Dunne announces retirement

Former WBA super-bantamweight champion Bernard Dunne has announced his retirement from the sport.

Irishman decides to quit after losing world title

Former WBA super-bantamweight champion Bernard Dunne has announced his retirement from the sport. The Dubliner crowned a successful career when he stopped Ricardo Cordoba in the 11th round last year, before losing it in a third-round knockout by Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym in September. The former European champion admitted that it was time for a new start having won 28 of his 30 fights. "After a lot of thought and reflection, the time has finally come to bring my career as a professional boxer to an end," said the 30-year-old. "For the past 25 years boxing has been my life but now it is time for a fresh start. "The easiest thing in the world would have been to climb through the ropes and fight again but honesty has always been very important to me and I am being honest to myself, to my family and to my supporters with this decision. "The great Irish fans that travelled on the journey to a world title belt with me deserved better than to pay their hard-earned cash just to see me go through the motions. I could never do that to them." He added: "Thankfully I have realised all my dreams and achieved all my goals since I followed my dad into boxing. "To win a world title is something I will never forget and something I am so proud of and I would like to thank everyone who helped make that possible. "This is a sad day for me and for my family but it is also an exciting day and a new start in my life, one I am really looking forward to."