BERLIN: Regina Halmich, who made women's boxing popular in Germany, ended her career Saturday after a record 45th defense of her women's WIBF flyweight title the previous day.

The 31-year-old German claimed a decision against Hagar Shmoulefeld Finer of Israel on Friday to finish with a 54-1-1 record after holding the title for a decade.

"I have the right to step down now. It was a wonderful career," said Halmich, who wants to pursue work as a television commentator.

She started her career in 1994 and her only loss came a year later in Las Vegas against American boxer Yvonne Treviso.

Friday's fight was watched on television by eight million people, with an audience share of nearly 40 percent. Those ratings are higher than all but the biggest men's fights in Germany, where boxing is popular.

The fight against Finer (14-4-3) was tougher than expected with one judge ruling it a draw and two others favoring Halmich, who received a standing ovation from the sold-out crowd of 7,500.

"Some would have picked an easier opponent for the last fight," said Halmich, who won €500,000 (US$731,000) in prize money. "If the fight had turned out differently, my answer to that question would also have been different."

No female boxer is close in popularity to Halmich, but ratings for a second title fight on the card was encouraging for the woman's sport.

More than four million people stayed up past midnight to watch Alesia Graf of Germany successfully defend her GBU bantamweight title against Esmeralda Morena of Mexico. That is also a bigger audience than many men's fights draw.