Former World Boxing Association super-flyweight champion Shoji "Celes" Kobayashi has decided to hang up his gloves, the head of Tokyo's Kokusai boxing gym revealed Wednesday.
Yoshinori Takahashi said that Kobayashi is retiring because he has lost the desire to fight, adding that an official announcement and press conference is scheduled for Monday.
Kobayashi lost the WBA crown by TKO in the eighth round of a fight with Venezuela's Alexander Munoz on March 9, bringing his career record to 24 wins, including 14 by knockout, against five losses and three draws.
The 29-year-old southpaw, who was attempting to make his second title defense against Munoz, had held off making any comment about continuing boxing or retiring from the ring.