By Ben Jacobs

Former top welterweight contender Luis Carlos Abregu has announced his retirement from the sport of boxing. 

Abregu has been plagued with injuries in recent years as well as personal problems outside of the ring which he said have all contributed to his decision to call it a day at the age of just 32.

Abregú turned professional in 2005 and launched an impressive run of 29 fights without defeat before he dropped a decision to Timothy Bradley in 2010.  ‘El Potro’ suffered a hand injury in his fight with ‘Desert Storm’ which forced him to take a year out of the ring before returning with a second round stoppage over Walter Damián Díaz back in Argentina.

He then embarked on another good run which culminated in what was considered an upset victory over the previously undefeated Thomas Dulorme in 2012.  After dropping Dulorme twice, the fight was waved off in round seven and bolstered Abregú’s credentials as a contender in the 147lbs division.

The Salta resident subsequently put forth another impressive display on the undercard of Sergio Martínez’s clash with Martin Murray where he scored a comprehensive points win over Antonin Decarie.  The bout saw Abregú claim his first major career title in the form of the WBC Silver belt.  Unfortunately, owing to further injuries to his hands, Carlos had to take another year off from the sport but bounced back with a knockout over Jean Carlos Prada.

Later in 2014 he was matched with the then undefeated Sadam Ali in what was seen as an intriguing, competitive match-up.  Ali managed to stop Abregú in round nine in a fight that the Argentine never seemed to warm up to while Ali displayed his speed and power to great effect.

Two more years away from action then had Abregú in a supposed tune-up fight against Juan Carlos Pedrozo in his hometown on September 23 just gone.  It was to be his final contest as a shocking third round knockout convinced Abregú that now was the time to walk away.  In an emotional interview with his hometown newspaper El Tribuno, Abregú confirmed his retirement adding that problems with his vision left him with no option but to say good bye to the sport he loves.