Former world champion Lee Selby has announced his retirement from boxing.
The 35-year-old Welshman will hang up his gloves after losing his final fight in Argentina last month. He brings the curtain down on a professional career which began in 2008 and would span 14 years, 32 fights and a haul of titles.
His crowning glory in 2015 saw him stop the previously unbeaten Evgeny Gradovich to become featherweight world champion. Selby went on to successfully defend his belt five times before losing it in an epic clash with Josh Warrington in 2018.
He fought just four times thereafter, winning his next two bouts before suffering defeat by George Kambosos who went on to beat Teofimo Lopez to become lightweight world champion. Selby's final fight was a final eliminator for Kambosos' belt but he was stopped in the fifth round by Gustavo Lemos.
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In a statement, he said: "After 27 years as an amateur and professional boxer, I know the time is right for me to hang up the gloves.
"Being raised on the council estate in Barry, South Wales you learn early on about adversity. For many young people the burden of growing up in poverty takes its toll, but boxing saved me more than I ever thought possible.
"I am forever grateful to my mum and dad who took me and my brothers to Rhoose Amateur Boxing Club and Craig Smyth who always supported me. I had around 90 amateur contests, but it was my brother Andrew who was the star attraction for the Selby family in the amateurs.
"I had to do things the hard way, going the traditional route winning every possible title along the way including the Welsh, Celtic, British, Commonwealth, European and IBF world title. I won the Lonsdale belt outright and successfully defended my world title on five occasions.
"Of my 32 professional contests, 22 of those bouts were either title fights or 12-round contests. I am proud to be the 12th Welshman to win a world title and my name will now forever sit in the record books alongside those great fighters. When I look back on my career, I have realised everything I set out to achieve.
"My biggest thank you goes to all my fans, your support over the years has been incredible. I exit the ring with no regrets, happy, healthy and with my family financially secure. Boxing has been my life and I am sure my involvement in the sport will continue in the years to come as I look to set new goals."
