Heavyweight boxer Audley Harrison has confirmed that he will hang up his gloves following a 12-year professional career in the sport.

The 41-year-old recently claimed that he was considering retirement following his first-round defeat to American Deontay Wilder in Sheffield on Saturday.

"There are only so many times you can fall before it becomes foolhardy to continue," Harrison said on his official website. "I've fallen a lot, but winning the heavyweight title was a destination I really wanted to get to.

"Coming back from adversity has been synonymous with my life. I've done well to turn my life around, but sadly my dream to be a legitimate world champion will be unrealised.

"I believed if I was mentally and physically right, I could figure these young guns out. Saturday was my final chance to prove it. The thing that pulled me up was pride, so I wanted a chance to continue and go out on my shield. It was not to be."

Harrison, who won a gold medal in the Olympic Games in Sydney 2000, became the fist boxer to win the Prizefighter tournament for a second time in February this year.