Boxing world in shock after Scots legend dies aged 45
SCOTTISH boxing champion Willie Limond has died at the age of 45 after a suspected seizure.
The former British and Commonwealth superlightweight champion was found unresponsive in a car on April 6, hours before he was set to appear at a public training session in Glasgow.
His devastated son Jake, who has followed his father into professional boxing, said on social media yesterday: ‘My dad passed away in the early hours of the morning around 3am.
‘He fought on for near enough 10 days. Warrior. Love you da’.
And Drew, his other son, an amateur boxer, posted: ‘What a guy. Absolute machine. Love you da.’
Since the father of three’s death he has been described as a ‘legend’ of the sport. Kevin Bell, chairman of Boxing Scotland, said: ‘Willie was one of Scotland’s most popular champions, a proud warrior who went toe-to-toe with the world’s best but has gone far too soon.
‘Our sympathies are with Jake, Drew, Macy and the rest of the Limond family at this incredibly difficult and sad time.’
Limond won 42 out of his 48 professional fights between 1999 and 2023, 13 by knockout.
Four of his losses were to fighters who won world titles: Anthony Crolla, Amir Khan, Erik Morales and Ricky Burns. Khan yesterday shared an image of them at their 2007 face-off and said: ‘Rest in peace Willie’.
Limond held the British super-featherweight, super-lightweight and lightweight titles as well as the Commonwealth light-welterweight, IBO Intercontinental lightweight and WBU lightweight crowns. He was set to stage a third return from retirement next month by taking part in the headline fight at Glasgow’s Emirates Arena.
As part of the promotion for the fight he was due to appear at a public training session at the St Enoch Shopping Centre on April 6.
But the former Albion Rovers player was found unresponsive in a car in Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, that morning and died yesterday in nearby Monklands Hospital.
Joe Laws, who was to be his opponent on May 3, has set up a fundraising page.
Mr Laws, 29, asked: ‘Can we all just give a couple of quid for this great man, give him the send off he deserves, and any change over can go to his two boys as sponsorship for their boxing career.’