From Lords to Lord of the Ring?

[chaoskid]

Source:sky News

Ashes winner Andrew Flintoff is no stranger to big crowds, or huge pressure, but stepping through the ropes in front of 5,000 fans at the Manchester Arena for his heavyweight boxing debut will be a whole new experience for him.

The former England, Lancashire and Chennai Superkings all-rounder has trained for over four-and-a-half months and sparred for over 300 rounds under the watchful eye of former World Champion Barry McGuigan and his trainer son Shane.

A man who named his son Rocky clearly has a passion for boxing. He said this new adventure started as a simple conversation with McGuigan, but soon turned into a plan to turn professional and make a television documentary series From Lord's To The Ring.
The slimmed-down ex-cricketer
"A chance to work with a legend like Barry was too good to miss," he explained during his first pre-fight press conference.

"I miss professional sport, and I've worked really hard to make sure I put in a good performance."

But is the ex-cricketer, who has lost 20kg in training, nervous about stepping into the ring with Richard Dawson, the American who weighed in almost two stone heavier?

"I think anyone would be nervous - it's human nature," Flintoff said. "But I used to get nervous before I played cricket, and it never affected my performance, so I don't think it's going to affect me."

His decision has been criticised by some in the sport, including promoter Frank Maloney, whose own heavyweight fighter David Price is taking on former kickboxer Matt Skelton at Aintree Racecourse.

He claims the Manchester Evening News Arena bout of four two-minute rounds will "shame the fight game".

But Flintoff's mentor, Barry McGuigan, says the criticism makes him angry.

He said: "This is my business, I've been in it for 40 years, and I wouldn't get involved in a publicity stunt or do anything to discredit the sport.

"Freddie's trained hard, and the British Boxing Board of Control thought long and hard before granting him his licence. He's got it now and he's worked incredibly hard to get his body and his mind in the right shape."

Flintoff's friend Ricky Hatton, still carrying the bruises from his recent comeback defeat, said: "Freddie deserves to be given a chance to do this. There's millions out there who wouldn't even get into the ring to do a bit of sparring, but he's doing it.
Ricky Hatton says his friend's boxing career shouldn't be dismissed
"He's always been professional in his sport, and he's doing this very professionally too."

His opponent is also relatively new to the sport. Richard Dawson has had just two fights, but won the first of them by knock-out within 20 seconds.

"I'm here to win, and Mr Freddie is here to win," he said at the weigh-in. "I respect Freddie, but I'm going to attack him. I'm here to win and get it over with."

Freddie won't be the first professional to swap their own sport for the square ring.

Footballer Curtis Woodhouse is now the current English light welterweight champion, All-Black Sonny Bill Williams is an undefeated heavyweight boxer, and Wallaby fly-half Quade Cooper has also announced his plans to don the gloves.

The Flintoff v Dawson fight is on the undercard of a programme headlined by the Commonwealth welterweight title clash between Ronnie "Razor" Effron and Denton Vassell.

[Goldie79]

I dont have Sky so couldn't watch... though I've followed this in the newspapers.

I'm surprised that Flintoff has managed to stay off the booze long enough to train.
Alot of UK heavyweights such as David Price have labelled this match as a joke and publicity stunt.

Interesting to see if Flintoff boxes on should he lose

[chaoskid]

Its a shame that Flintoff fight is on Boxnation, as you have to pay extra to see that channel, hopefully it will be on Youtube the day after

[chaoskid]

Andrew Flintoff has won his first heavyweight boxing match against Richard Dawson at the Manchester Arena.

Flintoff beat Dawson on points by 39-38 at the end of four two-minute rounds in front of a roaring crowd in his native North West.

The former England and Lancashire cricket star was afforded a hero's welcome by the 5,000-strong crowd.

But after taking the first round he was sent tumbling to the canvas by a punch from his American opponent early in the second.

Flintoff - who lost 20kg while training with former world champion Barry McGuigan - came back into the match as the heavier Dawson showed signs of tiredness.

And the Ashes winner showed impressive composure to take a narrow points win according to referee Phil Edwards' scorecard.

The win was the perfect response to critics including promoter Frank Maloney, who said the fight would "shame the fight game".

Flintoff was thrilled to have made a winning return to the limelight.

"You mention the Ashes at international level, but as a personal achievement I think this is the best," he told Box Nation.

"It's something that isn't natural to me. I've had to work hard."

The 34-year-old, who has been training for four and a half months with McGuigan and his son Shane, added: "The feeling of being back in front of a crowd and winning at the end - I can't describe it.

"I wanted to experience it. The people around Manchester, and the county, supported me so well playing cricket. It was a no brainer to have it up here.

"The crowd made a massive difference. It's been amazing - humbling, really."

Flintoff's progress was charted in a Sky television documentary, where his commitment and dedication to achieving prime physical condition were clearly evident.

But doubts were raised by seasoned observers about the former all-rounder's technical boxing skills.

More than three years on from his last outing as a professional sportsman - helping England regain the Ashes from Australia at The Oval in 2009 while battling a knee injury that would ultimately curtail his career - Flintoff entered the ring wearing his old Lancashire Lightning one-day top.

The crowd favourite had tipped the scales at a trim 15st 6oz - giving Dawson a near two-stone weight advantage