Who was Scotland’s greatest boxer… Ken Buchanan, Jim Watt, Walter McGowan, Dick McTaggart? Or was it Benny Lynch?
The great wee flyweight of the pre-Second World War era is talked of in legendary tones by those who saw him. Sadly, Benny ended up penniless and homeless, a fact borne out by a story my colleague James Masson heard from the late Johnny Kelly, the former Perth flyweight.
James recalled: “Benny and Johnny were great pals and both were members of a boxing booth, part of a travelling fair.
“On the day war was declared, the booth was stationed in Inverness and, upon hearing of the hostilities, the booth manager told Benny, Johnny and the rest of the lads that the booth was packing up until hostilities ceased.
“Benny set off in his car for his Glasgow home agreeing to give Johnny a lift to Perth. He dropped Johnny off in the Fair City and the two agreed to meet up again as soon as the war ended.
“However, it was 1947 before Johnny clapped eyes on Benny again.
“It was one night in Glasgow and Johnny and his brother Pat passed a beggar.
“Pat uttered some harsh words in the beggar’s direction and the pair walked on.
“However, Johnny thought he recognised the beggar and then it clicked it was Benny Lynch.
“The pair turned around and spoke to the great man. Sadly, it was the last time they saw him alive.
“However, Johnny was glad he managed to see his old pal before he passed away.
“So who was Scotland’s greatest boxer. Johnny had no doubt Benny Lynch.”
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