and a swarmer with little boxing skill but plenty of power.

The fight at Madison Square Garden began with Ken Buchanan taking a flash knockdown in the first round. But he managed to break his fall by placing both gloves on the canvas. As the rounds progressed Roberto Duran continued to dominate the fight with his aggressive style and powerful punches.

Going into the 13th round, the fight was scored in Duran's favor by all three judges. However, the round ended on a controversial note when both fighters continued to exchange blows after the bell. In the chaos, Duran caught Buchanan with a low blow, causing the champion to collapse to the canvas and grab his groin.

Despite getting up, Buchanan was clearly in pain and had to be helped back to his corner. The referee took a look at Buchanan and ultimately stopped the fight, awarding Duran the victory by 5th-round TKO.

The crowd of 18,821 at Madison Square Garden paid $223,901 to see the fight, with Buchanan earning $125,000 and Duran receiving 15% of the gate. While Duran's victory was marred by controversy, it marked the beginning of a legendary career in boxing. Duran would go on to become one of the greatest fighters of all time, winning titles in multiple weight classes and facing off against some of the sport's biggest names.

For Buchanan, the loss was a disappointing end to his reign as champion. However, his legacy as one of Britain's greatest boxers remains untarnished. His fast hands and superior skills in the ring earned him a place in the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2000. The Buchanan vs Duran fight remains a classic example of a boxer vs puncher matchup and is still talked about in boxing circles to this day.