WILLIE LIMOND has seen his hopes of securing a challenge for the European light-welterweight title against Michele di Rocco left in tatters after Lenny Dawes of England was installed as official challenger for the 140lb title.
Limond was originally to have fought Di Rocco, the champion from Italy, in Glasgow before Christmas after his superb unanimous points defeat of Curtis Woodhouse, to claim the British title in June. But it failed to materialise and Di Rocco instead took on and defeated Ruben Nieto of Spain in October.
Now Dawes, who has just acquired the stepping-stone European Union belt, appears to have jumped the queue to meet the Italian against whom he lost a hotly disputed points verdict back in 2013, although Di Rocco's own world title aspirations may still have an impact on the Englishman's plans.
Limond, who has now withdrawn from Sunday night's Morrison Promotions show at the Thistle Hotel in Glasgow, admits the dent to his European ambitions has been a hammer blow.
"It would appear that Lenny Dawes has managed to get himself in front of me for a shot at Di Rocco and that is hard to take as originally I had hoped to challenge for the European title in Glasgow before Christmas," revealed Limond.
The British champion continued: "The Di Rocco fight was then to happen in late January or February but the Italians have been very difficult to deal with and now it looks like they are taking on Dawes.
"Obviously I was taking the fight at the Thistle to keep ticking over for Di Rocco but I don't feel I will get any benefit from it right now.
"On top of that the arrival of my little baby girl, Macy, is something else that comes into consideration at this family time of the year. So I just feel I am not in the right frame of mind for Sunday night."
Limond's future - he will turn 36 in February - is further clouded by the fact he is slated to make a mandatory defence of his Lonsdale Belt against Chris Jenkins in the New Year.
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