Former World Boxing Association (WBA) middleweight champion Ryota Murata of Japan has announced that he intends to retire from professional boxing. 

Murata is a Japanese boxing legend after being the first to win an Olympic medal and become a world champion, a very difficult feat to achieve and which demonstrates the quality he has had in all areas of his career. 

His most recent fight was in April 2022, when he lost by technical knockout to Gennady Golovkin and lost his WBA 160-pound belt. 

“Inside my head I’m thinking, ‘that was my last one,'” Murata said of the loss. “I just haven’t been able to announce it (until now), but this is how I’m thinking personally,” he assured. 

Although his words did not sound definitive, all major media have reported his retirement. The WBA supports Murata in whatever decision he makes with his career and is extremely happy to have been a part of the history he has made within boxing.