Michael Conlan has announced his retirement from boxing following his loss to Kevin Walsh.
Conlan suffered a controversial upset defeat to Walsh at the SSE Arena in Belfast on Friday, and that has prompted the Irishman to hang up his gloves for the final time.
Speaking to the media following the loss to Walsh, Conlan explained his decision to retire.
“In this last run, it was only for me. That’s why I have no shame in saying that’s enough. I did it for me and my family trying to reach the goal of being world champion. It’s not meant to be. That’s it.
“It doesn’t matter what way I was going to lose. If it was wide, if it was a robbery, it wasn’t enough to win clearly, so it’s enough to say goodbye.
“The last defeat before this one I’d have been kicking myself saying I should have given it another go, the fact that I did come back and try. That was the third time I’ve come back, god loves a trier. Hope he loves me.
“I want to say thank you to every single person. I’ve fought all around the world, New York, Vegas, Australia, England, Ireland. I always have had a great following and always stuck by me, even through defeats they’ve stuck by me. The appreciation goes beyond.”
The 34-year-old was an elite amateur, becoming Ireland’s first ever male World Amateur Champion, whilst also claiming a bronze medal at the 2012 Olympics in London.
After turning professional with an extremely loyal fan base behind him, Conlan would challenge for world honours on two occasions, and ends with a final record of 20 wins from 24 fights.
