Curtis Woodhouse has said that he is delighted to have won the British light-welterweight title and prove his critics wrong.
The 33-year-old defeated Darren Hamilton on a split decision at the Hull Ice Arena on Saturday.
"When I was 10 years old, they told me I can't be a footballer, everyone laughed at me," he told Sky Sports News.
"When I said I was going to be a professional boxer, everyone laughed at me again.
"I had the audacity to say I was going to be a British champion, I honestly can't believe this has happened."
Woodhouse, who played for Sheffield United and Hull City among other clubs during his professional footballing career, retires from boxing with a record of 22 wins from 28 fights.