Boxing: Willie Limond gets another title

Commonwealth champion Willie Limond last night won a new title just four days after defending his light-welterweight crown.

The 34-year-old was declared the St Andrew’s Sporting Club’s Boxer of the Year (sponsored by Wilson Digital) following his gutsy win over Mitch Prince on Friday. The champion was still receiving hospital treatment on Sunday night.

However, at least the new prize was pain-free for Limond – which, after his war against Prince, was just as well. “My left eardrum was burst in the second round,” he explained. “That affects your balance but, because it had happened to me before, I knew straight away what had happened and I understood what I had to do.

“I don’t know when the other ear went, but when I was at hospital on Sunday night they told me it had already started to heal. As for my hand, that damage was done in the sixth round. It’s so swollen that the doctors couldn’t put it in plaster so it’s wrapped in a sponge to keep everything in place.

“I can’t give Mitch enough credit for the shape he was in and how hard he worked but I was determined to prove that I still had heart. That’s why, with all those problems, it was so important to me that I won the last round on all the judges’ cards.”