Scottish champion boxer Willie Limond has died at the age of 45 after being hospitalised following an apparent seizure.
The former Commonwealth champion had been in a critical condition in Monklands Hospital in Airdrie after being found unresponsive and rushed to hospital last week.
His eldest son Jake, also a professional boxer, wrote: “My dad passed away in the early hours of the morning around 3am. He fought on for near enough ten days. Warrior. Love you da.”
Boxing promoter St Andrew’s Sporting Club announced Limond’s death on social media on Monday, saying: “Everyone at St Andrew’s Sporting Club are 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.
SNS Group“Our thoughts and prayers are with Jake, Drew, Macy and the rest of the Limond family at this time.”
Limond, who last fought in September against fellow Scot and three-time world champion Ricky Burns, enjoyed a long and successful career where he won 42 of his 48 fights.
After making his professional debut in 1999, Limond had gone on to hold the European super-featherweight title, the Commonwealth lightweight title and the British and Commonwealth super-lightweight titles.
He fought in high-profile fights against top level opponents, including a defeat to Amir Khan in 2007 and a loss to Anthony Crolla in 2015 in a duel for the vacant British lightweight belt.
SNS GroupTributes to Limond have already come from figures in the boxing world.
Curtis Woodhouse, who fought Limond in 2014 said: “Absolutely devastated to hear the news of the passing of Willie Limond, a great fighter and a great man. We stayed in touch after our fight and always had a laugh together. Absolutely gutted. Rest In Peace champ.”
Former world champion Alex Arthur wrote: “I met this funny hyper Glaswegian lad when I was 13 years old, when I seen him box I was blown away at how good he was. We went on to become very good friends and of course ended up fighting each other! It only made us closer friends! Love you Willie ma man.”
SNS GroupLimond, who had come out of retirement on three occasions, had been set to face Joe Laws at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow on May 3.
Laws said he was devastated to hear of Limond’s death .
He tweeted: “I am devastated, listen my old son wait for me at the pearly gates and we can get it on Can all my support and followers just skip tha morning coffee and chuck in couple quid give this boxing legend the send off he deserves.”
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