Former Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation super flyweight and former Japanese bantamweight champion Ryo Akaho of Yokohama Hikari Boxing Gym said in his social networking service on Feb. 24 that he will hang up his gloves.

The 36-year-old Akaho, whose last fight was a knockout loss to former World Boxing Organization bantamweight champion John Riel Casimero of the Philippines last December, expressed his gratitude to his fans and people concerned with Akaho by writing, ‘’I did not think I was able to fight for as many as 44 times.’’

In his fight with Casimero on Dec. 3 in South Korea, Akaho took an accidental ‘’rabbit’’ punch from Casimero in the second round and failed to continue to fight any further, resulting in the local commission having declared the fight no contest, which was later changed to a knockout victory for Casimero as it was a proper punch.

Akaho, who made his professional debut in February 2005, had 39 wins, including 26 KOs, against three losses and two draws.