NEW YORK -- Former middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik, saying that he is concerned about the long-term medical impact of continuing to fight and no longer motivated, told ESPN.com on Saturday that he is retiring from boxing.

"When you stay in the sport too long you have health problems. That's a big, big thing for me," Pavlik said. "I'm not talking about now. I'm talking about in the future. I'm talking about when I'm 55 or 60. What's gonna happen to me then? Why take any more chances, especially in that sport. It's a brutal sport and you never know what can happen.

"I won the world title, I defended my title, I was champ for three years and I made good money. Why take the chance of medical problems? That's a big part of it. I also don't think the drive is there anymore. I'm moving on to a new chapter in my life."

Kelly Pavlik, who admitted his motivation is not 100 percent any more, has decided to retire and preserve his long-term health. Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

Pavlik had been scheduled to challenge super middleweight champion Andre Ward on Jan. 26 in Los Angeles in the main event of a major HBO card. However, the fight was postponed to March 2 and ultimately canceled when Ward injured his right shoulder and had surgery that will keep him out of action likely until the fall.

Pavlik said that the fight being canceled might be a blessing in disguise.

"I've been a pro for 13 years and doing this since I was 9," he said. "I go away for two or three months at a time (to train) and I'm tired of leaving my family. It comes to a point where you just don't want to do that anymore. I put my money away and then with the Ward fight being canceled, well, health and time with my family is more important at this stage, especially with no guaranteed big fight or date."

Cameron Dunkin, who managed Pavlik for his entire career along with Pavlik's father, Mike, said he was happy to see Pavlik retire with his health and money.

"I love Kelly. He did a lot of great things. He's a friend and a great guy to know," said Dunkin, who is in New York because his fighter, Miguel Angel "Mikey" Garcia challenges for a featherweight world title against Orlando Salido in Saturday night's HBO main event. "It was a great experience working with Kelly and I'm very happy for him making his decision.

"All the stuff he accomplished, when people said he couldn't, when they were down on him earlier in his career and said he would never do anything, I believed in him and knew what he could do. I am so proud of what he accomplished."

Pavlik (40-2, 34 KOs), who turns 31 in April, held the middleweight championship from 2007 -- when he got off the deck from a hard knockdown to eventually stop Jermain Taylor in dramatic fashion in the seventh round -- until 2010, when he lost a bloody decision to Sergio Martinez.

Known as "The Ghost," Pavlik, of Youngstown, Ohio, made three successful defenses, scoring knockouts against Gary Lockett, Marco Antonio Rubio and Miguel Espino. He also outpointed Taylor in a nontitle rematch at 164 pounds. Pavlik also lost a lopsided decision during his title reign to Bernard Hopkins in a nontitle fight at 170 pounds.

But Pavlik had become a star, made millions and gave the blue collar people of his hometown somebody to cheer for. He was invited to give a pregame speech to the Ohio State football team, did the charity and banquet circuit and was even called on by then-New York Senator Hillary Clinton to speak at a 2008 campaign rally during her presidential primary race against then-Illinois Senator Barack Obama.

But Pavlik also had his share of problems, which led to two long layoffs, one of 11 months and the other 10 months, between 2010 and 2012. Pavlik battled alcoholism and wound up in rehab twice, was arrested on a DUI charge, went through a messy contract dispute with career-long promoter Top Rank (which was worked out) and had a very public breakup with trainer Jack Loew, who had trained him since he was a kid, before hiring Robert Garcia.