Willie Limond gets chance of dream bout at the Garden, & Hatton urges him to take it

WILLIE LIMOND has won a chance to fight at Madison Square Garden, boxing's most famous theatre of dreams.
The former Commonwealth lightweight champion has been approached to fight on the under card of the Roy Jones versus Joe Calzaghe super fight bill on September 20.

But the opportunity comes at light-welterweight against unbeaten American Ukrainian banger Dimitriy Salita.
And with Limond scheduled to meet Graham Earl in an IBO lightweight world title eliminator later in the year, the Glaswegian admits the chance to realise one of his dreams is fraught with danger.

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Limond said: "It is a really exciting opportunity and one that I know if I pass up on I will regret for the rest of my life.
"But at the same time it is a really dangerous one. Salita is a natural light welterweight at 140lbs while the lightweight limit I box at is at 135lbs.
"So obviously I would be taking a chance in stepping up against an opponent who is unbeaten in 28 fights and has stopped 16 opponents."

Limond immediately did his homework by contacting Ricky Hatton to get the lowdown on his erstwhile rival.
He said: "I phoned Ricky to find out what he knew about Salita as they box at the same weight.
"Of course Ricky has fought in the US and he reckons I should go for it.
"But things are complicated by the fact I hopefully have an IBO world title eliminator coming up and obviously if I go across the pond and take a sore one then that could be at risk.
"Ricky told me the chance to fight at the Garden is just to good to turn down and I'd love to be able to tell my boys I fought at the place where legends like Ali and Frazier battled it out.
"So it is a bit of a case of the heart versus the head, but I need to make my mind up before the end of the week."

The Garthamlock fighter added: "Ricky said to me that although he had fought in Las Vegas on the strip and in Boston in the US the fact that he hadn't fought at the Garden was the one thing missing on his CV.
"So that would mean if I do go for it then I would have something on my record that even a great like Ricky would be jealous of and that is a big shout."

Limond's dilemma is a tricky one as former North American champion Salita is a rising star in the Roy Jones stable who, as his KO record indicates, is extremely heavy handed.
But with a five-figure purse up for grabs and the opportunity to enjoy the exposure provided by a slot on a bill that will be covered by US TV giants HBO Limond knows this is an opportunity that could make a massive hike to his market value.
And he said:
"The Calzaghe versus Jones fight is the biggest card left this year and to be part of that would be massive.
"Plus, if I put up a good show then you never know what the spin offs could be. I have done plenty of sparring with bigger boxers in the likes of Barry Morrison who is a light-welter weight and if anything the fact you are in with a bigger man concentrates you more. It really is the hardest decision I have had to make in my career."
Limond's chance to fight at the Garden has come as a boost after his original world title eliminator with Earl was postponed due to a hhand injury suffered by the former British and Commonwealth champion.
And Limond has no doubt that if he does head for New York he is in the shape to do himself justice.
He fired: "Obviously I had been only a week or so away from fighting Earl when we got news of his hand injury so my preparation was nearly complete.
"So all that hard work is in the bag and September 20 is just over two months away so I have no doubt I would be in great shape for Salita.
"I have an awful lot of frustration still in me over the postponement of the Earl fight and I think that would also help fire me up for this one."

 

What can I say about this? Now I know Limonds brother posts here from time to time, & Willie himself talked to the posters here a while back, but I missed it!

Anyway, what I want to say is this. If Willie Limond doesnt take up this offer it will be the biggest mistake he will ever make, mark my words!

Limond HAS to take the chance of fighting the hyped but untested Salita at jnr-welter, or he will regret it forever.

Salita? I know loads about him. Hes a decent prospect but his power is overrated. His record looks impressive, but at closer inspection many average fighters take him the distance. & on paper, I would argue Limond has the bigger scalps than Salita.

I would tell Limond to forget about chasing an IBO title, on these shores its classed as nothing. Its on the level of WBU, & if Willie wasted time fighting eliminators & then winning that belt, in time he would regret it as its not truly recognised as 'legit'

So Willie Limond if you are reading, take the Salita fight, fight in one of the great arenas of world boxing & take Ricky Hattons advice!!!

Cos even in defeat you will be remembered far more than if you were to win an IBO belt.

& thats the thing, Salita is decent, but he has a padded record. I would be confident that a tricky operator like Limond could outbox the untested Salita. & I should know, cos I have watched him(Salita) for years. Its a winnable fight for Mr Limond.

mark my words:deal