By James Blears
The Brave fighter Willie Limond from Glasgow, Scotland, is audaciously planning to defeat Mexican legend Erik Morales in Mexico’s City’s Plaza de Toros this Saturday in a feat which would make Daniel in the lions’ den….look tame.
The Scot is topping the bill of a Mexican Bicentenary celebration, which will be attended by thousands of home grown fight fans. He and Erik will be fighting as super lightweights.
Defeating Willie would propel Erik toward a fight with countrymen WBC lightweight Champion Humberto Soto, or Juan Manuel Marquez who holds the WBA and WBO titles.
At a packed press conference in Mexico City’s Imperial Hotel, Willie told BoxingScene.com that Ricky Burns’ recent victory is motivating him for the monumental task which lies ahead on Saturday. Modest, but also confident Willie explained: “I’ve trained really hard and done more than one hundred rounds of sparring, so I’ve put the work in. The key to winning is speed. But I also know that it’s going to be hard, and I’ve got to do the best fight of my life to win.
“I can box on the front foot or the back foot and I’m going to give it my all and get the result. Erik has had a lot of hard fights. The man’s a warrior and this is the way he fights. But I’m fresher, and I’m going to pull it off. Anyone and everyone is beatable on the night.
“I know this is a massive celebration. I don’t want to spoil all of the party, but just a little bit by defeating Erik.”
However Willie was quick to show respect for Erik’s ring achievements. He stressed: ”Boxing is hard enough, so I don’t see it’s right to put your face into another boxer’s face and bad mouth him.
“It’s an honor for me to be here and share a ring with this man. Just look what he’s done for boxing, and all the titles he’s won. If I can achieve a small amount of what he’s done, then I’ll be happy.”
In a packed night of boxing at this bonanza, Edgar Sosa is on the comeback trail as a flyweight, following an horrific fractured cheekbone injury inflicted by Rodel Mayol, which cost him his WBC Light Flyweight Title . Edgar takes on another Filipino, Ryan Bito. While WBC Female Super Flyweight champion Ana Maria Torres fights WIBF and GBU Champion Alesia Graf, who’s based in Germany.
Like Willie Limond, Alesia seems totally unconcerned about the simmering caldron like atmosphere you can almost taste. She said: “Sure, I’m coming into the Lions’den, and especially now. But remember my nicknames is the Tigress and I’ll fight like one.”
Another fight on the undercard, promises to be an absolute war. Young lightweights Daniel Estrada and Reyes Sanchez will lock horns. Danny is ranked two by the WBC, while Reyes is number five. Danny has already vowed to KO Reyes, who insists he’s already fought a better class of opposition.