Willie Limond, the former British and Commonwealth light-welterweight champion has died at the age of 45. Limond won 42 of his 48 professional fights from 1999 to 2023, including 13 by knockout, although only three bouts took place after 2016. Four of his losses were to fighters who won world titles – Amir Khan, Anthony Crolla, Erik Morales, and Ricky Burns. Limond held the British super-featherweight, light-welterweight, and lightweight titles, as well as the Commonwealth light-welterweight, WBU lightweight, and IBO Inter-Continental lightweight crowns.
In a poignant Instagram post, his son Jake said his “dad passed away in the early hours of the morning. He fought on for near enough 10 days. Warrior.” Limond’s last fight was in September against Burns, with the referee stopping the fight at the end of the eighth round because of excessive blood from his nose. Limond announced his retirement from the sport afterward, but was set to face Joe Laws in Glasgow on 3 May.
Limond was found in an unresponsive state in a car in Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, on 6 April and was taken to Monklands Hospital, where he died. The police said there were no suspicious circumstances. Limond’s most famous bouts include his Commonwealth lightweight title meeting in 2007 against Khan, when the then-unbeaten rising star was given the toughest test of his early professional career. He knocked Khan to the canvas in the sixth round, but was denied a knockout by a significant delay before the count began. The Bolton fighter then took control, with Limond forced to retire from the fight because of a broken jaw before the start of the ninth round.
Former world champion Crolla posted a ‘heartbroken’ emoji on Twitter and wrote, “Not just in boxing but in life as well. One of the best men I ever met.” Woodhouse, who was beaten by Limond at Braehead Arena in 2014, also paid tribute to the fighter on X, formerly known as Twitter. St Andrew’s Sporting Club, who was scheduled to stage Limond’s fight with Laws, posted on social media, “Everyone at St Andrew’s Sporting Club is shocked and deeply saddened at the loss of our friend, Willie Limond. Willie was not only a legend of the sport but an infectious character who will be greatly missed by us all.
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