Champ could leave you doubled over... with a body shot or his patter
RECORD SPORT’S Michael Gannon pays tribute to a Scottish king of the ring
A ROAR went around the Hydro as thousands of Scots boxing fans hailed a hero.
Willie Limond may have lost to ricky Burns but he went out there like a warrior, just like he always did. And just like he did until the tragic end yesterday, more than a week battling for his life in hospital following a suspected seizure.
Limond won plenty of bouts in his distinguished career but this was one he couldn’t win.
It’s a loss that has hit hard for everyone in Scottish boxing, and sport in general in this country and beyond.
Limond was a thrilling, brave, bold and skilful boxer. But more than that, he was one of the game’s good guys, a top-class person as well as professional.
His passing is devastating for his family and friends, and for everyone who has crossed his path or cheered him on for more than two decades in the ring.
Limond was set to return to the ring next month against Joe Laws at the Emirates at the age of 45. And – cruelly – he has rarely looked better.
When he returned to the ring for that Burns bout last year he joked about having to lose four stone to get into shape. not this time. When the Laws fight was announced he was lean and loving being in tip top condition.
He was his usual bundle of energy and bursting with pride at boxing on the same card as his son Jake, with promises of another fight down the line with other boy drew.
It’s hard to comprehend that will now never happen. Scotland has lost a cracker. And a guy who has certainly left his mark.
Anyone who encountered Limond had to get ready for a sore stomach. If it was in the ring then it would be brutal body shots. Outside it, prepare for belly laughs.
A few minutes in his company would leave you doubled over at his patter. Sometimes you could get a bit of both.
A few years back Limond invited Record Sport to the gym for a bit of sparring as part of a feature about his comeback in the ring and his plans as a promoter. yours truly got the
gloves on to step inside the ropes with the great man.
There was Limond, 10st of pure muscle, up against me, 15st of sheer blubber. When I claimed I could get down to cruiserweight, Limond hit back it was more like boozerweight.
That was him, as sharp with a gag as he was on the counter punch. As it was, he stuck one in my belly to give me a taste.
It was a tickle for him but it left me gasping.
“C’mon big man, you’ve got plenty of padding.” he joked. “We’ve got a future Scottish champion here. We just need to
find the right sport…” Limond was always a good sport, a journalists’ and promoters’ dream when it came to putting on a show, always ready with a quip before the first bell and then all out action after it.
Unlike that chubby reporter, Willie had incredible guts.
There were some epic fights along the way. Glaswegian Limond started out as as a footballer at Albion rovers but was destined for the ring.
unbeaten until his battle against friend and rival Alex Arthur, he may have lost but he enhanced his reputation.
Limond described world champ Arthur as the best he faced – and that was saying something given his CV.
He went to Mexico to take on the legendary Erik Morales in front of 60,000 fans. Then there was the infamous Amir Khan bout when he put the then hot prospect on his backside for the first time in his career and the ref ’s count looked suspiciously way past 10.
Limond won Commonwealth and European titles but craved the British strap after narrowly falling short against Arthur and Anthony Corolla.
He finally got his hands on the Lonsdale when he overcame Curtis Woodhouse in a barnstormer at Braehead. It was a war yet – typically – the pair became close pals.
Limond kept fighting until his 40s but also shared his knowledge with the next generation of hopefuls as a coach in Boxing Scotland’s High Performance Centre, where young prospects hung on his every word and shared in his laughs.
But when he stepped into the ring he was deadly serious and had the heart of a lion.
That’s why the Hydro was on its feet after the Burns bout last October and why everyone who knew or saw him has been floored by this devastating gut punch.
He was thrilling, brave, bold and skilful. But more than that, he was one of the good guys