Henry quits

Henry Wharton has quit boxing, beaten by his ultimate opponent - himself.

Hanging up his gloves: York ace Henry Wharton ponders what lies in store after his decision to quit the ring

York's king of the ring, who three times came within points of lifting the world super-middleweight championship, decided to end his career less than a month away from his latest challenge.

Wharton was due to meet Leeds' Crawford Ashley for the European, Commonwealth and British light-heavyweight crowns on February 6, a contest that would open the way to another world title assault for the eventual victor.

But while that fight and the possibility of a fourth crack at the world crown offered a place in fight-game history and potential earnings of more than £300,000, the 31-year-old Wharton has decided to step away from the world's cruellest sport.

Confirming his bombshell news Wharton told the Evening Press his heart was no longer 100 percent in the sport he has graced for close on 16 years as an amateur and then top-ranking professional.

"If I cannot give it my all then I am cheating myself, my family, my friends and my fans. So I have decided to quit," Wharton declared.

And in a no-punches-pulled affirmation he insisted he would not make a return. York's ring-master, who made a habit of comebacks, insisted he had fought his last professional fight.

The former undefeated super-middleweight champion at European, Commonwealth and British - the only man to have held all those three belts at the same time - added that his upcoming duel with Ashley had not influenced his shock decision to quit.

He explained how disenchantment set in after his last clash against Konstantin Ohkrey against whom he said he 'saw punches coming, but could not avoid them'.

Agonising over the last 24 hours before reaching his 'desperately hard' decision, he consulted with his immediate family and his long-standing trainer and friend Gary Atkin. But he admitted his mind was already made up.

"It's got nothing to do with Crawford Ashley," he said. "I have never ducked a fight with anyone in my life. I have never walked away from any challenge before.

"I have been a totally honest fighter and it's in that honesty that I have decided to quit. It's been a shock for me. But the spark is not there. The buzz is not there."

Wharton confessed he had even gone on a 'retreat' to Sunderland to the base of former light-weight champion Billy Hardy seeking inspiration.

He added: "It just didn't come back. It's hard to accept, but that fire just won't come back.

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

"They have been so loyal to me and it's been one of the highlights of my career that I been able to fight from York where I come from and for so many people."

Of the future Wharton said he had several 'interests', one of which was his new fish and chip shop. But he stressed he would resist the temptation to climb back through the ropes.

"I will not come back, that's for sure. I always said that when I made my mind up to go, then that would be it - final.

"I've given my heart and soul to it. I won three major titles, so I conquered three-quarters of the world."

While the ultimate prize remained out of his reach - his only professional losses were on points to world champions Nigel Benn, Chris Eubank and Robin Reid - Wharton maintained he had no regrets.

"I gave it my best shot and I have done a lot of things in the sport that I can be proud of.

"I never ever wanted to end up propping up someone else's bill, so I am going out a winner, not a loser. There's not many in this game that can do that."

Britain's longest-serving promoter Mickey Duff hailed Wharton as one of the 'unluckiest' fighters never to win a world title.

But the veteran manager, who guided the York star to his three world title shots, believed Wharton had made a sensible decision to end his professional career.

"If you feel you can't do it any more then that's the time to get out as then you'll get hurt. He has made a wise decision and you have to respect that," said Duff.

It was with Duff that Wharton signed as a professional just under ten years ago after the manager had been impressed by his showing in the Amateur Boxing Association finals.

"He did well with me. He was a good fighter and probably one of those small band of boxers unlucky not to have won the world title," said Duff.

"He just did not shine on those nights, but there were several other nights when his performances would have won the world title."

Trainer backs decision

Stunned trainer Gary Atkin KO'd any claim that Henry Wharton had backed out of challenging Leeds rival Crawford Ashley.

The trainer, who had grown up with his charge from their days at St Patrick's Amateur Boxing Club, insisted his man would have beaten Ashley in their scheduled light-heavyweight showdown in Halifax next month.

And that would have set him up for a potentially lucrative six-figure challenge for a world title shot with current World Boxing Council champion Roy Jones Junior the principal target.

"Henry could have gone and fought Ashley, who I believe he would have beaten, and set himself up for another big pay-day," railed Atkin.

"He has never ever run away from anyone and so his decision to quit has got to be fully respected for what it is. It's just that after almost 20 years in boxing as an amateur and then a professional he has had enough. It's as simple as that."

When the fighter confirmed he wanted to quit Atkin said he did nothing to try to alter his mind. He added: "I don't want to be there if he does not want to be there.

"Henry is his own man and only he can make that decision. Actually, it's a brave decision, because he could have gone on and just taken the money. But he's not like that. He is an honest lad."

Atkin preferred to dwell on Wharton's achievements in the ring, which he said had been mighty. "Just look at what he has done. He has been at the top of his profession from almost day one.

"He has won three titles. He was undefeated in every one and he came close in three world championship fights.

"Henry has made an awful lot of people happy and his fans love him. I know there'll be men who will have been crying at this news.

"It's a sad day, but at least he is coming out of this game safe and healthy and he is not bowing out a loser.

"He is a winner and he always has been as far as I am concerned. I rate it a privilege to have been there as his trainer and his friend."

Tribute to Our Henry

Boxing fans can't afford to miss our website tomorrow afternoon when we will be publishing 'Our Henry' a special tribute to York's king of the ring, Henry Wharton, who has announced his retirement.

It will include a year-by-year look at his career, his three world title fights and a host of action pictures.

see COMMENT 'All the best, Henry'

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

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.