Willie Limond (2 February 1979 – 15 April 2024) was a Scottish professional boxer and footballer. He held the EBU European Union super featherweight title in 2004, the Commonwealth lightweight title from 2006 to 2007, the Commonwealth super lightweight title from 2013 to 2014, and the British super lightweight title in 2014.

Willie Limond
Limond in 2019
Born(1979-02-02)2 February 1979
Glasgow, Scotland
Died15 April 2024(2024-04-15) (aged 45)
Airdrie, Scotland
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights48
Wins42
Wins by KO13
Losses6

Early career

edit

Limond started out as a footballer, making five league appearances for Albion Rovers in the 1998–99 season.[1]

Limond's professional boxing career began in 1999 with a win over journeyman Lenny Hodgkins, before proceeding to beat a number of superfeatherweights, including a notable win over future WBU featherweight champion and IBO world title challenger, Choi Tseveenpurev.

This led to a showdown with fellow Scotsman "Amazing" Alex Arthur for the British Superfeatherweight title on 12 December 2003 at the Braehad Arena, Glasgow. Both men went into the fight undefeated, and the bout was thought to be the biggest all-Scottish bout for the British title in some 30 years. Unfortunately Limond's hopes of becoming British champ were shattered as future-WBO World champ Alex Arthur was too much for him and he was defeated by TKO in the 8th round. There were rumours of a rematch following the bout, but it never happened.

EBU-EU Superfeatherweight title

edit

Following his loss to Alex Arthur, Limond went on to pick up a few more wins before earning himself a shot at European Boxing Union Superfeatherweight title. He fought the French champion Youssouf Djibaba on 19 June 2004, at the Braehead Arena, the same venue where he had a lost to Alex Arthur almost a year earlier. Limond won the vacant belt via unanimous decision.

After a series of victories over journeyman and a successful defence of his newly won crown against Spain's Alberto López, in subsequent bouts Limond moved on from the EU title. Looking to ascend further up the rankings, Limond went on to win the Celtic Superfeatherweight title against recent Commonwealth title challenger, Kevin O'Hara.

Commonwealth Lightweight title

edit

After his Celtic title win, followed by an easy victory over Jus Wallie, Limond stepped up to lightweight and took on Ghana's Joshua Allotey for the vacant Commonwealth title. On 4 November 2006 at the Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, Limond won the title via unanimous decision.

Limond lost the title in his first defence, to rising prospect Amir Khan on 14 July 2007. He had knocked Khan down in the sixth round but ultimately failed to defeat the 2004 Olympic Silver medallist Khan, and was retired by his own corner at the end of the eighth. The loss was not without controversy, as some spectators thought that Khan had been given a long count after Limond had sent him to the canvas.

IBO Inter-Continental & WBU Lightweight title

edit

With the loss of his Commonwealth title, he defeated Martin Watson for the vacant IBO Inter-Continental title on 29 March 2008, at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre, Glasgow on a unanimous points decision, which placed him back in the reckoning for a world title fight. This was followed by a points victory over Matt Scriven, before going onto challenge for the WBU lightweight title. Willie Limond was due to be fighting Zambian champion Godwin Mutampuka in Paisley on 27 February for the vacant WBU lightweight title but his opponent failed his medical, with rumours being it was due to being HIV positive. Instead, Limond fought Harry Ramogoadi to a points victory in a non-title bout.

Limond eventually got his chance, and fought English champion Ryan Barrett for the WBU lightweight title on 29 June. Limond won the bout at the Thistle Hotel, Glasgow by unanimous decision.

Bout with Erik Morales

edit

On 11 September 2010, Limond took on former champion Erik Morales for the WBC Silver light-welterweight title. Limond started off strongly landing some clean shots, however the experience of Morales proved too much as in the 6th round he caught Limond with a blistering body shot. As a result, Limond went down three times in the sixth round and the referee called the fight off, awarding Morales a KO Victory.

After Morales: new promoter, victory against Arek Malek and Crolla fight

edit

After signing with promoter Tommy Gilmour, Limond scored an easy six-round decision over Polish journeyman Arek Malek at the Kelvin Hall, Glasgow in June 2011. On 25 November 2011, Limond fought Anthony Crolla for the British lightweight title but lost by unanimous decision. Englishman Crolla, a friend of Limond's, was the stronger in the latter rounds with the scorecard 120–108, 120-108 and 120–109. After the bout Limond refused to confirm that he would retire but instead consider his options.

