WILLIE LIMOND says he will hang up his gloves after a 17-year boxing career if he loses to Tyrone Nurse tomorrow night.

The 37-year-old former British super lightweight champion will bid to take back the belt he gave up last year when he takes on the Englishman on the undercard of the Ricky Burns-Michele di Rocco WBA world title fight at the SSE Hydro.

A trapped nerve forced Limond out of a defence against Chris Jenkins in April 2015.

Nurse stepped in and claimed the title at the second attempt at the Manchester Arena, beating the Welshman in November after the two had earlier drawn.

Limond was immediately lined up as the mandatory challenger and now he gets the opportunity to reclaim his crown on home soil.

He is well aware that Nurse could have him heading for a trip to the doctor and if that happens Limond will have fulfil a promise he made to himself after a punishing defeat by Anthony Crolla in a British title fight in 2011. Ricky Burns has said he will continue to fight on, even if he loses to di Rocco tomorrow but Limond, who would love a shot at his fellow Scot should both win, says will not become anyone's punch bag.

He is, though, confident he has the tools to stave off retirement for the meantime.

“Ever since the Crolla fight I’ve said the next defeat is my last. I don’t want to retire but the decision will be taken out of my hands if I lose on Saturday,” he said.

“If he wins it’s a long way back up for me. You become a stepping stone for others. I’m not interested in that. I am still performing in the gym and I think I can produce a career-best performance.

“But this is a tough fight. He’s a good fighter and a big, rangy guy. I know I am up against it, but I’m confident I have the goods to beat him. He’s got the height and he’s awkward, but I’ve been doing some great sparring with Frankie Gavin and Craig McIntyre.”

Limond has so often been the nearly man of Scottish boxing. He has suffered just four defeats in his career and all at the hands of future world champions.

But he refutes the idea that he has been unlucky to have met the wrong men at the wrong time and says that despite a degree of soul searching after the defeat by Crolla four years ago, he still loves his job.

“I still have the appetite for boxing,” added Limond. “I have surprised myself a little bit at just how good a shape I’ve got myself in to.

"I’m not going to lie, at times it’s been hard going. I never thought I would ever get in this shape again but I’ve knuckled down and got on with it.

“I am just looking at this fight. I’m not looking at bigger fights down the line, it’s all about Tyrone Nurse. That’s what keeps me going. It can wear you down if you allow it and I could have chucked it after the last British title fight. I wanted big fights after that but they never came.”

“I’ve been lucky to be involved in some big fights, I’ve had the privilege of fighting Morales in Mexico in front of 56,000 fans, Alex Arthur, Crolla, you name it. It’s always gone against me but maybe this time it will go for me.”