Former World Boxing Organization super featherweight champion Masayuki Ito of Yokohama Hikari Boxing Gym said in his social networking service on July 28 he will hang up his gloves and thanked fans for their support behind him.

The 31-year-old Ito said in his SNS, ‘’July 28 was the day when I became a world champion four years ago, which changed my life. Today is ‘’Taian’’ (or the luckiest day according to Japan’s lunar calendar). So today is a propitious date to start my new life. I, therefore, decided to announce my decision (to retire from boxing).’’

‘’Boxing has changed my life. I could not come this fur alone. I was able to climb through the ropes only thanks to my avid fans who have supported me wholeheartedly, ‘’according to Ito. ‘’I hope to contribute to boxing in my own way from now on,’’ Ito added.

Ito won the WBO super featherweight title in July 2018 in Kissimmee, Florida by decisioning Christopher Diaz of Puerto Rico. While he successfully defended the title once later in that year in Japan, he lost the title in Kissimmee to Jamel Herring of the U.S.

Ito lost to Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation and WBO Asia-Pacific lightweight champion Shuichiro Yoshino of Misako Boxing Gym with an 11th-round stoppage on Apr. 9 this year in Saitama Prefecture as the main undercard of the title unification fight between World Boxing Association ‘’super’’ middleweight champion Ryota Murata of Teiken Boxing Gym and International Boxing Federation middleweight ruler Gennadiy Gennadyevich Golovkin of Kazakhstan.

Ito’s lifetime record is 27 wins, including 15 knockouts, against four losses and a draw.