Former boxing world champion retires from the ring

Nina Hughes was on top of the boxing world in 2022

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

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

She was crowned world champion in 2022 in only her fifth professional bout aged 40, having first taken up the sport when she was 25.

"I had a good career, it happened really quickly and I've enjoyed every part of it," Hughes told BBC Essex.

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

Hughes was dropped by a punch in the sixth and final round, but climbed off the canvas to claim a points win.

"Halfway through the fight the desire had gone," she said. "I started thinking, 'this is going to be my last one.'

"It was a shock to me because the plan was to get this one out the way and get another big fight, but obviously things didn't go as planned."

Hughes retires with seven wins in nine bouts and made her amateur debut 15 years ago.

Hughes said she was happy to retire on her own terms

Hughes was touted to represent Team GB at London 2012 - the first Olympics in which women's boxing was included - but missed out to Nicola Adams.

She quit the sport and had two children, only plotting her return during the 2020 Covid-19 lockdown.

Her first professional fight was in December 2021, before taking three bouts in six months through 2022.

Hughes was a massive underdog going into her world title fight against American Jamie Mitchell, but produced a big upset in Dubai.

The Englishwoman successfully defended her belt in London in 2023, but lost the WBA title to Cherneka Johnson in controversial fashion last year.

Hughes was handed an immediate rematch as a result, but suffered the first stoppage loss of her career in Johnson last March.

'Short and sweet'

Hughes said retirement had not "sunk in yet" but "deep down I know it's the right decision".

She added: "I always said I wouldn't be one of these boxers that carried on for too long, so the time's right.

"I've gone out on my terms and when I thought the time was right, so I think it's the right decision."

Hughes said it was supported by her coach after it became harder for her to secure fights.

"The pro career was short, it was sweet, it was quick and it was good," she added.