Kirkland Laing - definitely the Gifted One by John Hannen Jul 30th 2007

There have been words written about Kirkland Laing over the years but, for me, not enough. Laing was a boxer, and indeed a person, that left me, as an impressionable youth, spellbound and mesmerised – always wanting to see and know more. Even these days, as strange as it sounds, I sometimes catch myself daydreaming and pondering deep and meaningful questions like “I wonder what Laing was like in the gym” and “How is it possible that no one could find him for a whole year after he beat Roberto Duran in 1982 (yes, beat Roberto Duran!!!), where could he have been?" Kirkland's two infamous fights with Colin Jones (1980 and 1981) bypassed me, at the time I would have been too young and too interested in Arsenal. It was the bouts with Rocky Kelly (1987) and George Collins (1989) that opened my eyes to Kirkland Laing (I'm pretty positive that I watched these fights on a Saturday afternoon on the BBC – could watching boxing really have been so simple then?). After seeing these fights, one or two things became clearer in my life. Firstly, I was 100% certain that if I ever woke up one morning and found that I was black then I would go straight down the barbers and get my hair done like Kirkland Laing. Secondly, I wanted to be a boxer. As it happens, I never did become black, and I wasn't very good at hitting without getting hit but still, via Kirkland Laing the boxing bug had bitten me. Kirkland in the boxing ring was always an amazing sight, never conventional, never boring, and nothing was ever certain. A fantastic physique, both arms dropped to the sides, eyes wide with concentration and incredible reflexes, whilst the 24 KO wins on his record show that he could punch too. Kirkland out of the boxing ring was intriguing too, and I would almost look forward to his post-fight interviews as much as his fights. It seemed to me that Kirkland Laing had it all, but A plus B doesn't always equal C, and life is rarely that straight forward, is it? As I got older, so did Kirkland, and perhaps the reflexes and the concentration weren't what they were. I wore the videotape out, rewinding and rewinding, willing him to move out of the way of the punch by Buck Smith that knocked him out at the Royal Albert Hall in 1990. The stats don't change though and still say KO in seven. Kirkland had thirteen more fights after that KO by Buck Smith, and won eight of them, but significantly lost fights to names such as Del Bryan and Donovan Boucher in 1991, good fighters but boxers who wouldn't have lasted with him in his prime. After his last fight in 1994, and just like after his fight with Duran, Kirkland seemed to disappear, from my life anyway, but this time for more than a year. Sporadically, over the years, I would hear snippets of news, all of which seemed dark.  A couple of years ago as I began to utilise the internet more effectively, I excitedly stumbled across a short documentary by Steve Bunce (did Buncey ever box? - yes, as an amateur heavyweight - Ed.) about searching for Kirkland Laing. It was heartbreaking to watch as Bunce eventually found Kirkland seemingly completely down on his luck, unkempt, drinking, and aimless.  At the end of the short film, Bunce and Laing part and go their separate ways and I, once again, found myself using the rewind button and urging Bunce to take Laing with him, don't just leave him there, get him shaved, help him off the drink, take him down to a boxing gym, get him to teach kids to box…anything. Since then, Kirkland Laing has disappeared again (well from my life again anyway), I hope I get to hear some news about him again soon, and this time I hope it's all good and that his luck has changed. I reckon he deserves it. (Kirkland was spotted at the recent Midlands Area boxing awards night - Ed.)

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The book, yes please. Oct 10th 2007, 19:53:43 by emperor stitt Message to Oliver here: the bottom line is that I would love to buy a book about Kirkland Laing. If I would like to do so there must be hundreds, maybe thousands who would also love to do so.   Looking forward to your forthcoming book. Aug 5th 2007, 06:14:19 by johnny h Hi Oliver Thanks for the kind words. Amazing that you're doing a biography on Kirkland, can't wait till it's ready to read!! I'll be after a signed copy mate. Do you think Kirkland would do any signings? Thanks for the update on Kirkland too. Please give him my best when you see him next, tell him he's been an inspiration. Cheers John   Laing biography Aug 3rd 2007, 02:26:29 by mcneilly Good luck with this, Oliver. Certainly not the easiest of subjects but one that is crying out for a book. Ian McNeilly   Laing biography out next year... (comment 3 of 3) Aug 2nd 2007, 14:12:00 by oliver j (continued from below...) As for Kirk now, he is living in Nottingham not far from his three oldest adult children. They were with him recently at the Midlands Area Boxing Awards Dinner, where Kirk won the Boxer Of The Past award - see the article on this website for more details and a photo of Kirk getting his award. He's actually in much better health than many people would expect given the severity of his fall a few years ago and still has the same infectious enthusiam about his boxing whenever you talk to him about it. Hopefully I can make this book a success for him - fingers crossed. Best wishes, Oliver   Laing biography out next year... (comment 2 of 3) Aug 2nd 2007, 14:11:34 by oliver j (continued from below...) Anyway, book will go right back to his earliest amateur fights, through schooldays, ABAs, etc. through the better known stuff such as the Duran fight, the British and European title wins, etc. etc. Plenty of former opponents, stablemates, trainers etc. have already contributed very kindly to this project and I will of course send a copy to Britishboxing.net for review once it's finally done! Anyone interested in knowing more (or with memories of Kirk of their own) is welcome to contact me at oli_jarratt@hotmail.com (continued above...)   Laing biography out next year... (comment 1 of 3) Aug 2nd 2007, 14:10:16 by oliver j Hi everyone, John - Lovely article, which I very much enjoyed. I've actually spent the last few years researching a biography of Kirkland, which I am aiming to publish around March next year. It will be a private publication (along a similar line to Bob Lonkhurst's book on Dave Green, for example), and Kirk is on board for it. All profits from sales will go to Kirk, as it's a labour of love for me in my spare time and not something I'm looking to make any profit from myself. (continued above...)   Thanks Jul 31st 2007, 09:30:23 by johnny h Thanks for the kind words fellas. Emperor: You may well be right about the Collins fight being on Midweek Sports Special, and yes we definitely were spoiled back then. Douggie: Colin Jones? Helluva puncher!! Horrible cut he received from Don Curry too.   nice piece on kirkland. Jul 30th 2007, 14:59:35 by douggiej i enjoyed reading that, nice one..i remember the buncey documentary, do you remember the bit at the end when we were updated and told kirk had been thrown off of a balcony at some hight in hackney?..he obviously survived but Jesus thats not what we want to hear now is it? I remember both the colin jones fights, kirkland was well ahead in both and colin turned it around,same round both times..same punch. Colin Jones was awesome,im just remembering his dramatic first fight with Milton Mcrory,oooh colin went very close. As for kirkland, its good to hear that he's been spotted at a boxing show, lets hope he's around for a while,i'd definately buy an autobiography. Thanks john.   Laing WAS the gifted one Jul 30th 2007, 08:38:34 by emperor stitt Hi John, Great to read an article about Kirkland again and to see credit being given where it is due. Thank you, great subject and beautifully written. Kirkland proved his class with Duran. I have fond memories of watching Kirk and, felt a sense of injustice hearing of Kirk's situation. Wasn't the Collins fight on "Midweek Sports Special"? I thought I saw it live. I could be wrong. We were spoiled back then. Like you, I wish Kirkland the best of luck wherever he is. When it comes to the issue of the greatest fighter never to win a world title, Kirkland and Herol should be in everyone's top ten. Despite being a Brit I write for the American based website ringsidereport.com so, being a fan and also an aspiring writer, I really appreciate how well you wrote about a boxer I have always had an enormous amount of respect for.