According to Dab Rafael former world champion Marcos Maidana announced his retirement.
“After a long time out of the ring and after giving it a lot of thought since my last fight I’ve decided to hang up the gloves for good,” Maidana wrote in a letter addressed to “boxing friends” on social media. “Probably my decision would not surprise much as I had given hints of it in the last few months. But at this time I am making it official.
“Before anything else, I must say that I leave very proud and deeply thankful to boxing and everything that I have achieved. I’ve really never imagined getting this far when I put on a pair of gloves for the very first time when I was 15 in my native Margarita City. I think I was able to put the name of my country Argentina very high after winning two world titles, winning and losing against the best fighters of the world.
“I had a tough career and I fulfilled many of my dreams. I am a very happy man with my family and friends by my side these days. I know many of you think that I still have things to do and battles to fight. And I respect them. That is something that I had in my mind in the last few months. But only those who really know what a real challenge is, like the ones I always had, may understand that you have to be absolutely motivated to approach them.
“Only through a great physical and mental effort you can mix in the ring with best of the world if winning is your goal. And I always wanted to win. Today I do not feel motivated enough, do not have the fire inside me to intend to climb those mountains again. That is why I announce my retirement. At this time when I take a look back at my career I want to thank so many people that helped me to have what I call a successful career.”
“To my parents, Olga and Americo, to my wife Mariana, to my son Nahuel and my daughter Emilia, to all of them, thanks for standing by me for such a long ride,” he said. “Last but not the least, to my dear fans, who always supported and cheered me either from their homes or from the stands of all the arenas where I fought. I will never forget that chanting: ‘Chi-nooooo, Chi-nooooo!'”
“At this time I start a new stage in which I will remain close to boxing, advising and unconditionally supporting ‘Team Maidana,’ aiming for new generations to reach the highest levels,” Maidana said. “I will be there for our (featherweight titlist) Jesus Cuellar, for new great prospects like Brian Castaño, my brother Fabian Maidana (and) Alan Castaño, who are already making some noise internationally; for Javier Maciel. Also I will be there for the new kids like Neri Romero and Luis Veron. And most likely I will be there for many others who will join us along the road looking for great challenges. My goal is to pass the baton over to them now.”
