BOXING hero Willie Limond has tragically died after succumbing to his condition following a suspected seizure.
The ring king, 45, was found unresponsive in his car last Saturday morning in Coatbridge.
He was rushed to University Hospital Monklands in Airdrie where he remained in a critical condition until passing away.
Tributes have flooded in for the popular fighter who was due to fight Geordie scrapper Joe Laws in a comeback bout in Glasgow next month.
That bout was being promoted by St Andrew’s Sporting Club and they announced the sad news of Limond’s death on their social media channels.
They said: “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.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Jake, Drew, Macy and the rest of the Limond family at this time.”
Devastated son Jake, 20, who was due to fight on the same bill as his dad, posted on Instagram: “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.”
Laws paid tribute to Limond too and has started a GoFundMe to raise money for the tragic boxer’s family.
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Laws said: “Everyone would have heard about the tragic news about my opponent Willie Limond. I am devastated, listen my old son.
“Wait for me at the pearly gates, we can get it on.
“He was a former world champion and just wanted to make a better life for his family.”
On the GoFundMe page, which is looking to raise £10,000, Laws added: “Can we all just give a couple quid for this great man. Give him the send off he deserves and any change over can go to his two boys as sponsorship for their boxing career.
“The Limond name lives on – go make your old man proud.”
Fellow Scots fighter and long term pal Alex Arthur said: “I met this funny hyper Glaswegian lad when I was 13 yrs old, when I saw him box I was blown away at how good he was.
“We went on to become very good friends & of course ended up fighting each other! It only made us closer friends!
“Love you Willie ma man.”
Former British champion Curtis Woodhouse, who Limond defeated for the title in 2014, said he was ‘gutted’.
He 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.”
Willie was to have taken part in a public session at Glasgow’s St Enoch Centre four hours after he was discovered.
He plugged the event two days before he took ill, saying: “I feel good.”
It is understood Jake and fellow boxer brother Drew, 18, are being supported by Willie’s ring pals including ex-WBO world champion Arthur.
He had initially announced his retirement in the aftermath of losing to fellow veteran Ricky Burns in September.
But after a U-turn, he told how he had changed his eating and drinking habits.
He explained: “After I lost to Ricky I changed my diet and the results have been a pleasant surprise.
“For well over 20 years prior to that I didn’t have a full night’s rest ? I was getting by on three hours a night at best.
“However, ever since I made the changes things have been so much better. I cut out sugar and processed food.
“But I sleep for six hours every night now, and wake up feeling as energetic as a Duracell bunny.”
Police Scotland had confirmed: “Around 8.05am on Saturday, police were called to a report of a 45-year-old man found unresponsive within a car in Coatbridge.
“The man was taken to Monklands Hospital where medical staff describe his condition as critical.
“Inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.”
Willie won the Commonwealth lightweight title against Joshua Allotey at Glasgow’s Kelvin Hall in 2006.
Among his other big Scots fights, fans at the Braehead Arena saw him retain the Commonwealth light-welterweight belt in that 2014 bout against Woodhouse.
Arguably his high profile fight was with the undefeated rising superstar, and Olympic medallist, Amir Khan at London’s O2 Arena in 2007.
Although Khan ultimately prevailed, Limond gave him a real fright, becoming the first man to send Khan to the canvas in a professional fight.
Limond once again regained his form and set up a clash with legendary Mexican fighter Erik Morales.
They fought in front of 60,000 fans in Mexico City with the WBC silver super lightweight title on the line.
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He also took on the likes of Anthony Crolla and Tyrone Nurse in other high-profile bouts during the later years of his career.
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Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
