Andrew Flintoff still trying to get over with the fear of getting punched – Boxing News
Former English cricket captain Andrew Flintoff has revealed his concerns regarding getting punched in the ring. The former Ashes captain will be making his professional boxing debut on November 30 against American fighter Richard Dawson. Flintoff, nicknamed
Freddie, has been training for weeks now but he realizes that an in-ring combat would be something completely different than his training sessions.
“All the stuff you do in the gym, all the stuff you do with the pads, it doesn't really get you ready for trying to get out of the way, for trying to punch somebody, for trying to take a punch,” said Flintoff in an interview with Sky Sports. “It is tough,
and a far cry from anything I've done before.
“We went to Essex and I faced this guy in sparring, he was 19 stone, 19-and-a-half stone. He was good. I went in there and I was just waiting for that first punch. You put your hands up and you think, 'Right, when's it coming, when's it coming' and then
I got punched.”
Flintoff believes the first punch he took during the sparring sessions brought relief to him, as it made him realise what a real time feels like. The former English cricketer asserted that after the first punch he was still playing, something he never thought
would happen.
While Flintoff is quite excited of his professional boxing debut, most prominent boxing personalities are against it. For instance, promoter Frank Warren thinks Flintoff’s entrance in the world of boxing is just a mere publicity stunt. On the other hand,
promoter Frank Maloney thinks the entire scene is a scandal.
Flintoff has already chased off his naysayers by showing them the way. The former English cricketer has asserted that he indeed is trying to make the best of this opportunity. According to Flintoff, he would not risk his life and health for a TV stunt, as
he had other better options if he had wanted to do so.
For now, Flintoff is preparing hard for his first boxing showdown. Whether he will win or not depends on how well he fights.
Tags: