Michael Carruth, the former Olympic gold medalist, has thrown his final punch. The welterweight gold medalist from Barcelona in 1992, who lost out recently to Adrian Stone in his last professional fight, announced yesterday in his family home in Drimnagh that he was retiring from the ring.

Carruth, started boxing as a eight-year-old and first came to prominence when winning the National Senior lightweigh title in 1987 and again in 1988. In 1989 he won a bronze medal at lightwelter-weight in the World Championships in Moscow.

After winning National titles at lightwelter in 1990 and welterweight in 1992 his amateur career reached its pinacle with the gold medal in Barcelona in 1992.

Carruth turned professional in 1994 when he beat George Wilson on points in London. He made his professional Irish debut in March of the same year, beating Ricky Mabutt on points in Belfast.

"It's been a good eight years since I won the gold medal," said a relaxed Carruth who was adamant that there will be no turning back from the retirement decision.