LAWRENCE Bennett admits that he shed a few tears as he rang the final bell on his boxing career.

The Bad Boy has told the Advertiser that he is calling time on his short but successful stint in the ring, saying he achieved more than he ever imagined.

The 33-year-old cruiserweight had harboured hopes of returning to the sweet science after a brain scan picked up an anomaly which led to the British Boxing Board of Control suspending his licence.

However, while waiting to see the board’s medical committee in the hope to have the suspension lifted, Bennett says that he lost a little of his zest for the sport and decided to call it a day.

“It was sheer hard work that got me to where I did – it wasn’t talent, there are a lot more talented people out there than me,” said Bennett, who finished his career with seven wins and a technical draw and a defeat from his nine contest.

“When I started out, all I wanted to achieve was one win and look what I did.

“I won the Southern Area title, won a British title eliminator, defended my Southern Area and fought in an English title fight – it’s been an incredible journey.

“But I started to get this niggling feeling while I was waiting to see what was happening with the board, I felt that I had lost a bit.

“Because it was hard work that got me to where I had to be 100 per cent, if I went in there 50 or 60 per cent, then I would have got beaten up.

“I always said I would know when it would be time to call it a day and this has been a tough decision to make.

“I did shed a few tears when I made the decision, but now it is on to the next chapter of my life and hopefully I can stay in boxing in some way.”

Bennett admits that there is a bittersweet feeling to how his career has come to an end as, prior to the scan, he was just a few weeks away from his eagerly anticipated rematch with Matty Askin for the English title in March.

When the southpaw first met the reigning champion in October last year, the contest ended in controversial circumstances as both fighters fell through the ropes and on to the floor at the York Hall with Askin unable to continue and the bout called a technical draw.

“That was my defining fight, not the way it ended – that was terrible,” Bennett said.

“It was the fight that introduced me to the rest of the division. I was in the best shape of my life for that fight.

“When I defended my Southern Area against Jamie Hearn I had been sick in the build-up and was only better the day before the fight.”