At the age of 45, Willie Limond, the former British and Commonwealth super-lightweight champion, sadly passed away on Monday (April 15).
Limond, a resident of Glasgow, Scotland, had been getting ready for a scheduled match against Joe Laws on May 3. However, while driving, he experienced what is believed to be a seizure and became unresponsive in his car on April 6. He was discovered in this condition and promptly transported to Monklands Hospital in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire. Since then, Limond has remained in a coma at the hospital.
Regrettably, Limond, renowned as one of Britain’s most resilient boxers, remained unconscious.
Limond’s son Jake, who is a professional boxer as well, shared on social media that his “dad peacefully departed in the early hours of the morning.” Jake further mentioned, “He battled valiantly for nearly 10 days. A true warrior.”
Limond was undeniably an impressive boxer. Having turned pro in 1999, he showcased his skills in a total of 48 fights, emerging victorious in 42 of them. His versatility allowed him to compete in various weight divisions such as super-featherweight, lightweight, and super-lightweight. With a strong foundation and a seamless ability to navigate in and out of striking distance, Limond’s style was truly captivating, making him a boxer worth admiring. Additionally, he possessed both physical and mental toughness, occasionally revealing his rugged Glaswegian nature during fights, which contrasted with his otherwise elegant boxing. While this sometimes made certain bouts more challenging than necessary, it also endeared him to spectators fortunate enough to witness his talent, solidifying his status as a beloved fighter.
Limond had an impressive start to his career, winning 18 consecutive bouts. In 2003, he had his first opportunity to compete for the British title in the super-featherweight division. His opponent was Alex Arthur, another undefeated Scottish boxer who had garnered more attention and support than Limond. Despite facing challenges, Limond put up a good fight and posed difficulties for Arthur. However, he was eventually stopped in the eighth round.
After the defeat, Limond saw it as a valuable lesson and began the process of rebuilding. He showcased his skills by claiming victory over Youssouf Djibaba, earning the European Union belt the following year. In 2006, Limond further solidified his success by outpointing Joshua Allotey at Glasgow’s renowned Kelvin Hall, a beloved venue of his, and securing the title of Commonwealth lightweight champion.
This victory in 2007 resulted in a significant face-off against Amir Khan, which is likely the most memorable moment for Limond. Despite many doubting him and the hype surrounding Khan, Limond bravely confronted the young Olympic silver medallist and caused him numerous difficulties. Disregarding Khan’s undefeated record of 12-0, Limond aggressively attacked him, delivering impactful blows to both his body and head, and even managing to knock him down in the sixth round. At that point, Khan seemed close to being defeated, but to his credit, he managed to turn the tables and ultimately stopped Limond after eight rounds.
“Everybody remembers me for that fight and sometimes it’s better to be remembered for something than not remembered at all,” Limond told me in 2022. “It didn’t go my way but these things happen. I don’t agree with how it went, but, hey, it’s 15 years ago now. He had his moments and I had mine. He took his and I never took mine. The guy was getting long counts and all sorts but Amir got up and did what I didn’t do. He finished the fight (Limond retired on his stool). I couldn’t do that. Fair play.”
Despite any setbacks, Limond persevered and regained his momentum, triumphing in his subsequent five bouts. His impressive performance led him to a monumental opportunity to face off against another renowned boxer, Erik Morales from Mexico, in 2010. As if challenging a legend like Morales wasn’t daunting enough, Limond was scheduled to compete against him in the vibrant city of Mexico City itself.
“It was absolutely incredible,” Limond reminisced. “The Plaza de Toros, the bullring, was packed with 56,000 people. The experience was mind-blowing. The ambiance felt otherworldly. I truly regret not pausing to fully absorb the moment.”
“I performed admirably during the fight. I had a lead after four rounds, but unfortunately, in the fifth round, my legs became incredibly burdened. The high altitude was to blame; it rendered me unable to move freely or breathe easily. It felt as if I were trapped in a sauna, wearing a sweatsuit, struggling to inhale through a narrow straw. Consequently, Erik seized the opportunity and gained momentum, ultimately leading to his victory.”
Despite his loss to Morales, Limond’s professional career continued. In 2011, a year after his defeat in Mexico, Limond suffered another loss, this time against Anthony Crolla. However, in 2013, Limond experienced a remarkable comeback when he defeated the undefeated Eddie Coyle in just one round, claiming the Commonwealth super-lightweight title. He successfully defended his title in a 12-round battle against Mitch Prince. This victory set the stage for a major showdown the following year with Curtis Woodhouse, who held the British super-lightweight title. Limond showcased his superiority throughout the fight, knocking Woodhouse down twice in rounds three and eleven.
After retiring for good, it seemed, in 2016, Limond, now in his forties, was enticed back to the ring in 2019 and again in 2022. Before that second return, Limond said to Boxing News: “It’s more than likely this will be the last one. I last fought three years ago and haven’t done a lot of training since. The last 12 weeks have been good for me. They’ve allowed me to get back in shape. I’ve missed the training and I’ve missed training for something. If something good gets offered to me after this fight, that could change my mind. But, right now, this is my last fight.”
Willie’s plan was to participate in the same boxing event as his 18-year-old son, Jake, who would be having his second professional fight that night. Willie mentioned that Lee Haskins had previously fought alongside his son in Bristol, but it had never been done in Scotland before. Being the first ones to accomplish this would be a great achievement.
Despite no initial plans for further fights, Willie Limond persisted. He defeated CJ Wood after four rounds and even shared the bill with his son in Renfrew. In 2023, he faced Ricky Burns, a well-known Scotsman who frequently retired and returned to the ring. Unfortunately, Limond was stopped in the eighth round, but instead of considering retirement, this outcome compelled him to fight once more. In May, he found himself facing Laws.
Unfortunately, due to incredibly heartbreaking circumstances, the event we had anticipated will no longer take place. As a result, let us focus on honoring Willie Limond in the manner he would have wished and truly deserves. We will forever cherish his memory and deeply feel his absence.
Ricky Burns with Willie Limond
