--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I do think I retired too soon. I just…" description: "\"I do think I retired too soon. I just felt at that particular time in 2002, after winning a fifth world title belt, why not be one of the smart ones in..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/naseem-hamed-5570_boxing_i-do-think-i-retired-too-soon-i-just-fel_2141716.png" --- # I do think I retired too soon. I just felt at that… ![“I do think I retired too soon. I just felt at that particular time in 2002, after winning a fifth world title belt, why not be one of the smart ones in boxing and get out.” quote by Naseem Hamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/naseem-hamed-5570_boxing_i-do-think-i-retired-too-soon-i-just-fel_2141716.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/naseem-hamed-5570_boxing_i-do-think-i-retired-too-soon-i-just-fel_2141716.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/naseem-hamed-5570_boxing_i-do-think-i-retired-too-soon-i-just-fel_2141716.png) > “I do think I retired too soon. I just felt at that particular time in 2002, after winning a fifth world title belt, why not be one of the smart ones in boxing and get out.” [Naseem Hamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseem-hamed/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He retired early after achieving success, preferring to avoid future risks and preserve his reputation. **In simple terms:** Retired early to stay smart. Key Takeaway Consider long‑term health over short‑term glory. Themes career risk legacy Mood contemplative pragmatic Type motivational realistic When to use this quote - post‑career planning - financial security - health management Key Concepts early retirement boxing health decisions Questions to Reflect On - Did you weigh the long‑term costs of staying? - How do athletes plan for life after sport? A Different Perspective May miss future achievements or earnings. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Boxing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boxing/) [Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Wrestling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrestling/) ## Related quotes > [I don't have much interest in being on a senior tour. I don't think I retired so that I could be on tour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-roddick/i-don-t-have-much-interest-in-being-on-a-senior-tour-i-don-t-think-i/) [Andy Roddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-roddick/) > [Live performance really terrifies me. I haven't done it, really, in years. I think that's why I retired from my brief career in stand-up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/live-performance-really-terrifies-me-i-haven-t-done-it-really-in/) [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) > [I'm a bit delusional, but every time I do a job, I think I'm retired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/i-m-a-bit-delusional-but-every-time-i-do-a-job-i-think-i-m-retired/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [When Zinédine Zidane retired, he said he'd never be a manager and it wasn't in his plans. But after two years out, he missed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-salgado/when-zin-dine-zidane-retired-he-said-he-d-never-be-a-manager-and-it/) [Michel Salgado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-salgado/) > [I think if you retire from touring then people think you are retired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-jackson/i-think-if-you-retire-from-touring-then-people-think-you-are-retired/) [Alan Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-jackson/) > [As a professional athlete and someone who has spent almost his entire life in boxing, not a day goes by when I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-de-la-hoya/as-a-professional-athlete-and-someone-who-has-spent-almost-his-entire/) [Oscar De La Hoya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-de-la-hoya/) > [One thing that has irritated me in the sport of boxing since I stopped is I'm really surprised that no one has come along…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseem-hamed/one-thing-that-has-irritated-me-in-the-sport-of-boxing-since-i/) [Naseem Hamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseem-hamed/) > [There are very few new things in this world, very few. That's why people that are young, if they're smart, try to profit from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cus-d-amato/there-are-very-few-new-things-in-this-world-very-few-that-s-why/) [Cus D'Amato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cus-d-amato/) > [I'm too fast. I'm too smart. I'm too pretty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/i-m-too-fast-i-m-too-smart-i-m-too-pretty/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [The creation of George Smiley, the retired spy recalled to hunt for just such a high-ranking mole in 'Tinker, Tailor,' was extremely personal. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/the-creation-of-george-smiley-the-retired-spy-recalled-to-hunt-for/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [I retired one year in 1959. But then I realized I wanted to play more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-blanda/i-retired-one-year-in-1959-but-then-i-realized-i-wanted-to-play-more/) [George Blanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-blanda/) > [I don't do plays without jokes anymore. I've retired from those plays. I think it's bad manners to invite people to sit in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-nighy/i-don-t-do-plays-without-jokes-anymore-i-ve-retired-from-those-plays/) [Bill Nighy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-nighy/) > [I want to concentrate on winning things with Barcelona and Argentina. Then if people want to say nice things about me when I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-messi/i-want-to-concentrate-on-winning-things-with-barcelona-and-argentina/) [Lionel Messi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-messi/) > [I've retired my sneakers for stilettos, baby!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivica-a-fox/i-ve-retired-my-sneakers-for-stilettos-baby/) [Vivica A. Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivica-a-fox/) > [Old ladies in wheelchairs with blankets over their legs, I don't think so...retired mermaids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-jones/old-ladies-in-wheelchairs-with-blankets-over-their-legs-i-don-t-think/) [Milton Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-jones/) ## More by Naseem Hamed > [I'm not immortal. I'm not unbeatable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseem-hamed/i-m-not-immortal-i-m-not-unbeatable/) [Naseem Hamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseem-hamed/) > [I don't know what other fighters do, but when I get hit and go down, I smile and I say, 'I'm going to hit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseem-hamed/i-don-t-know-what-other-fighters-do-but-when-i-get-hit-and-go-down-i/) [Naseem Hamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseem-hamed/) > [I'm not selfish before a fight or afterwards, but for the time of the fight itself, I have to think totally of myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseem-hamed/i-m-not-selfish-before-a-fight-or-afterwards-but-for-the-time-of-the/) [Naseem Hamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseem-hamed/) > [I came out out at the age of 28 and knew I'd had one loss on points, and the only reason I had that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseem-hamed/i-came-out-out-at-the-age-of-28-and-knew-i-d-had-one-loss-on-points/) [Naseem Hamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseem-hamed/) > [I'm blessed with a gift from God. When you're blessed, you have an advantage. You know you're not going to get beat when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseem-hamed/i-m-blessed-with-a-gift-from-god-when-you-re-blessed-you-have-an/) [Naseem Hamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseem-hamed/) > [As a father, you become more responsible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseem-hamed/as-a-father-you-become-more-responsible/) [Naseem Hamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseem-hamed/) > [GGG is a great fighter, but he hasn't got the ability that Kell has - Brook is the far superior boxer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseem-hamed/ggg-is-a-great-fighter-but-he-hasn-t-got-the-ability-that-kell-has/) [Naseem Hamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseem-hamed/) > [Being a fighter is no joke. Year in and year out. Especially as a world champion. All eyes are on you, and you can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseem-hamed/being-a-fighter-is-no-joke-year-in-and-year-out-especially-as-a-world/) [Naseem Hamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseem-hamed/) > [No one can stand up to the extraordinary power of my fists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseem-hamed/no-one-can-stand-up-to-the-extraordinary-power-of-my-fists/) [Naseem Hamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseem-hamed/) > [I fall back on my faith; whatever happens, whatever goes wrong in your life, Muslims thank God because it could have gone worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseem-hamed/i-fall-back-on-my-faith-whatever-happens-whatever-goes-wrong-in-your/) [Naseem Hamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseem-hamed/) > [Ali could only fight a couple of ways. I can fight five or six different ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseem-hamed/ali-could-only-fight-a-couple-of-ways-i-can-fight-five-or-six/) [Naseem Hamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseem-hamed/) > [You can't duplicate me. A lot of fighters come out with a certain amount of style, and I like to see that, but they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseem-hamed/you-can-t-duplicate-me-a-lot-of-fighters-come-out-with-a-certain/) [Naseem Hamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseem-hamed/) > [One thing that has irritated me in the sport of boxing since I stopped is I'm really surprised that no one has come along…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseem-hamed/one-thing-that-has-irritated-me-in-the-sport-of-boxing-since-i/) [Naseem Hamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseem-hamed/) > [From the age of seven, I was destined to be a legend, to be the world's most popular fighter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseem-hamed/from-the-age-of-seven-i-was-destined-to-be-a-legend-to-be-the-world-s/) [Naseem Hamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseem-hamed/) > [Yes, definitely, I've got so much belief in God, and I think that God's got so much belief in me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseem-hamed/yes-definitely-i-ve-got-so-much-belief-in-god-and-i-think-that-god-s/) [Naseem Hamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseem-hamed/) [Explore all 100 Naseem Hamed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseem-hamed/) ## More Boxing quotes > [You know, it brings in a lot of different people; you take people off the street, and kids, and people from all different walks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-lamy/you-know-it-brings-in-a-lot-of-different-people-you-take-people-off/) [Michele Lamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-lamy/) > [As a professional athlete and someone who has spent almost his entire life in boxing, not a day goes by when I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-de-la-hoya/as-a-professional-athlete-and-someone-who-has-spent-almost-his-entire/) [Oscar De La Hoya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-de-la-hoya/) > [Apart from my grandad, none of my family had really been into boxing so the sport was never discussed much at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-taylor/apart-from-my-grandad-none-of-my-family-had-really-been-into-boxing/) [Josh Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-taylor/) > [You don't think. It's all instinct. If you stop to think, you're gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-robinson/you-don-t-think-it-s-all-instinct-if-you-stop-to-think-you-re-gone/) [Sugar Ray Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-robinson/) > [I actually like boxing away from home. It takes the pressure off you a little bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-degale/i-actually-like-boxing-away-from-home-it-takes-the-pressure-off-you-a/) [James DeGale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-degale/) > [Whether it's Marcos Maidana, Shawn Porter, Amir Khan or Kell Brook, there are a lot of fights out there that I think would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-thurman/whether-it-s-marcos-maidana-shawn-porter-amir-khan-or-kell-brook/) [Keith Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-thurman/) > [I'm a fighter, I love boxing, it's what I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-mosley/i-m-a-fighter-i-love-boxing-it-s-what-i-do/) [Shane Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-mosley/) > [I first got into boxing when I was quite young. I was about 12 when I won my first boxing match.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-parker/i-first-got-into-boxing-when-i-was-quite-young-i-was-about-12-when-i/) [Joseph Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-parker/) > [Boxing can be so important to young people, it keeps you off the street and you can channel your energy and aggression in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-benn/boxing-can-be-so-important-to-young-people-it-keeps-you-off-the/) [Nigel Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-benn/) > [I'm too fast. I'm too smart. 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