Ian Freeman Calling It Quits... Again

[Andrew Green]

According to the Cage Rage web site, and confirmed by the man himself, current British Light Heavyweight titleholder Ian "The Machine" Freeman has once again decided to retire from fighting.

Freeman had already retired in late summer of 2005 after having to pull out of a proposed fight with Forrest Griffin due to a recurring injury. After some time away from the game, however, he returned in July of 2006, albeit in a losing effort to Melvin Manhoef, but then winning the British Light Heavyweight belt against Mark Epstein at Cage Rage in September.

http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=3844&zoneid=2

 

[terryl965]

I wonder if this is for good this time.

 

[Tez3]

Until he needs the money............!

 

[Tez3]

The email Ian sent out. "You may have heard about my retirement from fighting ... but not the sport.

I think its best I concentrate on my IFL career as a UK coach and get the best team the UK can give, but most of all concentrate on my TV career. My movie Sucker Punch is out this year where I play joint lead role and I am hoping to get extra work off the back of that.

Cage Rage have given me a great job as co-presenter on their show and I work as MC on most of the fight events too.

I just feel if I keep fighting I am never gonna quit. All that happens then is you become a 'has been.' I know there will always be better fighters out there in the future, but for now, no one can take away what I have achieved in my career ... win or lose I've fought the best and given it my best shot. I used to train twice a day, six days a week for a fight and now, I have far too many commitments to take time off to train full time for a fight.

You know how it is ... a true fighter never retires. They weigh up the pro's and the con's and if the con's are in the favour, they retire. If the pro's are in their favour they fight.

At the moment there are too many con's in my fighting career right now. For instance, everyone wants me to defend my Cage Rage British title. ... against who I ask. There's no one to fight that will increase my profile. If I win they say I beat a lesser standard than myself, if I lose then they say I'm washed up.

Ok, so fight for the world title, against a top name. Cool thats great, but they won't pay me what I deserve in purse money. And believe me its not a fortune, but they have a budget to keep and I respect that. So, as you can see, both have very big con's to them.

And on top of all that I have a lot of TV work and public appearances that stop me from training full time.

Who knows one day I may be offered a lot of money and that would bring me out of retirement. At my age I have only money to drive me to fight not opponents. If I were a lot younger then ok, but not now, I have to channel my skills into other work. ... like TV.

Thanks for all your support,

Ian 'The Machine' Freeman
2 x British Heavyweight Champion
British light-heavyweight Champion
Intercontinental Champion
Pancrase Superbout Champion
FNC 2 x World champion

Hook n Shoot Super Heavyweight World Champion
6 x UFC Veteran.


IAN 'The Machine' FREEMAN

Tel: + 44 0 7939 231521

PO Box 94
Stanley
County Durham
DH9 9YW
UK

www.myspace.com/ianthemachinefreeman

www.ianthemachine.tv

www.fightersonlymag.com

www.ifl.tv