Suffolk boxer Anthony Ogogo has announced his retirement from boxing after failing to overcome serious eye injuries.
The Lowestoft middleweight has undergone seven eye operations in two years, and says he's been forced to accept the end of his professional boxing career.
Ogogo, 30, made the announcement on social media. In his statement he said:
He signed a five year deal with leading boxing promoters, Golden Boy Promotions, back in 2013.
During his 12 fight pro career he won 11 bouts, losing his last fight against Craig Cunningham for the WBC International Middleweight Title back in 2016.
Just last month he posted an update on Twitter, suggesting he was still hopeful that he could return to the ring.
Hi statement listed his injuries, saying that he'd been been injured for a combined period of 6 years and 4 months: "as a result of: 3 shoulder dislocations, shattered eye sockets, broken bones, and damaged ligaments and tendons. "
But he has vowed to remain positive.
Ogogo with his bronze Credit: PA Images
The star admitted that having lived his life by the mantra of 'never give up' he was struggling with the fact he was having to retire. But he thanks his wife for her support.
He finished by saying: "I didn’t achieve my goal in a boxing ring. But I’m still going to hold my head high ... I wanted to prove that the old stereotype that boxers are thuggish and unintelligent is just that, a dated stereotype."
