After a disappointing loss this weekend to Sophiane Khati of France this weekend, popular British middleweight Nathan "Hitman" Heaney as announced his retirement: "Stoke-on-Trent, thank you for everything. I started this journey seven years ago, with no other objective than to give myself three years, and if nothing happens then at least I'll have no regrets' and what happened over that time was every dream I ever had as a kid. To be signed by Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren, to be part of the biggest sporting nights our city has seen, from our local town hall to the bright lights of TNT Sports and the biggest arenas in the UK, becoming the British champion, it's all been very surreal, and more than I could ever have imagined. I have given my absolute life to the sport, and competed every year for the last 24 years, having had 111 fights in total, 90 as an amateur and 21 as a pro... I really need to think of my next step, but I also need to realize that I must think about my beautiful family, friends, and city for everything they have given to me. Boxing is an unforgiving sport."

 

"Thank you to my sponsors AMB Insurance, Potteries Mechanical Services, Elite Sheet Piling, Terraces, USN & WJ UK. These guys backed their man and allowed me to dedicate every second to the sport with no worries needed. Thank you for TNT sports, and thank you to the promoter I always dreamed about boxing for, Frank Warren. But lastly, and most importantly thank you to YOU. You will know who you are, every person who has been there supporting me every step along the way. I had dreams, but it was only with you that they became a reality. I am forever in debted to you. It's going to be very hard these next few months, but I have to remember I did everything I could to come home... I did absolutely everything. Stoke may never have happened, but the memories along the way certainly did.

 

"I've been a boxer my whole life, it's all I've known. I'm absolutely heartbroken broken. It's a very sobering moment, but again thank you and I hope you all had a great day/night. I'll always been one of your own."

 

Heaney exits with a record of 18-2-1. Boxingtalk salutes Nathan Heaney and wishes him a satisfying retirement from the sport.