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SYDNEY (AP) — The Samoan-born Australian heavyweight boxer Alex Leapai has announced his retirement after being told he risked blindness if he continued to fight.
Leapai was best-known for his 2014 fight against former world champion Wladimir Klitschko, when he was knocked out in the fifth round by the Ukraine boxer.
A 36-year-old father of six, Leapai had surgery on both his eyes after the Klitschko fight and experienced more problems after his last bout, a unanimous-decision loss to Manuel Charr in Russia.
He said Thursday a specialist told him he risked losing the sight in his right eye if he continued to fight, adding: "I'm finished, I'm gone."
Leapai had 30 wins, seven losses and three draws in 40 professional fights after making his debut in 2004.
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