Whilst the St Andrew’s Sporting Club has a history of putting on big events, including world title fights at the SECC back in 1993, this will be promoter Iain Wilson’s biggest event to date.
Yesterday Wilson and St Andrews’s Sporting Club announced an all Scottish clash between two national legends in Ricky Burns Vs Willie Limond. The bout will mark the end of a glittering career for Burns, who led a distinguished career as a multiple weight world champion.
“This is something I am extremely excited about, sitting between two Scottish boxing legends - hence the show ‘Battle of the Legends’ on the 1st September, bringing a big boxing show back to the Braehead Arena.” Wilson said. “It’s a real honour to be putting this fight together, it’s a bit of a needle match - I’ve spoken to both fighters separately and both men are extremely confident. It’s a huge fight for Glasgow and Scottish boxing. We’ve got a fantastic undercard lined up, which we will be fully announcing in the coming weeks - with some real 50/50 Scottish title fights on that and we’re looking at some British title eliminators.”
Ricky Burns has had a glittering career as a three weight world champion, delivering Scotland and the UK with some of boxing’s most memorable nights. Burns’s last bout on home soil came in 2017 when loosing his WBA super lightweight world title against Julius Indongo. Burns and Scottish boxing fans have been clamouring to see their man return home victoriously.
“Firstly, I just want to thank Iain - I’ve always said I want to finish my career in Glasgow, so thank you for the opportunity.” Said Burns. “Even if I’ve not got a fight lined up, I’m always up in the morning, always in the gym, always keeping myself fit because you never know when that phone is going to go. Willie’s talked his way into this fight and if he’s the opponent, so be it! Everyone knows, it doesn’t matter the fight, I will treat it the same and I’m going to train just as hard. 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.”
Last year, Willie Limond returned on Iain Wilson’s event ‘The Limond Show’ after 3 years away from the ring, to not only mark fighting in his fourth decade but also the special opportunity to fight on the same bill as his eldest son, Jake. Now, after years of speaking of his desire to share the ring with Ricky Burns, he will lace them up again in September.
He spoke about finally getting this fight made: “I’m grateful for the opportunity to be part of this show, Ricky was talking about this being his last fight and I was earmarked as opponent so I’m just very grateful for this opportunity. Just the fact it is Ricky Burns gets me up in the morning, his record speaks for itself - three weight world champion, he’s a fitness fanatic, a machine. That’s what gets me up for this fight. Me and Ricky have known each other for years. I’ve got nothing but respect for Ricky but if they think I’m just here to
roll over and let him steamroll me, that’s never going to happen, there’s no chance that’s going to happen! Soon as that first bell goes, I’m all over him like a cheap spray tan!”
The full event undercard will be announced in the coming weeks, however yesterday’s press conference confirmed that Jake Limond will get another opportunity to fight on the same night as his dad.
“Last time - It was a good night, good fun to be honest.” Limond said. “It’s not really happened much before - boxing on the same show as your dad so it was a bit odd watching him in the ring after I fought. It was fun last time and it’ll be fun this time and both of us will get the win!’’
Another one of Willie Limond’s prospects, Scottish Super-Lightweight Champion, Martin Crossan, undefeated with a record of 7-0 will also be joining the undercard.
“Its all going exactly to schedule. It’s good to get on a show like this, as early as this in my professional career.” Said Crossan.
Commonwealth Games 2022 Medallist, Matty McHale has made an exciting start to his career with 2 stoppages in his first 3 fights as a professional - he was delighted to get the news he would also be joining this event in September:
“I’m looking forward to getting on such a big bill like this, this is what everyone dreams of doing when they first turn professional.” McHale added. “Even as amateur, you look at bills like these and think ‘I wanna box on that!’ And now I’m turning dreams into reality. I was here 6 years ago [for the Josh Taylor fight] I never thought I would actually be here and here we are now!”
