TSS sends a hearty salute, and a collective “thank you” to Monte Barrett, for all the years of service, and the obvious decency, and class, in how he conducts himself.

Monte Barrett, aka Two Gunz, we wish you well in this next phase of your vocational life!

In case you missed it, Barrett was stopped by Luis Ortiz in California, on a Golden Boy/Fox Sports 1 show on Thursday night.

Our man Monte never got into a flow, and it looked like perhaps rings rust (he hadn’t fought since July 2012) and age (he turns 43 on May 26) were conspiring against him.

The snap wasn’t there. The timing was off. But the heart kept beating, and he soldiered on. Until an Ortiz (21-0 with 18 KOs) power shot shape-shifted his nose, dropped him, and forced the referee to halt the contest in round four.

Barrett logged on to Facebook a while after, and shared this message:

I want to thank all you guys for your love and support. I’ve been doing something that I love for 18 years but it’s time to close this chapter and walk into new doors of opportunity. If I can’t compete with the best it’s time to accept that and keep it moving. I officially retired from boxing last night. I’ve had a great run and hold my head up as I exit out. Who ever thought a kid from south Jamaica Queens would accomplish so much and gain so much love . Keep me and prayers… God bless.

Classy to the enth degree.

Monte steps away with a 35-11-2 record–which frankly doesn’t indicate his laudatory willingness to glove up against giants and bombers who entered the ring with higher-grade ammunition than he–and our admiration intact.

Be well, sir.

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