"I SAT down at the end of the third round and my nose was full of blood, I was struggling to breathe and I just thought to myself 'I don't need to be here' – that's when I knew it was time to stop for good."
Those were the words of Grimsby pro Wayne Bloy as he finally called time on his boxing career after being forced to retire from his undercard fight against Bristol's Harvey Hemsley in Hull's 'City Hall Showdown' on Friday night.
Bloy asked his corner to pull him from the bout after damaging his nose towards the end of the third round.
The 30-year-old always said he would hang up his gloves and retire if he lost the fight and he's vowed to stay true to his word.
He said: "I've gone on record as saying that if Friday didn't work out, then it would be the end for me – and I stand by that. I just didn't feel myself in the ring – I felt my age.
"I was giving away a lot of weight to the kid, but I tried not to let that be a factor by trying to be quick and it was working; I was actually winning the fight.
"I felt I'd taken the first two rounds and the third had been pretty even, but I just didn't feel myself and it dawned on me midway through the fight that I'd had enough.
"I sat down at the end of the third round and my nose was full of blood, I was struggling to breathe and I just thought 'I don't need to be here'.
"My team did a fantastic job with me on the night and they did everything they needed to, but I just didn't feel there was any point in putting myself through another round of it.
"In previous years, I'd have absolutely destroyed that kid, but I wasn't interested in finishing the job.
"I felt I could have gone out there and got the win, but in truth, I felt as though the win didn't matter to me any more because I wasn't interested in the fight – that's when I knew it was time to stop."
After spending most of his life in the gym, Bloy admits that there is a sense of relief after announcing his retirement, as it means he can spend more time with his young family.
He added: "I've had a lot of fights throughout my career, not just boxing, but kick-boxing and karate so I've been in the gym for 20 years now. It's time to stop and concentrate on other things in my life.
"My wife's due in March with our second child, so it's now about preparing for that battle!
"It feels as though a weight has been lifted off me. I've always put a lot of pressure on myself throughout my career to do well, so there is a sense of relief that I've now officially said 'that's it'.
He added: "I want to thank everyone who has supported me throughout my career, they've always been behind me and I'm very happy with what I've achieved."
Bloy's coach, Andy Cox of the Grimsby Boxing Academy, added: "Wayne is a family man and his life doesn't revolve around boxing as it used to do. It was definitely the right thing to do.
"I was in the same situation; I was halfway through a round of sparring when I decided that I didn't want to do it anymore – it can happen like that.
"Wayne has had a good career. There are other boxers who may have the records, but have they been in the ring with the fighters that he has? Have they had that experience?
"Wayne has boxed for a British title in his career and he's been in the ring with some of the best boxers in this country – that's something they can never take away from him."
