ON SEPTEMBER 1 the Braehead Arena in Glasgow will stage one of many unlikeliest fights of 2023.
Ricky Burns 44-8-1 (16) and Willie Limond 42-5 (13), who’ve served Scottish and British boxing with various ranges of success over time, will struggle each other at a mixed age of 84 and with over 100 fights between them.
Scottish derbies have delivered a few of the greatest boxing nights north of the border, notably while you assume again to the 1973 British title struggle between Ken Buchanan v Jim Watt proper by means of to the East v West battle involving Lee McGregor and Kash Farooq in 2019.
Burns had his personal 17 years in the past when he ventured throughout the M8 motorway to Edinburgh to square-off in opposition to Alex Arthur. It proved to be a case of an excessive amount of too quickly for Burns who misplaced a large determination for the British, Commonwealth and European super-featherweight titles. Few predicted that the overwhelmed teenager with the dyed blonde hair would go on and surpass Arthur’s achievements.
Four years later ‘Rickster’ was an enormous underdog when difficult the hard-hitting Roman Martinez at Glasgow’s Kelvin Hall. Down within the first spherical Burns regarded out of his depth however got here again to provide one of many best performances by a British boxer this century. That win elevated Burns to new heights and gave him the WBO belt at 130lbs.
Never one to duck a problem Burns went on to share the ring with Kevin Mitchell, Ray Beltran, Terence Crawford, Dejan Zlaticanin, Omar Figueroa Jr, Anthony Crolla, Lee Selby and extra. His was a profession that proved you possibly can punch above your weight and in doing so received extra {hardware} at light-weight and super-lightweight. Burns’ last struggle got here in December 2021 when beating Emiliano Dominguez over 10 rounds.
“I’ve always said I want to finish my career in Glasgow,” Burns mentioned at yesterday’s press convention for his 54th struggle. The present is promoted by Iain Wilson.
“Even if I’ve not bought a struggle lined up, I’m all the time up within the morning, all the time within the fitness center, all the time protecting myself match since you by no means know when that telephone goes to go.
“Willie’s talked his method into this struggle and if he’s the opponent, so be it! Everyone is aware of, it doesn’t matter the struggle, I’ll deal with it the identical and I’m going to coach simply as exhausting.
“Business as always, 10 weeks to go and I’m ready to go out there an out on a good performance and a big night in Glasgow.”
Burns’ report on the Braehead Arena is six wins from seven. A win for Limond can be somewhat feather within the cap for the now 44-year-old Glaswegian.
Limond, who additionally misplaced to Alex Arthur throughout his profession, by no means hit the heights of Burns however all which will have modified when he fought Amir Khan in July 2007. Billed as British boxing’s subsequent famous person Khan practically got here unstuck in opposition to the artful Scot who put the Olympic medallist on his bottom in spherical six. Unable to complete the job Khan dug deep to return the favour one session later earlier than Limond was pressured to retire within the eighth with nostril and jaw accidents. Khan’s 13th skilled contest had been his most troublesome thus far.
A shot at glory awaited Limond when he was picked to face Mexican legend Erik Morales in 2010. The Morales physique photographs, even with 55 fights within the bag, nonetheless had an excessive amount of impression for the Scotsman to deal with and was stopped in spherical six.
A former Commonwealth champion at 135lbs and 140lbs Limond did not win the British light-weight title in opposition to Anthony Crolla however put in certainly one of his greatest ever performances in opposition to Curtis Woodhouse to grow to be British super-lightweight champion in 2014. On that very same card on the Braehead Arena Burns deservedly misplaced to Dejan Zlaticanin and confirmed indicators that the tip was close to.
At Tuesday’s presser Limond, who last fought in May 2022 beating CJ Wood, spoke of his gratitude at being a part of the present in September however warned Burns that he received’t simply roll over on the night time.
“Ricky was speaking about this being his last struggle and I used to be earmarked as [the] opponent so I’m simply very grateful for this chance. Just the actual fact it’s Ricky Burns will get me up within the morning, his report speaks for itself – three weight world champion, he’s a health fanatic, a machine. That’s what will get me up for this struggle.
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