Willie Limond unsuccessful in bid to retain British super-lightweight title

Willie Limond failed to regain his British super-lightweight title against the impressive Tyrone Nurse at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow.

The 37-year-old Glaswegian had to give up the belt in June 2014 after a shoulder injury ruled him out of a clash with Chris Jenkins.

Nurse, 26, who beat Jenkins in a rematch in November after their first meeting was declared a draw, was in the end just too strong and powerful for the gutsy Glaswegian - with referee Victor Loughlin stepping in before the end of round nine to stop further punishment.

Limond, in his 44th fight, started on the front foot, looking sharp and positive against his taller opponent.

The home fighter delivered a thudding right-hand in the third round and had Nurse briefly up against the ropes in the fourth with a flurry of punches, to the cheers of the fans.

Nurse, though was beginning to find his distance, landing some punches that marked Limond under his right eye and burst his nose in the sixth, although the body punches he threw looked as damaging.

The Huddersfield fighter was now on top as Limond bravely looked for a way back in.

The champion, though, continued to work the body and mostly the ribs with accuracy and energy.

A couple of brief flurries offered hope for Limond but Nurse was in control, evading the danger and returning counters until Loughlin moved in after one minute and 54 seconds in round nine to call a halt.

Earlier, Conor Benn, son of former WBO middleweight and WBC super-middleweight title holder Nigel Benn, fought and won for the second time as a professional when he faced Halifax's Luke Keleher in a super-lightweight contest.

After four bruising rounds, at times fast and furious and where both fighters swapped powerful punches, Benn, 19, was given the 40-36 decision in his favour.