By Chris Williams: Former WBA featherweight champion Chris John (48-1-3, 22 KO’s) announced his retirement from boxing this week after a long 15-year pro career. The 34-year-old John had recently been stopped in the 6th round by Simpiwe Vetyeka on December 6th of this month in a fight where he was batted around the ring until getting stopped.
John held the WBA featherweight title from 2003-2009, at which point the World Boxing Association upgraded him to Super Champion. This was the same year where John had fought a controversial 12 round draw against Rocky Juarez in Houston, Texas. Not too many people who saw that fight agreed with the decision. In fact, next to no one thought John deserved that fight. However, John was able to beat Juarez, who should have been an easy opponent for him, by a 12 round decision in their rematch seven months later in September of 2009.