RICKY BURNS kept his promise as he bowed out of boxing with a brutal win over Willie Limond – but still managed to keep at least a little bit of wriggle room over a ring return.
The three-weight world champion triumphed in the battle of Scotland’s old stagers as Limond was stopped at the end of the eighth round.
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Burns, 40, had vowed he wouldn’t go easy on Limond, 44 and did just that at a packed Braehead Arena.
He said afterwards that he had indeed retired – FOR NOW.
He said: “Now the hard part is stopping me wanting to come back.
“I’ve always said I want to go out on my terms.
“Any boxer when they retire, there’s always that wee bit.
“Who knows. I’m saying ‘that’s me’, but if that phone goes and my missus gives me the green light, I’m there.”
Ex-British super lightweight champ Limond was left battered and bloodied in a bout both have said will be their last.
This was Burns’ first fight since December 2021 while Limond hadn’t tackled a scheduled 12-rounder since losing to Tyrone Nurse in May 2016.
Limond had shifted over four stone to make the fight while Burns had been in such good shape he’d sparred with some of the fighters he now coaches.
Josh Taylor, Kash Farooq, Lee McGregor, Alex Arthur and Lee McCulloch were among those ringside as Burns quickly found his rhythm and range with the jab.
As much as Limond tried he struggled to get close to his rival who was simply too quick on his feet.
As Burns picked his punches then ducked back out of trouble so Limond was using up energy with swings and misses.
By the fourth round blood was flooding out of Limond’s nose but out of nowhere he caught Burns with a counter that rocked him.
Burns retaliated with a right over the top then was warned in the fifth for a low blow.
It was a round Limond would hit back in as he showed some of the battling qualities he made his name for in his pomp.
Burns had won three title fights at the Braehead Arena but hadn’t appeared here since losing to Dejan Zlaticanin nine years ago.
By the sixth Limond was constantly wiping his red-stained face, which wasn’t helped by a crushing blow on the jaw from Burns.
Burns got back to business in the seventh then caught Limond with more blows in the eighth.
The bell sounded the end of the round and both boxer’s careers as ref Victor Loughlin called a halt to proceedings.
Meanwhile Cumbernauld’s Andy Tham won the vacant Scottish featherweight title after stopping Glasgow’s Jack Turner.
Turner got back up after being knocked down in the second round but the ref stepped in after he was caught again in the sixth.
Martin Crossan retained his Scottish super lightweight title in style.
The Newarthill puncher caught Andrew Smart with a cracker of a right hook in the first round of their bout.
Smart, from Elgin, got back to his feet but was sent tumbling again two seconds before the end of the first bell.
Tyler Coyle, Matt McHale and Jake Limond were among other winners on the night.
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