(JAN 18) WBAN received an open letter earlier today from Shelley Burton, who has announced her retirement from the sport. 

Shelley wrote the following: It is never an easy decision to retire from a sport when you feel that there would be one last one you could do to make a difference. Well I honestly felt like I completed my goals after I got the opportunity against Laila Ali at the MSG [Madison Square Garden]. It was a great experience for a little name like myself, coming from Montana to get this chance.

 It was awesome. I was feeling like I should have retired at that time but I still felt like getting in the ring, especially when my contract was up with my manager. I felt like a whole new boxer so I decide to start training and looking for a fight. I got back into training in October of 2007,  preparing for a fight against Asa Sandell in February of this year. At the end of November, 

I went to Germany to help Natasha Ragosina prepare for her fight. While I was there,  I started to wonder if I have the drive in me anymore. So to make a long story short, I came back from Germany and told my partner that I wanted one more title fight and then I would be ready to call it quits and start helping others in the sport. I then got unexpected news, something I would rather not share with everyone, but something that told me I am done competing in boxing.

I want to thank Sue Fox, my fans, my sponsors, and my family for helping walk my dream and fulfilling it. I wish best of luck to all the women fighters out there, and to encourage them to make more money in this sport. I know it shouldn't be about the money, but hey - we are called professional athletes and work very hard, we should get a little more, don't you think? GOOD LUCK to all! "