Former world champion Hughes retires from the ring

Former world champion Nina Hughes has announced her status from boxing.

The 42-year-old bantamweight from Billericay, Essex, said she realised her desire to conflict had gone during her winning bout pinch Nicholine Achieng connected Sunday.

She was crowned world champion successful 2022 successful only her 5th master bout aged 40, having first taken up nan athletics erstwhile she was 25.

"I had a bully career, it happened really quickly and I've enjoyed each portion of it," Hughes told BBC Essex.

Despite winning against Achieng, Hughes said her "bad performance" confirmed she was fresh to bent up her gloves.

Hughes was dropped by a punch successful nan sixth and last round, but climbed disconnected nan canvas to declare a points win.

"Halfway done nan conflict nan desire had gone," she said. "I started thinking, 'this is going to beryllium my past one.'

"It was a daze to maine because nan scheme was to get this 1 retired nan measurement and get different large fight, but evidently things didn't spell arsenic planned."

Hughes retires pinch 7 wins successful 9 bouts and made her amateur debut 15 years ago.

Hughes was touted to correspond Team GB astatine London 2012 - nan first Olympics successful which women's boxing was included - but missed retired to Nicola Adams.

She discontinue nan athletics and had 2 children, only plotting her return during nan 2020 Covid-19 lockdown.

Her first master conflict was successful December 2021, earlier taking 3 bouts successful six months done 2022.

Hughes was a monolithic underdog going into her world title conflict against American Jamie Mitchell, but produced a large upset successful Dubai.

The Englishwoman successfully defended her loop successful London successful 2023, but mislaid nan WBA title to Cherneka Johnson successful arguable manner past year.

Hughes was handed an contiguous rematch arsenic a result, but suffered nan first stoppage nonaccomplishment of her career successful Johnson past March.

Hughes said status had not "sunk successful yet" but "deep down I cognize it's nan correct decision".

She added: "I ever said I wouldn't beryllium 1 of these boxers that carried connected for excessively long, truthful nan time's right.

"I've gone retired connected my position and erstwhile I thought nan clip was right, truthful I deliberation it's nan correct decision."

Hughes said it was supported by her coach aft it became harder for her to unafraid fights.

"The pro profession was short, it was sweet, it was speedy and it was good," she added.