Reigning English middleweight champion Linus Udofia has announced his surprise retirement from professional boxing — just as he was preparing to defend his crown.
The two-time title winner was scheduled to battle undefeated PA Gordon at York Hall on September 13 but last night posted an emotional Instagram video saying he was instead hanging up his gloves for good.
The 32-year-old opened up candidly about the struggles that led to his decision, citing a loss of passion and the mental toll of the sport as his primary reasons for stepping away.
“I’m Linus Udofia and this is an official statement of my retirement from professional boxing,” he began. “The main reason — it’s a compilation of reasons — but the main reason is my love for boxing has waned, massively… it’s gone. It’s not what it used to be when I was younger.”
Representing Luton with pride and resilience and known for his sharp technical ability and humble demeanor, he built a strong fanbase. Udofia beat Dan Catlin in September to regain the national belt and he had been eyeing another shot at the British belt, having suffered the first of his two professional defeats in a battle for the vacant Lonsdale belt with Denzel Bentley 2022.
He dreamed of big title fights at Kenilworth Road, the home of his beloved Luton Town Football Club, but he had only fought once this year, defending his strap against Constantine Williams in May.
In the heartfelt statement, Udofia revealed that the daily grind of training camps and the demands of competition had begun to take a serious toll.
“I haven’t got the up and go to keep enduring,” he admitted. “These camps are hard, these fights. we all want the next stage, we want the progression. I understand the ups and downs in boxing, but it’s killed my love for it.”
Udofia described how the reality of preparing for his next title defence made him question whether he still belonged in the ring.
“I got into the ring the other day getting ready for this next fight and I just couldn’t. I just kept thinking to myself, ‘What am I doing here?’ I don’t want to be here. I can’t lie to people, I can’t lie to myself.”
While fans may be saddened by his departure from the ring, Udofia emphasised that the decision was necessary for his mental and physical wellbeing.
“Boxing isn’t something you can be half-hearted. I’ve seen a lot of people get hurt doing it. I thought it was a better issue to walk away now while my heart isn’t in it.”
Though he’s hanging up his gloves, Udofia isn’t walking away from the sport entirely. The Lutonian coaches at Pegasus Gym in Aylesbury and is planning to expand into Flitwick and surrounding areas, to “show people how influential and impactful boxing can be.”
Reflecting on his proudest moments, Udofia expressed deep appreciation for the big nights he experienced during his career — thrilling clashes with the likes of Bentley, Tyler Denny, Kieron Conway and John Harding Jr.
“I’m gonna miss the big events, the big 50/50 fights, the hard fights. I’m gonna miss all that,” he said.
Udofia ended the message with a heartfelt thank you to those who supported him throughout his career, saying: “I want to thank everyone that’s been involved in my career in any way. Everyone that bought a ticket, everyone that showed up, everyone that’s sponsored me, wished me luck, patted me on the back.
“Most importantly, I want to thank my family for backing me throughout the whole thing. I want to thank my coach Terry Steward and my management — I’ve been with them since day one. They’re family to me.”
Udofia retires with an impressive professional record of 21 [10]-2-0 but, perhaps more importantly, he leaves the sport on his own terms — and with a new mission: to give back to the boxing community and inspire the next generation of fighters.
