BOXING stories rarely have happy endings - especially those that go on and on.

The professional career of Danny Cooper has spanned almost 18 years, yet he has always made a habit of being a bit different.

And the super-fit Totton 37-year-old is delighted to be quitting boxing on a high.

Cooper holds the unique distinction of coming back to the sport after the longest period of professional inactivity of any British boxer.

He first hung up his gloves in December, 1991 before returning to the ring more than 11 years later for a show at Southampton's Guildhall in March 2003.

Now, though, he insists this really is the end.

His point has been proven. He has won his three fights since returning to professional boxing and, most importantly, his two children, Jack and Ellie, have seen their dad box.

"It was a big decision to come back in the first place," he said. "I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it

"I have got to be sensible to know when enough is enough. Hopefully the urge won't be too strong."

Boxing is like a drug to so many great champions and Cooper was determined to ensure his career did not end with a succession of painful trips to the canvas.

But he admits the excitement of boxing in front of hundreds of fans is something very difficult to describe.

"When you step into the ring at Southampton Guildhall it is an unbelievable buzz, you can't really explain it.

"I'm still training and I don't think I will ever stop training. I wouldn't feel happy if I wasn't training.

"I'm still in as good a shape as ever and I don't really put on weight, but I have been out of the ring now for 14 months so I felt it was a good time to finish."

Welterweight Cooper had planned to box on after his last fight in October 2003, but nagging injures and difficulties in arranging a show at the Southampton Guildhall last year have meant that he has now been inactive for too long.

"If I fought again it would almost be like another comeback and I don't think that would be right," he said.

"I want to stay in boxing and I'm planning to go into training and management. Jack Bishop has done a great job with boxing in Southampton and it would be great to take it on eventually.

"Jack has done a lot for boxing in this city, he has really kept it going and we have never had a cross word in all the time he has looked after me."

Cooper also had words of thanks for his wife Ruth.

"She backed me all the way, but she is pretty relieved now," he said.

"She wanted me to have my chance and she actually wrote to the British Boxing Board of Control to persuade them to give me my licence back.

"I know I'm going to miss it, especially when I watch the shows at the Guildhall and you get that feeling you can still do it. But this is the right decision for me."