The former world champion explained his decision in a statement
Former WBA world super-middleweight boxing champion George Groves has announced his retirement from the sport in order to spend time with his young family.
The 30-year-old lost his world title to Callum Smith in September, leaving his professional record at 28-4 from an 11-year professional career.
The fighter claimed his WBA title in a stoppage win over Russia’s Fedor Chudinov in May 2017, ending a long wait to claim his first world championship. He had previously held the European, British, and Commonwealth super-middleweight titles.
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Groves explained the decision behind the move in a lengthy statement addressed to “my friends, family, and all of the people who have supported me throughout my career”.
“After taking a little time to reflect on the recent events in my career, I have decided that it is time for me to retire as a professional fighter,” he wrote.
“In 2017, I boxed in front of a home crowd in Sheffield and became the WBA super middleweight world champion. After four attempts I had finally fulfilled my childhood dream, and the experience was as great as I has always imagined it would be. It was without doubt the best moment of my career.
“Some of you might think it odd that I’m choosing this time to retire. I’m still young, still fit and healthy, and there are still some big fights out there for me. But it’s for these reasons that I am choosing to retire now. I have a young family at home; it’s time to spend some of my better days with them.”
He added: “I don’t want there to be a time where I’m ‘too old’ to box on, or where an injury retires me in or out of the ring.
“Over the years I have seen and sadly known the dangers of the sport, and I want to respectfully bow out while I’m at the top of my game. I’ve learned that doesn’t always mean coming off the back of a win.
“I’ve boxed at the highest level, all over the world, I’ve been a champion, and I’ll be leaving the sport (relatively!) intact.
“Boxing has been good to me and I believe I have been good for boxing. I hope I have entertained you all; I have always strived to be the best fighter I can be. Although we step through the ropes on our own, of course every fighter is backed by a team, and not just the ones in the corner.
“There are many, many people that have helped me on my way to fulfilling my boxing dreams and I would like to take this opportunity to tank as many people as I can. Below are the people I would like to thank most, and a bit about how each and every one of them shaped me into the champion fighter I became.”
