WILLIE LIMOND will make the first defence of his British light-welterweight title against mandatory challenger Chris Jenkins at the Motorpoint Arena, in Sheffield, on March 28.
The 35 year-old won the title with a consummate display of classic orthodox boxing which gained him a unanimous points' decision against Curtis Woodhouse at the Braehead Arena, on June 27 last year.
Sadly the ensuing seven months have provided nothing but frustration for the Glaswegian who vacated his Commonwealth title in order to clear the way for a European title challenge that failed to materialise.
But now Limond, who unusually for a maiden defence of the Lonsdale belt, has been deprived of home advantage and will have to travel south to face the unbeaten Jenkins, says he has no concerns over his trip to the Steel City.
Limond said: "First of all I would say that I have nothing but respect for Chris Jenkins. He is an unbeaten boxer, he won Prizefighter and he is my mandatory challenger and all of that underlines that he has worked hard to gain his shot at the Lonsdale belt.
"Obviously I would rather be making my first defence in Glasgow in front of my own fans and I am disappointed for them in that they will have to find a few quid to come and watch me, but fighting in Sheffield is not something that worries me.
"When you have fought Erik Morales in a bull-ring in front of 60,000 screaming Mexicans then, no disrespect, boxing in Sheffield against Jenkins is not going to give me sleepless nights.
"I also have a fair bit of frustration to work off after the European title challenge didn't happen but at the end of the day it took me three attempts to win the British title and not going to be losing it anytime soon."
By the time the Scot enters the ring against the stylish Jenkins, who boasts an unblemished 16-fight ring resume including eight stoppage successes, Limond will have been inactive for almost nine months but the British champion has no fears that ring rust could prove his undoing against an opponent who was active as recently as October 24, when Jenkins stopped the Pole Jacek Wylezol in the first round.
Limond said: "I have 42 fights under my belt and at this stage in my career I don't see ring rust as an issue. When I won the British title against Curtis Woodhouse my previous fight against Mitch Prince was almost a year prior to that and I regard the Woodhouse win as one of the best performances I have produced.
"I am already a month into training and have got some excellent sparring under my belt and the main thing is that I feel fresh and good to go.
"It has been a very frustrating period since the Woodhouse fight as I felt that on a number of occasions the European title challenge was within touching distance but these things happen in boxing."
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