Adrian Stone announces retirement

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 11 Oct 2003, 08:44

Adrian Stone has decided to call time on his career following Thursday night’s loss to Sergio Martinez in Bristol. The 32 year old spent a night in hospital after being stopped in the 12th round of his IBO light middleweight title challenge against Argentina’s Martinez and feels the time is now right to bow out of the game.

“I want to get out while I’m intact. Its time to go,” said Stone.

The Bristol born fighter spent much of his career in America although returned to Britain in 2000 to scoop the IBO light middleweight title with a 5th round TKO of Irishman Michael Carruth.

Stone made three successful defences of the IBO belt before giving it up to challenge the then WBC welterweight champion Shane Mosley.

steve689 · Post by **steve689** » 12 Oct 2003, 06:46

Well it's sad to see him go but at least he has taken the right decision and called time before he gets hurt, fighters rarely rediscover there early career form when they return and most -apart from Affif Djelti- never get better as they get older! He has had a distinguished 10 year career mainly as a Welterweight and leaves with a good 33-5-2 (26) record, he put up a good fight with Forrest and shared the ring with Mosley. I remember his KO of hardman Geoff McCreesh more than anything else from Stone.

Loynesy · Post by **Loynesy** » 12 Oct 2003, 08:43

Agreed, definitely time for him to go. The couple of times I have met him he seemed a really nice bloke.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 12 Oct 2003, 13:49

Loynesy wrote:Agreed, definitely time for him to go. The couple of times I have met him he seemed a really nice bloke.

Yes, its a good decision from Stone. That Moseley KO was horrible and unfortunately Stone was never the same in the ring.

Lets hope he sticks to it. Would like to see him return to his native country and get a coaching licence.

Tyson KTFO 3 Times · Post by **Tyson KTFO 3 Times** » 12 Oct 2003, 16:41

Good decision.

The beating he took at the weekend was a heavy one.

Added to the mosley one.

Good time to pull out.

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 12 Oct 2003, 17:33

Incidentally, good pick by Chris Aston's lad, Tea, who went for Martinez beforehand. I picked Stone on here, but went for Martinez in Boxing News (thankfully). The loss suffered by Richard Williams to Martinez doesn't look so bad now.

Southpaw Stylist · Post by **Southpaw Stylist** » 12 Oct 2003, 19:23

It was a total annihilation by Martinez, but I still thought Adrian could have carried on and made some decent money at British level.

Kilburn · Post by **Kilburn** » 13 Oct 2003, 06:57

Good luck to Stone, he's given a heck of a lot and it was a truly sad sight on thursday to see him reaching out for the top rope trying lift himself of the floor. He was utterly exhausted.

Martinez is very fit and strong but I don't see him going much beyond this IBO level. He will not fight on the inside, he doesn't punch correctly or with any great power, and the way he hides his face in the clinches to avoid cuts (very sensible I admit) makes him a bit of an eye sore to watch.

I wouldn't get excited if Martinez v Santos were made - it would more than likely be an absolute stinker.