IN the overblown, scripted world of professional wrestling, there is an old tradition that a retiring fighter goes out on their back in their final contest as a way of passing the torch to the up-and-coming youngster.

There are no such traditions in the non-scripted – although no less overblown – world of heavyweight boxing, although it is easy to draw comparisons following Wladimir Klitschko's announcing his retirement from the ring last week.

It means the final chapter of the Ukranian's glittering career was closed with him being stopped in the 11th round of his final world title contest by Britain's great heavyweight hope Anthony Joshua at Wembley in April, having lost his belts a year-and-a-half earlier to Tyson Fury.

Not quite going out on his back then perhaps, but there was certainly the sense of the standard bearer passing on the mantle from one generation to the next after referee David Fields jumped in to halt proceedings.

Rather than take up the option of a lucrative rematch in Las Vegas later this year, Klitschko decided to call it a day after much contemplation – delivering the announcement with the class and quiet dignity he has always carried himself with.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">My HEART is at PEACE as I pass the torch to <a href="https://twitter.com/anthonyfjoshua">@anthonyfjoshua</a> - the next generation. Good luck little bro, I'm proud of you! <a href="https://t.co/R64jCOMYTA">pic.twitter.com/R64jCOMYTA</a></p>— Klitschko (@Klitschko) <a href="https://twitter.com/Klitschko/status/893369832946761728">August 4, 2017</a></blockquote>

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With his elder brother Vitali having retired four years ago, it finally brings the curtain down on an era of dominance which included a near-continuous 13-year period of the siblings holding at least one version of the world championship between them.

But whereas Vitali was the WBC heavyweight king, it was Wladimir who went about collection the IBF, WBO and minor IBO belts, along with earning the designation as the WBA's 'super' champion, with the pair steadfastly honouring a promise to their mother never to fight each other.

Wladimir's statistics speak for themselves as well; a 64-5 career win-loss record with 54 knock-outs, a record 29 heavyweight title fights, and a total of 18 successful defences during his second reign which lasted nine years, seven months and one week – beaten only by the 11 years, eight months and eight days reign of 1930s and 1940s all-time great Joe Louis.

Despite his success though, Klitschko has often been derided by critics as boring and robotic for his style of working behind the jab and picking off opponents.

Meanwhile, others have been dismissive of those he has fought, regarding them as little more than jobbers masquerading as genuine contenders and served up to be knocked down by the champion in another easy title defence.

This not only deeply insults those who stepped into the ring to fight him in the first place, but ignores the fact that even in the halcyon days of Ali, Frazier and Foreman, the heavyweight division never had much depth to it outside outside of the elite.

And whatever anyone says, Klitschko fought the best of his era and proved himself to be a more than worthy champion – even coming away with his head held high in defeat.

Fortunately, his retirement has seen his legacy finally get the respect it deserves, but we should not mourn too much. The likes of Joshua, Deontay Wilder, Joe Parker and Hughie Fury – the latter of whom square off in Manchester next month – show the sport's glamour division still has plenty to savour.

And somewhere, Wladimir Klitschko will be watching it all unfold while he enjoys a well-earned retirement and sees whether the next generation can live up to his legacy.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">WICKET: Kerrigan opens his account with NCCC! Mustard gone for 26. Glos are now 85-3 - trailing by 258. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NORvGLO?src=hash">#NORvGLO</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZXNurrXipG">pic.twitter.com/ZXNurrXipG</a></p>— NCCC (@NorthantsCCC) <a href="https://twitter.com/NorthantsCCC/status/894528549453004800">August 7, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

WHILE the England team were basking in the success of a 3-1 Test series victory over South Africa, one of their former members was busy trying to rebuild his career in new surroundings on the county circuit.

It is just under four years since Simon Kerrigan made what has to date been his only Test appearance, with the Lancashire spinner being swiftly discarded after going for 53 runs in eight wicketless overs as Australia's Shane Watson took a particular liking to his bowling.

Having been built up as one of the great hopes for the future following some impressive displays for his county and England Lions, the slow left-armer has since become something of a forgotten man of cricket in this country after struggling on his debut.

Kerrigan has even become something of a forgotten man at Old Trafford, falling behind fellow spinners Stephen Parry and Matt Parkinson in the pecking order and subsequently being shipped out on loan to Northamptonshire for a month.

Kerrigan's bow for his new county saw him finish with figures of 1 for 73 from 25 overs – bowling former England one-day international wicketkeeper Phil Mustard – in their rain-affected draw at home to Gloucestershire in County Championship Division Two.

It may well turn out to be the perfect place for the 28-year-old to rediscover his confidence, with the pitch at Wantage Road traditionally suiting spin, although perhaps not quite to the extent it did at the turn of the century when Jason Brown – remember him? – was propelled to a shock call-up for England's tour to Sri Lanka in 2001.

Aside from one warm-up match though, off-spinner Brown never got anywhere near the Test team on that tour and was sent home before the one-day series started, perhaps hampered by playing for an unfashionable county and the England's selectors' apparent mistrust of spinners who only bowl rather than be competent with the bat as well.

That may well be another reason why Kerrigan was so quickly jettisoned, but whatever the case, it has clearly had a profound effect on his career. It can only be hoped he can get close to forcing himself back into the reckoning, with time still on his side.

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NEXT time someone tells you a certain club, in any sport, is “too big too go down”, point them to the state of affairs at Bradford Bulls.

A 26-10 defeat to Toulouse Olympique last Sunday made certain of their relegation from the Kingstone Press Championship to League One, completing the fall from being Super League and World Club Champions to playing in the bottom tier in just over a decade.

A string of financial problems have left the Bulls in this position, although for many this is further evidence they should have been placed in League One for this season rather than starting the Championship campaign with a 12-point deduction.

Yet there is still a school of thought which says the Bulls may well be granted a reprieve through divisional restructuring, with head coach Geoff Toovey calling for the RFL to lay out their plans.

“I think it is very difficult to invest into a club, or a business or a sporting organisation that you don’t know where it is going to be,” he said after the Toulouse defeat.

Are those hoping the Bulls might be reprieved just clutching at straws or are the conspiracy theorist right? I'll let you make your own minds up on that one...