Kirkland Laing
Encyclopedia
Kirkland Laing is a retired British Welterweight
boxer
nicknamed The Gifted One.
Laing fought 56 times in a twenty year career, the highlight of which was a shock split decision
win over Roberto Durán
in September 1982. The fight was selected as Ring Magazine
's upset of the year
. He was a two-time winner of the British
welterweight title and won the EBU
welterweight title in 1990, with a second round knockout of Antoine Fernandez at the Wembley Conference Centre
.
Laing's boxing career was sporadic, as he often failed to deliver on his promise, appearing under-prepared against less able fighters and indulging in drink, drugs and women. In the year following his victory over Duran, Laing went missing, blowing his earnings. In that same period Duran was to fight four times, earning an estimated $6m.
Laing continued to fight until he was 40, and retired after a stoppage loss to future world champion Glen Catley. After retiring, Laing continue to live in Hackney, and fell from his balcony in 2003 in circumstances that remain unexplained. Shortly after a BBC documentary by Steve Bunce (made before the fall) was aired. The short film showed Laing to be living life on the streets, although others who know him questioned the piece's accuracy
In 2009 Oliver Jarrat released the book "The Gifted One" Kirkland Laing Through the Eyes of Others, a detailed account of Laings life and career which took the authour six years to research and complete. The book contains many insights from people who were close to the fighter including former managers, trainers and opponents he faced at both amateur and professional level.
Kirkland Laing now lives in the Nottingham
area and is believed to have spent several stints in rehabiltion centres, as a result of his one-off drink problem. He still lives a small distance from most of his family in the Nottingham area, excepting his 24 year old daughter Michelle Lee (daughter of Sharon Lee) who lives in Harrow, London and his 16 year old son Kya (whose mother is Paula Chan) who lives in Wales.
Welterweight
Welterweight is a weight class division in combat sports. Originally the term "welterweight" was used only in boxing, but other combat sports like kickboxing, taekwondo and mixed martial arts also began to use it for their own weight division system...
boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
nicknamed The Gifted One.
Laing fought 56 times in a twenty year career, the highlight of which was a shock split decision
Split decision
A split decision is a winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts and others sports involving striking in which two of the three judges score for the same fighter as the winner, while the third judge scores for the other...
win over Roberto Durán
Roberto Durán
Roberto Durán Samaniego is a retired professional boxer from Panama, widely regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time. A versatile brawler in the ring, he was nicknamed "Manos de Piedra" during his career....
in September 1982. The fight was selected as Ring Magazine
The Ring (magazine)
The Ring is an American boxing magazine that was first published in 1922 as a boxing and wrestling magazine. As the sporting legitimacy of professional wrestling came more into question, The Ring shifted to becoming exclusively a boxing oriented publication...
's upset of the year
Ring Magazine upsets of the year
The Ring was established in 1922. Since 1980, it has named a fight that has resulted in an outcome that was highly contrary to general expectations as upset of the year, based on the magazine's writers' criteria...
. He was a two-time winner of the British
British Boxing Board of Control
The British Boxing Board of Control is the governing body of professional boxing in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1929 from the old National Sporting Club and is headquartered in Cardiff.- Councils :...
welterweight title and won the EBU
European Boxing Union
The European Boxing Union is an organization that oversees competition in that sport over the continent of Europe.-History:The EBU started life as the International Boxing Union in Paris in 1910...
welterweight title in 1990, with a second round knockout of Antoine Fernandez at the Wembley Conference Centre
Wembley Conference Centre
Wembley Conference Centre was a conference centre near Wembley Stadium, Wembley, in London, England.-History:Opened in 1977, it was the first purpose built Conference Centre in the UK. Events included conferences, corporate hospitality, annual general meetings, banquets and sports events including...
.
Laing's boxing career was sporadic, as he often failed to deliver on his promise, appearing under-prepared against less able fighters and indulging in drink, drugs and women. In the year following his victory over Duran, Laing went missing, blowing his earnings. In that same period Duran was to fight four times, earning an estimated $6m.
Laing continued to fight until he was 40, and retired after a stoppage loss to future world champion Glen Catley. After retiring, Laing continue to live in Hackney, and fell from his balcony in 2003 in circumstances that remain unexplained. Shortly after a BBC documentary by Steve Bunce (made before the fall) was aired. The short film showed Laing to be living life on the streets, although others who know him questioned the piece's accuracy
In 2009 Oliver Jarrat released the book "The Gifted One" Kirkland Laing Through the Eyes of Others, a detailed account of Laings life and career which took the authour six years to research and complete. The book contains many insights from people who were close to the fighter including former managers, trainers and opponents he faced at both amateur and professional level.
Kirkland Laing now lives in the Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
area and is believed to have spent several stints in rehabiltion centres, as a result of his one-off drink problem. He still lives a small distance from most of his family in the Nottingham area, excepting his 24 year old daughter Michelle Lee (daughter of Sharon Lee) who lives in Harrow, London and his 16 year old son Kya (whose mother is Paula Chan) who lives in Wales.