By Doug Matthews – He may have the worst losing record in boxing, but closer scrutiny reveals the true story of this 39 year old’s history in the sport. Buckley has been defeated 256 times and boxes so often he sometimes turns up with an injury from a previous bout before a match. But he has remained undeterred and took on match after match – fighting more than any other boxer – until tonight..
And there is even a chance he could win his last bout at the Aston Events Centre, in Birmingham as he has the home-town advantage and has also drawn with this opponent recently.
256 losses sounds like a lot…and it is…but look through the record and you soon see why Buckley has been regarded inside the sport as a true test and yardstick for any up and coming prospect…he has lost to no fewer than 42 future World, European, British and Commonwealth champions, including Naseem Hamed {twice}, Scott Harrison, Gavin Rees, Bradley Price, Paul Ingle {twice}, Duke McKenzie {twice}, Colin McMillan…the list continues on and reads likes a who’s who of British boxing.
Buckley has only ever been stopped by 10 opponents, and never knocked out. The highlight of his career came in 1993 when Buckley fought for the WBA Inter-Continental Super-Bantamweight Title against Harald Geier , having had his man down in the 9th round Buckley lost by points decision…a fight that if he had to win would have put him in line to fight for a world title belt.
To casual observers of the sport of boxing Buckley’s mainly losing record may bring a dismissing laugh, but to those who know British boxing more seriously Buckley is a name that the true fans have a lot of respect for.
In the words of the man himself – “”I always give it my all. I never went in half-hearted and I always tried my best.”
May he enjoy his retirement, he has more than earned it…and he takes the best wishes of a lot of British boxing fans with him..