By Elisinio Castillo

Last month, former welterweight and junior middleweight champion, Ricardo 'El Matador' Mayorga, 44 years old, announced to his fans that it was time to retire from the sport.

But that decision has quickly changed and created a lot of controversy in his home country of Nicaragua.

Mayorga was last seen in the ring last November, when he traveled over to Russia and was stopped after nine rounds in a super middleweight contest with undefeated prospect Andrey Sirotkin (14-0).

In January, Mayorga appeared on a television show in Nicaragua and announced that he was leaving the sport.

"When I was a kid, I promised my mother that I would become the boxing world champion," Mayorga said. "I had 112 amateur fights, 107 I won and 5 I lost by decision, then I crossed to the professional ranks. When I had about 27 professional fights I jumped to the big stage.

"I think that the sport is for young people and I think I'm already at the point [where I'm not young anymore]. I think it's time to hang up the gloves and say goodbye to boxing. I'm very grateful to God because I've received a lot of applause [from the people], I've received awards, medals, scrolls, trophies and many titles... I have them all in an exhibition in my house."

But now Mayorga, who has a record of 32 wins, 10 defeats, 1 draw and 26 wins by way of knockout, is planning to fight again - and this time in the United States.

Mayorga announced that he accepted a deal with American promoter Lone Star Boxing, to fight on Friday April 7 against Rodolfo "La Cobrita" Gómez at the Laredo Energy Arena.

The decision forced Mayorga's personal friend and manager, Rosendo Alvarez, to walk away. On Tuesday during the meeting of the Nicaraguan Professional Boxing Commission (Conibop), Alvarez submitted documents to contractually break his relationship with the boxer.

Apparently, it's being claimed that Mayorga made this deal behind Alvarez's back with the assistance of a promoter from Russia.

Rodolfo Gomez, a 28-year-old fighter based in Laredo, has a record of 12-4-1, with 8 knockouts. Mayorga, on the other hand, will turn 45 in March.

"Sincerely, Mayorga should no longer be fighting. We recommended retirement, because it's not worthwhile to keep taking so many punches," commented Alvarez.

"But if he wants to fight, he will do it on his own, where he takes responsibility and so do the people who are taking him to the United States."