Scott Quigg’s long-time promoter Eddie Hearn says the Bury star can walk away from boxing with his head held high.

The former world super-bantamweight champion announced his retirement after defeat to Jono Carroll at the Manchester Arena on Saturday night.

Hearn has helped guide Quigg’s career since 2013 as has been with him as he’s been involved in major fights at sold out arenas.

By his own admission, defeat to Carroll was a fight too far for the 31-year-old but Hearn believes he heads into the sunset having achieved absolutely everything he could.

“When you leave a job, a sport and you’re sat on your sofa when you’re older as long as you know you’ve given it 120 per cent you can’t be disappointed,” the Matchroom Boxing chief told the Bury Times.

“He’s given it 150 per cent. He’s put so much into his career and worked so hard almost in a sick way.

“We take the mickey out of him, Joe (Gallagher, trainer) will say to him ‘I don’t want to see you, go away for two days’ and he’ll be in the gym the next day.

“He’s got every ounce out of his career and he can leave with a lot of money, world championships, experiences of filling this place, trying to unify here, boxing Carl Frampton and great nights like against Kiko Martinez, challenging Oscar Valdez for the world title in America and winning on our card in Boston.

“He’s had a great career and I’m sure he’s got a lot to give back to boxing.”

Hearn praised Carroll’s display with the Dubliner now likely to get a second crack at world honours.

Gallagher threw the towel in in the 11th round with many ringside and watching at home feeling it could have come in earlier, such was the one-sided nature of the contest.

“It was a tremendous performance from Jono,” Hearn said.

“He did all the things he needed to do to drive Scott Quigg mad in the ring, especially when his timing was off.

“I thought he was brilliant but it was sad to see, particularly when it got to seven or eight rounds when you realise there’s no way back for Quigg. He would have gone all night, he would have gone for 30 rounds.

“I thought the towel was right to come in. Some people are saying he should have been pulled out earlier.

“It’s difficult when he’s not getting hurt badly but he’s getting picked off non-stop.

“In the opening five or six rounds you could tell his timing wasn’t there but he was still landing shots. He looked like he could be dangerous in the fight as it went on but when he’s no longer dangerous you’ve got to take him out of the fight.

“He’s had a wonderful career.”