Dave Allen retires from boxing at the age of 28, posts heartfelt message explaining shock decision

Dave Allen has announced that he's retired from boxing at the age of 28.

The hugely popular heavyweight revealed the decision on social media on Sunday morning, much to the surprise of boxing fans as his next fight had just been announced only days prior.

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He began: "Hello everyone, I hoped I would never have to write this message, never mind at 28 with my last fight being when I was 27 years old.

"But I made the decision a few nights ago with my sister that I would no longer from that moment on be a professional fighter.

"Boxing has given me a life I could never have dreamed of.

"I had never been out of Doncaster but for school trips until I started boxing and it’s taken me round the world from New York City to working men’s club all around the UK.

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"As well as seeing the world it has taken me from the kid brought up in a council house with yellow doors wearing Umbro to a man who still wears Umbro but owns a few houses and who has given myself a chance to give my future kids a life I could only have dreamed of.

"On top of [that], and more importantly, I have made the greatest friends, some of them being my childhood heroes.

"The list of thanks would be far too long but I hope everyone knows who they are and know they are appreciated.

"Lastly, the reason for me calling it a day is simple - I don’t want to get punched anymore.

"Long gone are the days of the kid from donny who just wants to fight.

"All I want now is a nice quiet life with a wife and some kids, healthy and happy, getting nice and fat."