Exclusive - Graham Earl announces retirement

Saturday evening's show at Milton Keynes was originally due to be headlined by Luton's popular light-welterweight, Graham Earl, only for him to withdraw from the bill with an injury to his left hand.

Earl did show up to the MK Dons stadium and got in the ring - but only to announce his retirement from the sport.

“I can never say never but I have had too many niggling injuries and I can't give boxing 100% anymore. I will still be involved in the sport and will concentrate on training and managing my stable of fighters,” said the former Area, British and Commonwealth lightweight champion.

In truth, Earl's retirement will come as a welcome relief to the many fans who hold him in great affection.  He was involved in some great domestic battles, winning against the likes of Steve Murray (twice) and Kevin Bennett and, most controversially, twice by narrow margins against tricky Bobby Vanzie.

In retrospect, perhaps Earl's best performance came in a points victory over Yuri Romanov in 2006; Romanov went on to win the European title (in his next fight, such is boxing) and defend it three times including a stoppage over Jon Thaxton.

However, Earl will be remembered by the casual fan for two contrasting, losing efforts.  In February 2007 he was stopped after the fifth round in a thrilling slugfest for the WBO interim belt against then unbeaten Aussie Michael Katsidis.  The defining image of that fight and perhaps Earl's career was the refusal of referee Mickey Vann to accept the towel from Earl's trainer, Johnny Eames when his charge was taking a shellacking.  Vann was vindicated when Earl immediately knocked Katsidis down.  Truly remarkable.

A sadder memory was Earl being mugged in December of the same year by a surging Amir Khan.  The bout - in which Earl failed to connect a single blow after being overwhelmed by Khan's blistering handspeed - lasted 72 seconds.

To confirm his decline, Earl returned in October 2008 and was blitzed in 69 seconds by Henry Castle.  Earl, owing no one a thing, just had nothing left.

He came back last June and beat Karl Taylor in a shut out - 'The Duke' deserved to go out on a win.

Let's hope it stays that way.