IBO SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPION JACK ?THE ASSASSIN? RETIRES
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 31 Aug 2016
Hard-hitting Jack "The Assassin" Asis, a Filipino from Davao who fights out of Australia and won the IBO world super featherweight title with a smashing 8th round TKO over undefeated Aussie Kye ?Frenzy? MacKenzie in Newcastle in April last year, has announced his retirement from boxing.
The adopted Toowoomba boxer won in an emotionally charged atmosphere as he dedicated the victory to his one time sparring partner Brayd Smith who died recently after he suffered a brain injury in a fight, with Asis paying tribute to his trainer and father of Brayd, Brendon Smith.
The win capped a remarkable rise for Asis who ended his career with a record of 35-19-5 with 18 knockouts. He grew up on the streets in the Philippines to become a world champion.
Bren Drewe of the Toomwoomba Chronicle reported that Smithy's TGW Gym boxer has decided to retire from professional boxing and made the announcement at the Newtown gym today with some of his biggest supporters in attendance.
Asis grew up on the streets battling to survive and turned to boxing.
He made his professional debut in 2002 and fought regularly across the Philippines and Thailand. Asis moved to Australia in 2010 and had a tough initiation to the sport in the country, often taking fights at short notice.
He teamed up with Toowoomba trainer Brendon Smith in 2011 and the pair struck up a great partnership. Asis tried to defend that title against Malcolm Klassen in South Africa on August 5 but lost by unanimous decision despite finishing the fight strong. That was the first loss for Asis since teaming up with Smith, with 12 wins and one draw before that.
Asis said ?Today I am announcing my retirement from professional boxing. After a great career, I have decided now is the right time to hang up the gloves. I have been blessed to have a great career and my dream come true when I won the IBO world title. I will miss boxing but I will look forward to spending more time with my family. I will also still be around boxing helping young fighters and who knows, maybe one day I will become a trainer.
The Filipino from Davao City said "I hope my story has helped inspire others like me. I am not special, I just try my best to make my dream come true.I am very proud I grew up as a street kid with nothing and today I retire from boxing as a world champion. Thank you everyone for help and support during my career.? Trainer Smith was proud of Asis for everything he has achieved. He recalled "This is something we spoke about after Jack won the world title,? Smith said of retirement.
"I said to Jack, 'we've done it mate. We set out a goal and your dream was to become a world champion and that we did'. After that we spoke about it and I said 'Jack, you've achieved everything that you wanted to achieve. You have had a long career from 16 years old, he had his first professional fight. We discussed it and he said 'no, not whatsoever'.
"He wouldn't have it and he said 'I want to defend the belt'. And that we did in South Africa and it was an amazing fight and we were oh so close. He came home so strong in that fight. He left no stone unturned and gave it his absolute best over there and it was an incredible performance. So when the dust settled after that, Jack has come to me and said 'now, I think it's time'.
"I was so happy to hear it. I am happy that he is retiring. We have had a wonderful time together. We went right through undefeated until we lost the last one close in Africa. "I can't thank Jack enough. I am proud to have been a part of helping him reach his dream. It is special. More special than a lot will know. We have been through hell and back and we have had some great times.?
Asis plans on staying in Toowoomba with his family, who moved to the Garden City from the Philippines last year. He will help young boxers at Smithy's TGW Gym and has plenty of knowledge and experience to share with them.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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