Carl Frampton announced his retirement in the ring after being stopped by Jamel Herring in the sixth round of their WBO super-featherweight contest.
The Belfast man was bidding to become Ireland’s first three-weight world champion.
Herring dropped Frampton, 34, a round earlier before another left uppercut in the sixth sent Frampton to the canvas.
Amid a flurry of shots and little defence, Frampton’s corner threw in the towel.
“I said before I would retire if I lost this fight and that’s exactly what I’m going to do,” an emotional Frampton said in the ring.
“I just want to dedicate my life to my family now. Boxing has been good to me, it’s also been bad to me.
“The last few years with these boys [trainers Jamie Moore and Nigel Travis], have been the best of my career.
“I just want to go home to my beautiful wife and kids and that’s it.”
Defeat draws curtain on Frampton’s career
After losing to Josh Warrington in December 2018, Frampton seriously considered retiring but opted to continue in pursuit of another world title, firm in the belief he still had that level of performance in him.
The nature of the loss to Herring, given his assertion prior to the fight that such a result would signal an end to his career, has left Frampton with no doubt that the time is right to hang up his gloves.
