Yuri Foreman has announced his retirement from the sport following a fall-out with his manager.
The first Israeli national to win a world boxing title, Foreman, 33, had won four comeback fights after knee surgery which followed the loss of his WBA light-middleweight belt.
Belarus-born Foreman became world champion when he outpointed Daniel Santos at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in 2009, but he was stopped in nine rounds by Puerto Rican star Miguel Cotto in his first defence.
He was hoping to secure another world title shot with victory over Jorge Melendez at New York’s Madison Square Garden on June 7, but revealed on Facebook on Monday that he was hanging up his gloves.
Foreman, whose long-time manager Murray Wilson died in 2010, cited a dispute with current manager Len Zimmerman for his career-ending decision.
He wrote: "Dear Friends! Unknowingly I signed a very harmful contract regarding my boxing career.
"I tried all possible ways to free myself from it, but nothing else I can do than announce my retirement from boxing. So from now I’m on to bigger and better things. Much blessings!"
Foreman retires with a career record of 32 victories, two defeats and one no-contest.
Promoter Lou DiBella hopes Foreman will reconsider. He said: “Yuri has been training hard for his bout on June 7. We are awaiting a phone call and hope to see him fight. This will be resolved very shortly."