Carl Frampton's emotional retirement saves him from even greater danger

The two-weight world champion's career will be remembered for glorious triumphs and uniting divided communities

Carl Frampton's dignified yet raw reaction after he was stopped by Jamel Herring in the sixth round of their world title fight on Saturday night showed an acceptance that the time has come for him to do all his future work on the safe side of the ropes as a ringside analyst and podcast host. Frampton announced his retirement at the end of a one-sided WBO super-featherweight world title contest in Dubai.

He was close to tears and, after acknowledging that he had lost to a superior fighter on the night, the 34-year-old from Belfast spoke of his wife and two children. Frampton's family will console him after his dream of becoming the first Irish boxer to win world titles in three separate weight categories came crashing down.