Life In Brief

BOXER

Willie Limond, the boxer who during his career held the EBU European Union super featherweight title, the Commonwealth lightweight title, the Commonwealth super lightweight title and the British super lightweight title, has died. He was 45 and had suffered a seizure.

Limond had started his sporting career as a footballer, making five league appearances for Albion Rovers in the 1998-99 season. His professional boxing career began in 1999, and after beating a number of opponents, Limond fought fellow Scotsman “Amazing” Alex Arthur for the British super featherweight title in 2003. Both men went into the fight undefeated, but Limond lost by a technical knockout.

In 2004 Limond fought the French champion Youssouf Djibaba for the European Boxing Union super featherweight title, winning by unanimous decision. He successfully defended his title against Spain’s Alberto López.

In 2006 Limond stepped up to lightweight and took on Ghana’s Joshua Allotey for the vacant Commonwealth title and won via a unanimous decision. However, he lost it in his first defence to Amir Khan in 2007. Limond, never known as a big puncher, sent the then poster boy of British boxing to the canvas in the sixth round. Amid some controversy in what some felt was a long count, Khan regained his feet and went on to win, breaking Limond’s jaw in the process.

It was one of two memorable fights in Limond’s career. The second was in 2010 when Limond had a shot at the WBC light welterweight title, against former champion Erik Morales in Mexico City. Morales won a knockout victory after the Scotsman, a rank outsider, went down three times in the sixth round; the referee stopped the bout.

“Sometimes it’s better to be remembered for something than not remembered at all,” Limond reflected after the Khan fight. “He finished the fight – I couldn’t do that. Fair play.”

In 2008 Limond had defeated Martin Watson for the vacant IBO InterContinental title on a unanimous points decision and in 2009 he beat English champion Ryan Barrett to take the WBU lightweight title by a unanimous decision.

In 2013, having moved up to light welterweight, Limond fought fellow Scot Eddie Doyle for the Commonwealth light welterweight title. He dropped his opponent twice before winning in the first round by a technical knockout.

Limond retired in 2016, but returned to the ring in 2019 and again in 2022 and was due to fight next month. He fought 48 bouts, 42 of which he won, 13 by knockout.

Willie Limond was born in Garthamlock in Glasgow. He was a successful amateur boxer and won bronze for Team Scotland at the European Cadet Championships in Turkey in 1995. He turned pro at 20.

Limond is survived by his three children.

Born 2 February 1979 Died 15 April 2024 Veronica Lee