Limond comeback

edit

Willie returned from the Anthony Crolla setback with a routine 6 round win over Englishman William Warburton in Dundee, after moving up to light welterweight from lightweight. 2013 began with a bang when Willie Limond fought fellow Scot Eddie Doyle, the unbeaten British masters champion, for the Commonwealth light welterweight title. Limond won in style, dropping his younger opponent twice before winning in the first round by way of TKO.

Death

edit

In April 2024, Limond suffered a seizure. After ten days at Monklands Hospital in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire,[2] Limond died on 15 April 2024, at the age of 45.[3]

Professional boxing record

edit
48 fights 42 wins 6 losses
By knockout 13 5
By decision 29 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, Time Date Location Notes
48 Loss 42–6 Ricky Burns TKO 8 (12), 3:00 1 Sep 2023 Braehead Arena, Glasgow, Scotland
47 Win 42–5 CJ Wood TKO 3 (6), 2:20 13 May 2022 Normandy Hotel, Renfrew, Scotland
46 Win 41–5 William Warburton PTS 6 6 Jun 2019 Radisson Blu Hotel, Glasgow, Scotland
45 Win 40–5 Michal Vosyka TKO 2 (4), 2:01 18 Dec 2016 Thistle Hotel, Glasgow, Scotland
44 Loss 39–5 Tyrone Nurse TKO 9 (12), 1:54 28 May 2016 The SSE Hydro, Glasgow, Scotland For British light-welterweight title
43 Win 39–4 Zaurs Sadihovs TKO 1 (6), 2:04 30 Jan 2016 Marriott Hotel, Glasgow, Scotland
42 Win 38–4 Curtis Woodhouse MD 12 27 Jun 2014 Braehead Arena, Glasgow, Scotland Retained Commonwealth light-welterweight title ;
Won British light-welterweight title
41 Win 37–4 Mitch Prince UD 12 7 Jun 2013 Bellahouston Leisure Centre, Glasgow, Scotland Retained Commonwealth light-welterweight title
40 Win 36–4 Eddie Doyle TKO 1 (12), 1:56 21 Jan 2013 Radisson Blu Hotel, Glasgow, Scotland Won vacant Commonwealth light-welterweight title
39 Win 35–4 William Warburton PTS 6 1 Sep 2012 Ice Arena, Dundee, Scotland
38 Loss 34–4 Anthony Crolla UD 12 25 Nov 2011 Ravenscraigs Sports Centre, Motherwell, Scotland For British lightweight title
37 Win 34–3 Arek Malek PTS 6 3 Jun 2011 Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, Scotland
36 Loss 33–3 Erik Morales KO 6 (12), 2:46 11 Sep 2010 Monumental Plaza de Toros México, Mexico City, Mexico For vacant WBC Silver light-welterweight title
35 Win 33–2 Duncan Cottier PTS 8 15 Nov 2009 Pavilion Theatre Ballroom, Glasgow, Scotland
34 Win 32–2 Ryan Barrett UD 12 29 May 2009 Thistle Hotel, Glasgow, Scotland Won vacant WBU lightweight title
33 Win 31–2 Harry Ramogoadi PTS 8 27 Feb 2009 Lagoon Leisure Centre, Paisley, Scotland
32 Win 30–2 Matt Scriven PTS 8 18 Oct 2008 Lagoon Leisure Centre, Paisley, Scotland
31 Win 29–2 Martin Watson UD 12 29 Mar 2008 Scottish Exhibition Centre, Glasgow, Scotland Won vacant IBO Inter-Continental lightweight title
30 Loss 28–2 Amir Khan RTD 8 (12), 3:00 14 Jul 2007 O2 Arena, Greenwich, England Lost Commonwealth lightweight title
29 Win 28–1 Joshua Allotey UD 12 4 Nov 2006 Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, Scotland Won vacant Commonwealth lightweight title
