Former world champ Ana Julaton retires from combat sports

Ana Julaton in the One Championship. Contributed Photo

Former boxing world champion Ana Julaton has decided to step away from the sweet science and mixed martial arts after a professional career that spanned more than 10 years.

Julaton announced her retirement Thursday through a lengthy message her Instagram account, saying that it was time for her to leave the world of combat sports while thanking those who helped her along the way.

She extended her gratitude to long time promoter Allan Tremblay, Bellator President Scott Coker and promoter Lou DiBella as well as Heather Hardy, her last opponent in Bellator.

“As a competitor inside the ring and cage, I’m confident in leaving combat sports fully knowing there are so many wonderful, passionate and hardworking women continuing to carry the torch as a guiding light for the bright future of our arena,” wrote Julaton.

Earlier today, I spoke to my long time promoter/advisor Mr. Allan Tremblay who has been a father, a friend and mentor throughout my entire professional sports journey. I told him it was time for me to move on from fighting. After that very deep and emotional conversation, I spoke to Mr. Scott Coker next and thanked him for allowing me to be a part of @BellatorMMA. I’d like to thank Mr. @LouDibella and his Team @DibellaEnt for all their efforts to putting together a boxing match for me. I’d like to thank @HeatherTheHeat for sharing the cage with me and I wish her all the very best in her combat sports career both boxing and MMA. As a competitor inside the ring and cage, I’m confident in leaving combat sports fully knowing there are so many wonderful, passionate and hardworking women continuing to carry the torch as a guiding light for the bright future of our arena. For all who have been positive and continue to create a stage for all my sisters in the arts, all the organizations I have fought for…Thank you. I consider myself fortunate to have had my Orion Sports Management family giving me the global stage and opportunities I received to compete at the highest level of Boxing and MMA. So many memories flash through my mind as I write this. Moving forward to my next journey, I am officially retiring from professional fighting. Thank you everyone. I’m truly humbled and deeply honored for you all allowing me into your lives and hearts. I’m forever grateful. Sincerely, Ana “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something – your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.” – Steve Jobs

A post shared by Ana Julaton (@anajulaton) on Mar 21, 2018 at 8:10pm PDT

“For all who have been positive and continue to create a stage for all my sisters in the arts, all the organizations I have fought for thank you.”

Julaton became the WBO World Female super bantamweight champion in June 2010 before she lost to Yesica Patricia Marcos in March of 2012.

Although she signed with MMA promotion ONE Championship in 2014, she was still a professional boxer until her last fight in the ring in March 2017 that ended in a draw against Maria Jose Nuñez.

Julaton finished her boxing career 14-4-3, while her MMA stint was a lackluster one, ending at 2-4 including three straight losses in her final bouts.