James DeGale goes ten and out – retires today

Following his disappointing loss to Chris Eubank Jr. last weekend, former middleweight world champion  James DeGale (25-3-1, 15 KOs) has decided to call it quits  at 33, with his legacy encompassing him being the first British boxer to win both an Olympic Gold medal and a professional world title.

DeGale had won his first championship when he defeated Andre Dirrell unanimously in May 2015, going on to defend it three times, including a majority draw against Badou Jack.

The super middleweight southpaw lost and but regained the title back against Caleb Truax over his next two fights.

The former British, European and two-time world champion released a very lengthy statement Thursday, announcing his retirement via his Twitter.

Ten and out…. https://t.co/6A6J5Cf3m2 pic.twitter.com/dPeSzmXum1

— James DeGale (@jamesdegale1) February 28, 2019

In excerpts from his retirement statement, he announced the following:

“Today marks 10 years since my professional debut fight on February 28, 2009 and today is the day I am announcing my retirement from boxing. It’s been an unbelievable journey and I’ve had an amazing decade – if I’m honest, the best years of my life – and having started boxing at the age of nine then being selected as part of the England Amateurs squad, I’ve collected many memories along the way. It is hard to admit that I’m not the fighter I once was, but I’m human and along the way, my injuries have taken a toll – both on mind and body and these things have contributed to impact my performance in the ring.”

He added: “I lost the fight on Saturday at The O2, but I’m touched to have a good send off from the fans in my home city. The day after the fight, someone said to me that one fight does not determine a legacy. Looking back, if someone had told me at the start of my boxing career, when I was in the England squad, that I would become an Olympic Gold medallist, British and European champion and two-time world champion, I would never have believed them, but I did it and I’d like to think I did it the clean, honest and hard way with discipline and respect to the sport I love. I’m proud to say that I’ve made history as the first ever British Olympian boxer to turn professional and to win a world title and I am also proud to have been a road warrior – to travel wherever I needed to be to fight and to win.  There’s nothing left to prove.”