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Kirkland Laing

1954 – 2021

British boxer

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About Kirkland Laing

Lived 1954 – 2021 (aged 66). Kirkland Laing was a British boxer.

Kirkland Laing (20 June 1954 – 9 June 2021) was a Jamaican-born, 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.

Early life Laing was born in Jamaica in 1954. Shortly before his birth, his mother Louise fell off a bicycle. As a result Laing had some developmental difficulties resulting in difficulty walking before the age of five. He also attributed his unconventional boxing stance to this early trauma. He grew up in Nottingham, UK.

Career

Kirkland showed early promise. In May 1972, he beat Vernon Sallas, claiming the 1972 Amateur Boxing Association British featherweight title, when boxing out of the Clifton ABC. His dream was to box in the Olympics like his hero Muhammad Ali, though was not selected to compete in the Munich Games that year. Within the next four years he had turned professional and trained at the renowned Lawless's gym.

Laing lived in a care home in Blidworth, near Nottingham, before his death on 9 June 2021.

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Important facts

People in Kirkland Laing's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Kirkland Laing's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Kirkland Laing?

British boxer (1954-2021)

When was Kirkland Laing born?

Kirkland Laing was born on 20 June 1954 in Jamaica.

When did Kirkland Laing die?

Kirkland Laing died on 9 June 2021 in Blidworth, Nottinghamshire.

What was Kirkland Laing's occupation?

Kirkland Laing was a boxer.

What nationality was Kirkland Laing?

Kirkland Laing was British.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Kirkland Laing

· Wikidata: Q3197400

· DBpedia: Kirkland Laing

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Kirkland Laing. https://biography.guide/kirkland-laing/

MLA: "Kirkland Laing." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/kirkland-laing/.

Chicago: "Kirkland Laing." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/kirkland-laing/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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