Audley Harrison has announced his retirement from boxing for a second time at the age of 43, due to complications from previous injuries.
The 2000 Olympic super-heavyweight champion last fought in 2013, losing to Deontay Wilder, and subsequently announced his retirement.
However, the London-born, California-based fighter reversed his decision just twenty days later, and has been suggesting a comeback was on the cards later this year. The comeback was hindered by problems associated to previous head injuries, and he has since decided to opt out of professional boxing once again.
Confirming his retirement in a statement on his website, he said: "I am no longer a professional boxer, and that is good with me.
"After locking myself away for the last five weeks, I've tried to focus and turn back the clock to get myself into fighting condition. I've also seen specialists for my brain, eyes and various other experts to test my body functions.
"I looked at the latest research into concussions and Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI). After years of denial and sticking to my guns, I'm finally getting out of my own way. As tough as it is to say this...it's time to stop.
"I've suffered a few TBIs and will have to work hard to reverse some of the effects taking punches to the head has brought about to my overall health.
"I have vision problems, vestibular injuries that leads to balance disturbances, and have bouts of serious irritability and moodiness that comes with TBI recovery."
During his bout with Wilder in April 2013, Harrison lost just 70 seconds into the first round, knocked to the ground with a flurry of punches before the referee intervened and ended the fight. Nevertheless, the unbeaten American later went on to become the current WBC world heavyweight champion, currently boasting 27 wins and no defeats.
A rollercoaster in the latter stages of his career saw Harrison secure the EBU European heavyweight title in 2010, knocking out Michael Sprott, before being stopped by David Haye in just the third round of their WBA world heavyweight title bout just seven months later.
Throwing just one punch at the ‘Haymaker’ at the time, Harrison has been widely encourage to retire ever since. The experienced boxer seemed to become spurred on by a technical knockout of Ali Adams in May 2012, which saw him win the International Masters heavyweight title, before losing again later that year in 82 seconds.
He previously suggested retirement was looming once again, and as recently as January this year said: "I'm coming to the end, but I want to go out on a high. In terms of my style and team, I've done a lot of reprogramming and I just want to give it one more shot.
"I've lost two fights - two big fights - recently against David Price and Deontay Wilder, and if you include David Haye it is three since 2010. So most people think that I’m done."
And on February 23 he sparked rumours of a comeback, tweeting: "Going to lock off from social media for a while to go from Fatty boom boom to fighting fit. 2011-2015 #Time2Focus."
He has since been booed entering and exiting in the round in many of his recent showdowns, and previously turned to reality television in a bid to return to the limelight. Appearing on Strictly Come Dancing in 2011, he celebrated second place in Celebrity Big Brother last summer.
Harrison won Olympic gold at the Sydney 2000 games, and was named the WBF world heavyweight champion in 2004 with a knockout over Richel Hersia.