Popular Northampton boxer Reeve announces his retirement

The 30-year-old from Northampton made the announcement on social media.

He put his decision down to a shoulder injury that needs surgery and other commitments.

Reeve has a young son, Anthony, with fiancée Mariana, and works full-time as an engineer.

“Towards the end of last year I was planning to box again,” said Reeve. “There was a show planned for Northampton in March.

“But when I was painting my house, my shoulder started hurting and when I got it looked at they found a tear.

“To fix it, I need an operation. That happens next month and I’ve been told it will take four to six months to recover with the right physio.

“Then it will be another three or four months before I get in the ring again.

“I’m busy as well with working and family life and decided to hang my gloves up.”

Fight fans in the town will remember Reeve for fighting in ‘Prizefighter’ on Sky Sports, twice challenging for English honours and winning one of the most thrilling fights seen in Northampton in recent years.

In 2012, he stopped Terry Broadbent in eight rounds at the Park Inn Hotel to land the vacant British Masters super-flyweight belt.

“That has to be the highlight,” said Reeve. “To win a tough title fight like that in a top-of-the-bill fight in your home town.”

His last fight was a points loss to Craig Derbyshire for vacant English title at the Deco Theatre last May.

Reeve was hampered by a cut suffered early in the fight that made it hard for him to see.

In his corner that night, and every time he fought amateur and pro, was John Daly.

Reeve and Ash Lane were two of the first through the door after Daly reopened the Far Cotton gym in 2004 and both went on to be top professionals.

Daly said: “I remember Nathan and Ashley coming up the gym every Sunday morning for sparring and I tell everyone in the gym: ‘That’s why they did so well.’

“Nathan would have been British champion if he had trained full-time.

“I’ve got no doubt about that.

“But he had a mortgage to pay, he had to work and he wanted a good job. He was sensible.

“Nathan had it all as a boxer. He was strong and really wanted it. He was such a good lad to have around the gym.”

Reece was a kick-boxer before he took up boxing, making the switch around the same time as Chantelle Cameron.

Reeve made his mark as an amateur when as a nine-fight novice he took on Michael Maguire, rated one of the best in the world at his weight and age.

Daly said: “Every coach knew that if your lad was drawn against Maguire, you pull your lad out.

“I remember telling Nathan: ‘You can look at his shorts and see all his badges to see what he’s won, but you can still get in there and give him a good fight.’”

Reeve suffered the only knockdown of his 15-year ring career in that fight, but rallied to win the last round.

“It was a great fight,” said Daly. “People were still talking to me about it years later.”