Dunnes pinnacle was in March 2009  where he lifted the WBA Super Bantamweight world crown. Dunne faced off against WBA Super Bantamweight world champion Ricardo Cordoba in the O2 Arena, Dublin. This was the first world boxing championship fight in Dublin for 13 years.

Dunne went on to win in a thrilling fight knocking Cordoba out in the 11th round.

Unfortunately the Irish boxer lost his title to Thai fighter Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym by way of the WBA three knockdown rule in the third round of the fight.

Bernardhas said "After a lot of thought and reflection the time has finally come to bring my career as a professional boxer to an end.

"For the past 25 years boxing has been my life but now it is time for a fresh start. The easiest thing in the world would have been to climb through the ropes and fight again but honesty has always been very important to me and I am being honest to myself, to my family and to my supporters with this decision."

"To win a world title is something I will never forget and something I am so proud of and I would like to thank everyone who helped make that possible.

"This is a sad day for me and for my family but it is also an exciting day and a new start in my life, one I am really looking forward to."

ProKick would like to wish Dunne all the very best in the future whichever way he goes and a big congratulations to his promotoer Brian Peters of Dublin.