Audley Harrison retires
Audley Harrison has announced his retirement from boxing, a matter of days after his mauling at the hands of Deontay Wilder.
The 41-year-old was knocked out by American Wilder after just 70 seconds in Sheffield on Saturday.
In a post-fight press conference, Harrison said he would take a few days to consider his future but suggested he would hang up his gloves, with his wife due to give birth shortly.
And he has now confirmed that his career in the ring has come to a end - with a record of 38 fights, 31 wins and 7 losses.
"There are only so many times you can fall before it becomes foolhardy to continue," said Harrison. "I've fallen alot of times but winning the heavyweight was a destination I really wanted to get to. Coming back from adversity has been synonymous with my life.
I've done well to turn my life around, but sadly my dream to be a legitimate world champion will be unrealised.
I believed if I was mentally and physically right I could figure these young guns out. Saturday was my final chance to prove it. The thing that pulled me up was pride, so I wanted a chance to continue and go out on my shield. It was not to be."
Harrison became the first British fighter to clinch an olympic medal in the super heavyweight division, winning gold in Sydney 13 years ago, but failed to build on the promise in the professional ranks.
The Londoner first challenged for the world title against David Haye in 2010 but suffered a third round defeat. Then his career looked over last October when he was knocked out in the first round by fellow Brit David Price. But he won his second prizefighter tournament to keep alive this dream of one day becoming world champion, but he found Wilder too good in his final fight.