Pawel Wolak Announces Retirement From Boxing
by Scott Christ on Dec 7, 2011 5:29 PM EST
in Boxing News Analysis
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Following his loss on December 3 to Delvin Rodriguez at Madison Square Garden, popular Polish brawler Pawel Wolak has announced his retirement from boxing at the age of 30.
From Facebook:
I am at peace with my decision to retire from boxing. I left it all in the ring and I have absolutely no regrets. I got to do what most people will never be able to and I couldn't be more proud to have been part of the best sport in the world. I will stay active, busy and in boxing shape as I have done since 17 years old but I hope to help other fighters in the NY area in their careers. The list of people to thank is too long but you all know you are. Thank you to my core team, my family, my friends and the fans who have made me a better husband, man, father, son and fighter. I am forever grateful. Thank you to Top Rank for always having my back and to the boxing media who have always been fair and treated me with respect.
Wolak retires with a record of 29-2-1 (19 KO), and while it may be surprising to see him leave the sport at his age, I don't think it's shocking.
This is a guy who has always been extremely honest about himself, about his performances, and about his goals. He wanted to be a world champion -- that's why he looked for a fight with Cornelius Bundrage or another titlist before taking the rematch with Rodriguez. If he doesn't feel like that's in the cards, then continuing on probably seems a bit fruitless.
[ Related: Rodriguez Outpoints Wolak ]
After all, this isn't a guy who fights in a style that leads to great long-term health, and he knows that very well. Like Peter Manfredo Jr last month, Wolak may see himself simply at a point where it's no longer worth the dedication required.
He made a brief statement on Twitter to that effect, saying "the mind needs to know when it's time," but this is what he said following the loss to Rodriguez, in his usual class manner:
@PawelWolak
Pawel Wolak I have no excuses. The better man won tonight. I am sorry to my friends, fans and family. Congratulations to Delvin. He deserved this.
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I don't think anyone who has seen Pawel fight wishes him anything but the best.
Thank you for the fights, Pawel. I wish boxing had more like you.
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A warrior
Wish him all the best
Great to see him get out in good health and at peace with his career
A smart move
It’s sad because he was so fun to watch. But it seems clear that he had given all he could give inside the ring. Classy, smart guy to get out when he still has a lot offer to the sport and to young boxers.
Best of luck in your next career, Pawel.
I consider this a legitimate loss for boxing, and I both understand his decision and applaud him for making it, because it undoubtedly didn’t come easy.
Guys like Pawel Wolak are born, not made in the gym. This is a guy who is as genuine and legit outside the ring as he was in it. He never gave less than a great effort, and I’ll miss watching him fight.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
A damn shame, and I wish him the best.
I can see why he did it, though; aside from the physical element, at this point in his career, he’s probably stuck being an opponent, fighting guys on their home turf for short money, and most likely never getting a close decision.
by Verklemptomaniac on Dec 7, 2011 5:52 PM EST reply actions
I’m a little surprised, honestly. I thought his annihilation of Yuri Foreman was kind of a turning point for him. I mean, I know Foreman is no great thing, but it gave him exposure and it brought him to the forefront of boxing. Then, the great first fight with Rodriguez seemed to just cement his status as a must watch guy. I know he lost, but I honestly didn’t think it would lead to retirement.
Nonetheless, boxing is a brutal sport and the way he fights makes it even more brutal, so good luck and I hope he sticks to his decision if that’s really what his mind and soul have told him he should do.
"He's still a very strong fighter, but I am way better than he is" - Miguel Cotto
I know Foreman is no great thing
That’s kind to Foreman. I’ve kind of gotten to the point where we just need to say it: Foreman was 100% a media creation. “The Boxing Rabbi” stuff. There was no substance to him. Nice guy, but not near a top level fighter.
it gave him exposure and it brought him to the forefront of boxing
Honestly, it didn’t — the Cotto vs Mayorga show was a fairly minor PPV and very few people watched it. After that he got a Friday Night Fights main event, and that built buzz, but mostly through people on sites like this one. We talked about it, and the picture of Wolak’s hematoma went mildly viral on sports sites, but it didn’t do a ton for him.
The $100K that he and Delvin earned on 12/3 was career-best for either. The winner had the chance to do it again. The loser was, quite frankly, back to “reality” — it’s kind of depressing, but Wolak had nowhere left to go, and I think (speculating) that he feels he’d given it all his best shot and it just wasn’t in the cards to be more than this. He didn’t want to be an opponent getting punched in the head anymore.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
The $100K that he and Delvin earned on 12/3 was career-best for either
Which pisses me off given that people like Casamayor just made 100K for that shit performance in the last ppv that he tested positive for marijuana and stimulant
"Boxing is dirty," said Casamayor. " The day I’m not ready to be a dirty fighter is the day I don’t fight anymore because it will mean that I have no heart for it anymore."
I hope for Wolak’s own health that he stays out of the sport. Its easy to point at Manfredo as an example of a guy who walked away at the right time, but that’s only if you forget that he had already retired and been forced to come back when his real estate investments tanked and he found himself as a high school janitor trying to make ends meet. Anyone in this sport who retires better hope they have a good backup plan.
Better too soon than too late.
Most people don't know shit about boxing. At all. Period. - Roger Mayweather
Show be tell. - Ann Wolfe
by The Kittitas Kid on Dec 8, 2011 12:52 PM EST reply actions
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