George Groves has retired from boxing following a period of reflection after losing his world super middleweight title to Callum Smith last year.

Smith stopped Groves, 30, last September to win the WBA strap and the Ali Trophy in the World Boxing Super Series.

And ‘The Saint,’ who ends his career 28-4, explained in a statement that his decision was motivated by the realisation he was still healthy after an 11-year career.

“To my friends, family, and all of the people who have supported me throughout my career,” Groves wrote in a lengthy statement.

“After taking a little time to reflect on the recent events in my career, I have decided that it is time for me to retire as a professional fighter. In 2017, I boxed in front of a home crowd in Sheffield and became the WBA super middleweight world champion. After four attempts I had finally fulfilled my childhood dream, and the experience was as great as I has always imagined it would be. It was without doubt the best moment of my career.

Britain's current boxing world champions Show all 8 1 /8 Britain's current boxing world champions Britain's current boxing world champions Britain's current boxing world champions Getty Britain's current boxing world champions Tyson Fury WBC heavyweight AFP Britain's current boxing world champions Anthony Joshua IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight PA Britain's current boxing world champions Callum Smith WBA super middleweight (Super) Getty Britain's current boxing world champions Billy Joe Saunders WBO super middleweight Getty Britain's current boxing world champions Josh Taylor WBA and IBF light welterweight Getty Britain's current boxing world champions Terri Harper IBF super featherweight Getty Britain's current boxing world champions Josh Warrington IBF featherweight Getty

“Some of you might think it odd that I’m choosing this time to retire. I’m still young, still fit and healthy, and there are still some big fights out there for me. But it’s for these reasons that I am choosing to retire now. I have a young family at home; it’s time to spend some of my better days with them.

“I don’t want there to be a time where I’m ‘too old’ to box on, or where an injury retires me in or out of the ring.

Groves with his world title after outpointing Chris Eubank Jr (Getty)

Groves’ rivalries with James DeGale and Carl Froch defined his career, with a win over ‘Chunky’ coming in the infancy of both their career in 2011 before back-to-back stoppage defeats to ‘The Cobra’ from 2013-14 – the second of which in front of a sold out Wembley Stadium.

Groves included a prayer for Eduard Gutknecht in his statement, who suffered multiple strokes and a bleed in the skull after his points defeat to Groves in 2016.

“A prayer to Eduard Gutknecht who suffered a brain aneurysm after our fight in November 2016,” added Groves. “He was put into an induced coma for three weeks and bravely fought his way back to consciousness.