An emotional Billy Dib hopes his rollercoaster ride can inspire others after announcing Friday night's world title fight loss would be his final bout.
The Sydney-based boxer choked back tears as he confirmed his retirement following a gutsy points loss to American Tevin Farmer for the vacant IBF super featherweight title.
It ended a 14-year professional career that included two world titles, although his first was an IBO featherweight crown not among the four universally recognised organisations.
Dib was floored in the ninth round but hung tough through 12 bruising chapters against the impressive southpaw, who was fighting his first professional bout away from home soil.
It symbolised the 32-year-old's tough path to a home world title fight swansong that included the death of his first wife, at just 21, to cancer.
"God's been treating me a bit hard ... but right now I'm in a happy place," an emotional Dib said after the fight.
"I just want to say thank you very much and guys, this is officially the last time I'll step into this great circle.
"I want everyone to know that no matter what happens in your life, just keeping working hard and dreams come true.
"Because this was a dream of mine, to fight for a world title at home."
Dib's record will stand at 43-5 with 24 knock-outs since his 2004 professional debut.
Coach and former three-time world champion Jeff Fenech won't have to look far for his next assignment though after protege Brock Jarvis stretched his unbeaten record to 14 earlier in the night.
The 20-year-old bantamweight destroyed Thailand's Yotchanchai Yakaeo in a first-round stoppage built on a mountain of fierce body blows.
And fellow Australian prospect Tim Tszyu, son of Australian multiple world champion Kostya, barely had to turn up to improve his unbeaten streak to 10.
The middleweight was almost an embarrassed victor when his barely-glancing blow was enough to stop Stevie Ongen Ferdinandus in another anti-climactic first-round stoppage.
