Former Olympic and world champion DeGale hangs up his gloves

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AFP London
Last Updated : Feb 28 2019 | 8:42 PM IST

Former two-time super middleweight world champion James DeGale announced his retirement on Thursday days after he took a pummelling from fellow Briton Chris Eubank Junior.

The 33-year-old, who as a middleweight won Olympic gold in Beijing in 2008, said he had been on an "amazing journey" but 10 years to the day of his first professional bout was an apt one to hang up his gloves.

De Gale was the first British pugilist to progress from the Olympics to a world title after turning professional.

He won the IBF world title belt in the United States in 2015 against Andre Dirrell before defending it three times across the Atlantic.

"Today marks 10 years since my professional debut fight on February 28, 2009 and today is the day I am announcing my retirement from boxing," said DeGale in a statement.

"It's been an unbelievable journey and I've had an amazing decade -- if I'm honest, the best years of my life."

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First Published: Feb 28 2019 | 8:42 PM IST

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