TOP Irvine boxer Ryan Brawley has been forced to hang up his gloves for medical reasons.

Admitting he was "gutted", the Irvine southpaw said he planned to stay in the sport as a coach and hopes to give something back to the fight game.

The 32-year-old made the decision to call time on his career on Monday night after consultation with his family.

Former Prizefighter champion told Sportscene on Tuesday: "I failed a brain scan a couple of weeks ago and I was waiting on word back. It turns out that there's a bigger gap than there used to be between one side of my brain and the other and my manager said he wouldn't be at all comfortable with me boxing.

"If something was to happen to me and I didn't know of any problems there would be nothing that could have been done. But now I know I wouldn't want to take the chance.

"An English boxer died a few weeks ago and Gary Murray suffered a serious injury. It's not a risk I want to take. I have a wife and two children and it's not worth taking the chance. My health comes first.

"I was looking forward to my fight at the Radisson next month and then I might have a had a shot at a Celtic title after that but it's not to be. I came back a couple of years ago to prove I could still do and at least won a couple of fights but injuries have caused problems.

"I know I haven't achieved all I wanted in boxing but I've had a good career and won 18 out of 19 fights as well as being the Prizefighter champion, which must be the highlight of my career. As an amateur I won 50 out of 58 fights, won five Scottish titles, two British and a Four Nations Gold, I can't complain.

"Thanks to everyone who has helped in the last few years and sponsors, if it wasn't for you it would have been a lot harder. I will now spend time working in the gym with Joe and training some young guys up and help them develop their careers."