28 Win 27–1 Jus Wallie PTS 6 5 Nov 2005 Braehead Arena, Glasgow, Scotland
27 Win 26–1 Kevin O'Hara PTS 10 17 Jun 2005 Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, Scotland Won Celtic super-featherweight title
26 Win 25–1 John Mackay TKO 5 (8), 2:13 20 May 2005 Marriott Hotel, Glasgow, Scotland
25 Win 24–1 Alberto López UD 10 3 Dec 2004 Meadowbank Sports Centre, Edinburgh, Scotland Retained European Union super-featherweight title
24 Win 23–1 Frederic Bonifai PTS 8 29 Oct 2004 Braehead Arena, Glasgow, Scotland
23 Win 22–1 Youssouf Djibaba UD 10 19 Jun 2004 Braehead Arena, Glasgow, Scotland Won vacant European Union super-featherweight title
22 Win 21–1 Dafydd Carlin TKO 1 (4), 1:29 6 Mar 2004 Braehead Arena, Glasgow, Scotland
21 Win 20–1 Anthony Hanna PTS 4 29 Nov 2003 Braehead Arena, Glasgow, Scotland
20 Win 19–1 Dariusz Snarski TKO 1 (6), 2:18 1 Nov 2003 Bellahouston Leisure Centre, Glasgow, Scotland
19 Loss 18–1 Alex Arthur TKO 8 (12), 1:51 12 Mar 2003 Braehead Arena, Glasgow, Scotland For British super-featherweight title
18 Win 18–0 Jimmy Beech KO 4 (8), 1:39 22 Mar 2003 Braehead Arena, Glasgow, Scotland
17 Win 17–0 Asen Vasilev TKO 3 (8), 2:12 6 Sep 2002 Thistle Hotel, Glasgow, Scotland
16 Win 16–0 Dave Hinds PTS 6 11 Mar 2002 Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, Scotland
15 Win 15–0 Keith Jones PTS 4 17 Nov 2001 Bellahouston Leisure Centre, Glasgow, Scotland
14 Win 14–0 Rakhim Mingaleyev PTS 6 3 Nov 2001 Bellahouston Leisure Centre, Glasgow, Scotland
13 Win 13–0 Gary Reid PTS 8 7 Sep 2001 Thistle Hotel, Glasgow, Scotland
12 Win 12–0 Choi Tseveenpurev PTS 6 27 Apr 2001 Thistle Hotel, Glasgow, Scotland
11 Win 11–0 Trevor Smith PTS 4 3 Apr 2001 York Hall, Bethnal Green, England
10 Win 10–0 Marcus Portman PTS 6 15 Feb 2001 Thistle Hotel, Glasgow, Scotland
9 Win 9–0 Billy Smith PTS 6 17 Dec 2000 Thistle Hotel, Glasgow, Scotland
8 Win 8–0 Danny Connelly PTS 6 10 Nov 2000 Thistle Hotel, Glasgow, Scotland
7 Win 7–0 Haroon Din PTS 4 24 Jun 2000 Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland
6 Win 6–0 Billy Smith PTS 4 26 May 2000 Thistle Hotel, Glasgow, Scotland
5 Win 5–0 Jimmy Beech TKO 2 (6), 0:30 7 Apr 2000 Thistle Hotel, Glasgow, Scotland
4 Win 4–0 Phil Lashley TKO 1 (4) 18 Mar 2000 Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, Scotland
3 Win 3–0 Nigel Senior TKO 6 (6) 24 Feb 2000 Thistle Hotel, Glasgow, Scotland
2 Win 2–0 Steve Hanley PTS 6 13 Dec 1999 Thistle Hotel, Glasgow, Scotland
1 Win 1–0 Lenny Hodgkinz RTD 1 (6), 2:00 12 Nov 1999 Thistle Hotel, Glasgow, Scotland

References

edit
  1. ^ Willie Limond at Soccerbase
  2. ^ "Scottish boxing champion Willie Limond dies aged 45 following seizure". STV News. 15 April 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  3. ^ "Willie Limond: Former British champion dies aged 45". BBC Sport. 15 April 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
edit
Preceded by
Graham Earl
Vacated
Commonwealth Lightweight Champion
4 November 2006 – 14 July 2007
Succeeded by