Thank you to everyone who has played a part in my journey

Two-division world champion Ward, 33, made his retirement official in a statement released on his website.

Andre Ward  -  Photo by  Christian Petersen/Getty Images

WARD'S STATEMENT IN FULL

To the sport of boxing - I love you. You've been by my side since I was 10 years old.

You've taught me so much. You've humbled me. You've promoted me. I've sacrificed a lot for you, but you've given me more than I ever thought possible.

You gave me a platform, made me a champion and helped me provide for my family. I am forever grateful to you. You and I will always be synonymous, connected at the hip.

Thank you for all the wonderful people I've come in contact with because of you. I've made friends for like. As I walk away from the sport of boxing today, I leave at the top of your glorious mountain, which was always my vision and my dream. I did it. We did it.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone who has played a part in my journey. You know who you are. I could not have done this without you. I want to be clear - I am leaving because my body can no longer put up with the rigors of the sport and therefore my desire to fight is no longer there.

If I cannot give my family, my team and the fans everything that I have, then I should no longer be fighting. Above all, I give God the Glory, for allowing me to do what I've done, for as long as I have.

Ward, a gold medallist at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, retires with a record of 32-0 (16 KO), and will go down as one of the top fighters of his generation, considered by the majority the pound-for-pound top fighter in boxing.