On this day, 20th of January in 1937 the Scottish boxer, Benny Lynch, was crowned world flyweight champion.

Recognised as probably the greatest boxer Scotland has produced, Lynch enjoyed a meteroic rise to the top of the sport. However, his fall from grace was equally spectacular. He retired after numerous problems with weight, and the rest of his life was blighted by alcoholism which eventually caused his death in 1946. Scot Clans

Benny Lynch by Matt McGinn

The whole of the river sang, Benny has been
Benny has been, Benny has been
Down in the city that never was mean
We all sang, Benny has been

Up from the heart of the Gorbals he rose
Don’t tramp on his toes for everyone knows
From then on when we see the bend in your nose
We’ll all sing, Benny has been

Down to the shows Benny went as a youth
To fight in the booth, I’ll tell you the truth
Many’s the big man was short of a tooth
As he sang, Young Benny has been

To Manchester City young Benny went down
To fight Jackie Brown, he picked up the crown
He came back in triumph to old Glasgow town
And the city sang, Benny has been

He beat Small Montana, he floored Peter Kane
Sent him back to train, then downed him again
The lynch-pin of boxing inflicted more pain
And the city sang, Benny has been

The city had T.B., the city had booze
Her victims she’d choose, and send out the news
That Benny would win and then Benny would lose
And the city sang, Benny has been