Ringnews24 recently had a chance to speak with Scotland’s Willie Limond, who is due to return to the ring on November 25th against Anthony Crolla to fight for the British lightweight title. The fight will be the first professional boxing show at the newly built 32 million pound Ravenscraig complex.
Tickets for Crolla v Limond, priced at £40 and £60, are available on through Morrison’s Gym on 0141 554 7777 or St Andrew’s Sporting Club on 0141 810 5700.
How has your training camp been going, and are you doing anything different to deal with Crolla?
I’ve gone back to the basics with my trainer Peter Harrison, but this time we have tried sports science. Were we have introduced tests like body fat, fitness levels and so on. I’m training hard morning and night for this fight. I’ve been sparring newly turned professional Jordan McCrory and Scott Harrison, Scott’s been helping me a lot in the gym and he’s also training hard hoping to get his license back.
Due to living in Scotland do you think it’s harmed your career when you see the level of sparring they have in London and Manchester gyms?
Not at all. I’ve sparred Scott Harrison, Alex Arthur, Barry Morrison, Ricky Burns and many champions. I’ve travelled for sparring as well in my career so I don’t feel it has harmed me in any way.
Is making the weight easy for you, and if not, have you contemplated moving up a weight?
I’m not going to lie, making weight is hard, I struggle but I do the weight ok. I’ve been at this weight level now for five years.
Your friend Anthony Crolla stayed with you for a week during a training camp in Scotland, have you ever fought a friend before, and what was the experience like?
I fought my best friend three times in the amateurs. Don’t get me wrong, it is hard, but its the game were in.
You will be the one of the first professional fighters to fight at the new 32 million pound Ravenscraig Complex, have you had the chance to have a look at the venue yet and what did you think of it?
I’ve not seen the complex yet, but I will go over next week and have a good look at it, I’ve heard good things about it so far.
You were beaten by Erik Morales in Mexico City, then were invited back as a sparring partner how did that come about and what was the experience like?
I fought Morales in a stadium infront of 56,000 fans, and Morales could have easily sold 100,000. I did well in the fight, and Morales appreciated that and invited me back, the experience was amazing. I was training and running the mountains with one of my heroes. Morales had me down to stay for eleven weeks (Feb through to middle of April) and even wanted to promote me and scheduled two fights for me, but I had commitments back home and after 2 1/2 weeks I had to return home.
Do you still keep in contact with Morales and is there any plans to go back and spar with Morales?
Yeah I still keep in contact with Morales. I have his phone number and he speaks some English. Morales said I could go back over but I was in training for my fight so it didn’t happen. I would love to fight Morales again, but at sea level and not at high altitude. I don’t think I could get him in a ring in Scotland or UK however.
Do you still look back on the Khan long count and wonder what might have been?
Not really, I’ve never seen that kind of thing happen before in boxing. But since the fight with Khan I’ve not fought on any UK TV shows. I believe it has affected my status level as a fighter, and I’m aiming to put that right against Crolla.
You turned down a fight with Kevin Mitchell citing not enough money, do you feel that was a opportunity missed as if you took the fight and won it, it would have opened a lot of doors?
I felt as if I was worth more than they were offering at the time. I had to pay my manager and trainer as well as the board and expenses, at the time it wasn’t worth it. I make more as a joiner. I don’t look at it as a opportunity missed.
Having already beaten Prizefighter champion Choi, Spencer Fearon is looking for a big fight for his fighter, if you beat Crolla and win the British lightweight title would Choi be a option?
Choi would have to come up two weight levels to fight myself, I just cant see it happening. Also I’m not sure if Choi has British citizenship to be able to fight for a British Title.
What do you think of Prizefighter and would you ever take part?
It would all depend what was happening at the time, Prizefighter has helped a lot of fighters careers move forward. I love watching it, its brilliant.
You’re in the same weight division as Ricky Burns, would a fight with Ricky interest you?
Burns interests me but I want to think of Crolla and Crolla only, one fight at a time.
Who is your dream opponent you would like to fight at your weight level?
My dream opponent would be a Amir Khan rematch. Amir said he would fight me again, I just need to keep winning, and who knows I could be fighting Amir again soon. I believe it would be a hell of a fight and if my dream came true it would be awesome.
What are your future plans after the Crolla fight?
First I need to get passed Crolla then I would love to fight for more titles.
Messages for your fans?
I would like to thank all my loyal fans who have been there for me and have followed my career, many couldn’t make the Morales fight with it being in Mexico. I want to bring back the title for my fans.
{SQUARE} {SQUARE1} {SQUARE2}
{loadposition SQUARE3}
