Willie Limond

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
Died	15 April 2024(2024-04-15) (aged 45) Airdrie, Scotland
Statistics
Weight(s)	Super featherweight Lightweight Light welterweight
Height	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	48
Wins	42
Wins by KO	13
Losses	6

Early career

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Professional boxing record

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

External links

• Boxing record for Willie Limond from BoxRec (registration required)
• BritishBoxing.net biography
• Official Website
• Willie Limond interview with stv, 12 June 2007.
• Limond relishes Mutampuka test