Boxing legend Ken Buchanan has backed Scott Harrison to put the troubles that have plagued his career for the past two years behind him and capture another world title. Former undisputed lightweight world champion Buchanan made the journey from Edinburgh to Harrison’s Glasgow Phoenix gym last week to see the 30-year-old previous two-time WBO featherweight title-holder complete another vigorous session as his comeback continues to gather momentum..
Buchanan said: “I thought a lot of Scott, that he’s a good boxer and a good champion. He’s had a couple of rough times, but don’t we all. I came through to watch him train and he’s looking great.”
When asked for his thoughts on Harrison’s decline, Buchanan added: “I never had an opinion because Scott’s Scott and a boxer’s a boxer and, as an ex-world champion myself, I know that you just go out and get on with things as I did myself.
“But it’s nice to see him back training in the gym and looking good. He’s working well, throwing his punches, looking very sharp and I think he’s going to do well if he gets his license back, which I hope he does, I don’t think they (the British Boxing Board of Control) can stop him getting his license.
Buchanan continued: “I think Scott’s got all the ability to go right to the top again, without a doubt. He’s just got to remember when he’s out there that he’s in the gym and that’s what he’s got to think about all the time.”
Harrison said: “Ken is a legend and I can remember watching a tape of him fighting Roberto Duran. What he achieved during his career was remarkable. Ken fought all over the world and to take the world title from Ismael Laguna in the heat in Puerto Rico was a great achievement.
“He was giving me a lot of encouragement and said that I was looking fit. We also compared our respective training regimes. Ken did a lot more sparring in his day, but I do a lot more running than he did.
“I don’t think he had to kill himself to make lightweight, but it has been a lot harder for me to make the featherweight limit during my career, so I require the extra mileage.”