York's boxing champion Henry Wharton has quit the sport.

Henry Wharton: has lost the "spark"

The former European, Commonwealth and British super-middleweight champion said he has lost the "spark" for the sport in which he came close to a world title three times.

His stunning decision comes less than a month away from a challenge to the same three titles in the light-heavyweight division held by Leeds' Crawford Ashley.

And the victor of that February 6 clash was poised for a crack at the World Boxing Council crown held by American ace Roy Jones junior, it can be revealed today.

But while that could have realised another big-money pay-day and a renewal of his world supremacy dream, the 31-year-old Wharton decided he had enough of a sport in which he had served as a professional for almost ten years.

Wharton said he could no longer commit himself to "100 per cent" effort in the ring and so to carry on would be deceive himself, his family and his followers.

"It's been a shock for me. But the spark is not there," he said.

"I have always been a fighter who has given 100 per cent. But if I don't have that then I am not being fair to myself and all of my supporters."

Wharton insisted he had no regrets about his career in which he came so close to topping the world, but he said that he would not be tempted into a future comeback.

"I will not come back, that's for sure."

see SPORT 'Henry quits'

see SPORT 'York can be proud of a genuine hero'

see COMMENT 'All the best, Henry'

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