Australian boxer Avril Mathie has announced her retirement from the sport, sharing a deeply emotional farewell message presented as a love letter to boxing.
The Aussie fighter concludes her professional career with a record of eight wins, one loss, and one draw.
Mathie was notably scheduled to face Ebanie Bridges in 2023 in a bout that was humorously dubbed “the battle of the boobs.” However, Mathie, who has since undergone surgery to remove her breast implants, had to withdraw from the planned fight due to injury.
Now, she has officially ended her journey in the ring, making the announcement through a heartfelt post on Instagram.
In her message, she wrote: “To the love of my life. Sadly, after 13 years, I must say goodbye. My heart is broken walking away from you, I still have so much love for you, some may call it addiction in fact.”
She continued, expressing the toll the sport took on her body: “I had so many dreams for our future, but my body can’t take your abuse anymore.”
Reflecting on the positive experiences, Mathie stated: “You gave me the highest of highs. We travelled the world and achieved things most only dream of.”
However, she highlighted the physical cost: “But a year and a half ago, you hurt me so badly. And while I missed you during that time apart healing, I also had the best year of my life. It opened my eyes to what else is waiting for me beyond you. Still, I tried to come back to you again and again this past 6 months, but you just keep hurting me.”
She explained her decision to move on: “Where I had once believed we’d always work it out, slowly I just became tired of the pain, bored of being your sideline girl and am craving to be again in something like that we once had when I felt like I was growing unstoppably.”
Mathie concluded her letter about finding new paths: “After long chats with friends, I understood that you can no longer fulfil my needs. I’ve realised it’s me who’s the fun and inspiring one, it’s not even about you and that will translate into all my future relationships.”
“And there’s so many other I’ve been flirting with that you don’t even know about yet. So I know I’m going to be just fine. Better in fact. And I know you’ll miss me, but don’t worry, I’ll find a way to stay connected to you.”
She ended with gratitude: “Thanks for everything, boxing, I’ll be forever grateful we crossed path.”
Fellow boxer, former bantamweight champion Ebanie Bridges, commented on Mathie`s post, saying: “You’ll always be the one that got away to me.”
Bridges also praised the emotional nature of the announcement, adding: “I love this letter. You are amazing in and out of the ring. Onto the next chapter / new love. which I have no doubt you will succeed in.”
Mathie, who was also known for her career as a former OnlyFans creator and swimsuit model, further elaborated on her YouTube channel that persistent, unspecified injuries were the main driver behind her retirement. This comes after she suffered a severe leg injury, including a bone break, in a motorbike accident in 2023.
Oliver Croft