Sven Fornling: "Can't expose my family to it again"

In November, Sven Fornling was knocked out in a lightweight title match and suffered a bleeding in the meninges.

Yesterday he announced that his career is over, although he said just over a month ago that the plan was to continue.

- Now I received a definitive message from the Pro Boxing Commission that I do not get a Swedish boxing license. Admittedly, I can apply for a license in other countries, but somewhere it may be enough. I don't have the hunger left, he tells SVT Sport and continues:

- Five years ago they couldn't stop me, but now the efforts are bigger. If I die, I leave two small children without a father and my wife without a husband. I can't do that.

Fornling says he got the message from the Pro Boxing Commission a week ago, and that he has been trying to process it ever since.

- I've been crying almost every day for a week now. I've been boxing since I was ten years old and my everyday life has always been about the next game or the next trial. I don't even know who I am without the boxing so this is a bit of an identity crisis.

The last few months have not changed the 31-year-old's view of boxing and the risks associated with the sport.

- The only thing that has changed is that I have been seriously injured and if I go up into the ring again I run a greater risk of being injured or dying. So it would be stupid to expose myself to it. I'm stubborn, but no idiot.

On the question of how to make boxing safer, Fornling nevertheless lands in that it is a dangerous sport and that the greatest responsibility lies with the individual himself to take responsibility for his well-being.

- In the end, it is about hurting each other and I understand that it is a moral dilemma for people. But people smoke, drink alcohol and cook pastry and it kills significantly more people than boxing. So if you are willing to practice the sport, I think you should do it.

Who are you without boxing?

- I really do not know. But I want to do something for the kids. If a ten-year-old, obese and bullied person I could go all the way to becoming a world champion in boxing, then anyone can succeed. Can I help someone make an attempt at what is their calling in life, it would be a cool way to give back, says Fornling.