Tuesday 24 June 2014 16:03, UK
Willie Limond admits his British and Commonwealth light-welterweight title bout with Curtis Woodhouse at the Braehead Arena in Glasgow on June 27 is a must-win fight if he is to continue his boxing career.
Limond makes the second defence of his Commonwealth crown against Woodhouse, who defends the British belt for the first time since his memorable win against Darren Hamilton in February.
And the Glaswegian revealed he is desperate to come out on top in the Sky Sports televised clash in order to continue his 15-year association with the sport.
“I can’t afford any slip-ups, there is no margin for error,” said Limond. “I like to put myself under a bit of pressure because I feel I respond better and I have done that.
“I am 35 and I know my time in boxing now, I need to take it one fight at a time. I know if this doesn’t go my way it could be the end of it and I don’t feel ready to retire yet, I want to keep this going.
“I am not thinking about retiring but obviously it will be at the back of any fighter’s mind at this stage of their career.
“I am concentrating on myself and worrying about what I am going to be doing in this fight. I have trained so hard for it and I know Curtis will have done as well. I am not thinking about retiring but if reality comes into it then it is a possibility.”
Limond, who has come up short in his two previous attempts at winning the Lonsdale title, admits becoming a two-belt champion would be a remarkable achievement.
“I would love to be a two-belt champion and hold the British and the Commonwealth titles at the same time,” said Limond. “The British title on its own is a prestigious belt but to have the Commonwealth as well as the British, well there are a lot better fighters than me who have never done that. I would be delighted if I could achieve that.
The British title on its own is a prestigious belt but to have the Commonwealth as well as the British, well there are a lot better fighters than me who have never done that.
Limond believes he has the skillset to beat Woodhouse but revealed he has the utmost respect for what the 34-year-old has achieved during his relatively shirt boxing career.
“I saw his fight with Darren Hamilton. Curtis found an extra gear which I didn’t think he had, an extra level which I didn’t think he had, so I take my hat off to him for that,” he said.
“I have always admired Curtis and the way he goes about his business. He has come in on the back of being a good, solid professional football player and he was written off early door. But he has achieved a British title, something I am yet to do. I have to take my hat off to him.
“But I know I can fight going forward, I can fight on the back foot, I can fight different angles and I can fight southpaw.
“There is not only one way I can fight so I am not fussed about how Curtis approaches the fight. I have sparred with that many different sparring partners that I am prepared for anything that I believe can happen. If he wants to stand and trade, I will stand and trade.
“I do rate him as a fighter. I think the win against Darren Hamilton was a very close fight. I didn’t think Hamilton was at his best that night but Curtis did brilliantly to win it, fair play to him.”
A packed card in Glasgow sees Ricky Burns take on unbeaten Montenegrin Dejan Zlaticanin in a world title eliminator while Stephen Simmons defends his WBC International Silver Cruiserweight title against bitter rival Wadi Camacho.
