By Elliot Foster

Eamonn O’Kane has retired from boxing.

The Dungiven middleweight, 34, has made his move to leave the sport after recently picking up a neck injury.

O’Kane, who won Commonwealth honours as an amateur and was king of the Prizefighter tournament in the paid code, hasn’t fought since being outpointed in New York last year.

He bows out, on the back of that defeat at the hands of Tureano Johnson, which was at Madison Square Garden in a final eliminator for the IBF middleweight title, with a more than respectable ledger of 14-2-1 with five early endings.

After taking some time to consider his future –– and turning his back on the opportunity of an all-Irish clash with former WBA interim middleweight title challenger Gary O’Sullivan that was set up for September in Belfast –– the five-foot 11-inch Derry man, who made his debut back in 2011, made the decision to hang up his gloves.

All here at Boxing Scene wish O’Kane the best of luck in the future.

Meanwhile, it has also been revealed this week that Dan Blackwell, the durable journeyman who was stopped only once in 61 outings, has also made the decision to retire.

The brother of former British middleweight champion Nick Blackwell, who is still just 23, leaves the sport with a record of 7-54 (1 KO).

Boxing Scene also wishes Blackwell the best of luck for the future.