Carl Froch Retires from Boxing: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

Carl Froch has called an end to his 13-year boxing career to focus on his punditry work with Sky Sports. The four-time super middleweight champion—who won the WBC title twice, the IBF belt and became the WBA unified champion in 2013—finishes his stint in the ring with a record of 33-2.

Froch tweeted:

The 38-year-old's final fight saw him send George Groves spiralling to the canvas in front of 80,000 fans at Wembley Stadium. Froch previously beat Groves via a controversial ninth-round stoppage, a situation which led to the money-spinning rematch.

Groves told Sky Sports he isn't surprised by Froch's retirement, per Audioboom:

The Cobra's only two defeats came against Mikkel Kessler and Andre Ward, the first of which he avenged in a second encounter. Although a much-wanted rematch with Ward has looked possible in recent times—especially with the American returning to action with victory over Paul Smith in June—Froch has confirmed he no longer has the desire to fight.

Scott Heavey/Getty Images

The Nottingham-born brawler spoke to Sky Sports (h/t BBC Sport):

"

I have nothing left to prove and my legacy speaks for itself. I'm incredibly proud of what I have achieved in boxing but now is the right moment to hang up my gloves.

If I could fight again physically I would, but mentally I'm not sure. I think the desire has gone. There will always be options and it's never going to stop. There will always be someone next in line to take my scalp. If that never goes away, when am I ever going to retire? There's still a fire in the belly but it's been too long now. I don't know if I can go one more time.

"

Promoter Eddie Hearn applauded the divisive figure:

Froch side-stepped a mandatory title defence against fellow Englishman James DeGale earlier this year, per BBC Sport. He also missed out on his chance to battle in Las Vegas against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. after suffering an injury in March. The stars just didn't quite align.

Even so, the British fighter walks away with a victory and on his own terms, a success in itself.