Andrew Flintoff's big day- boxing debut

30 November, 2012

Andrew Flintoff is scheduled to make his boxing debut later today as he is set for a clash with a relatively unknown boxer from the US, Richard Dawson, who has only two bouts to his name. Will Flintoff's boxing career kick-off with a knockout?

TODAY IS a big day for the 34-year-old Andrew Flintoff , who is making his debut in the boxing ring against a far younger 23-year-old Richard Dawson from United States at Manchester in the UK later today. Ex-cricketer Andrew Flintoff has been practising very hard so as to come to terms with boxers from all around the world, and has achieved a perfect shape – making him look an accomplished boxer with toned abdomen muscles, biceps and triceps weighing, and he weighs 216lbs whereas his opponent stands at 241lbs - making him look more lighter and fit. In pictures, Flintoff comes across as taller of the two.

Flintoff's opponent, Dawson, is equally a new entrant in the field of boxing, and for him the fight against Flintoff will only be his third bout, with Dawson being victorious in his two past bouts in his home country, US, against Jamell Williams and Jimmy Lane. In spite of Flintoff's opponent Dawson being relatively unknown, he has said that he will knock out Flintoff during the bout. This would only make Flintoff determined.

Dawson has been making good progress in his career so far, but he is relatively inexperienced, if one may add. While Flintoff said this about his opponent, “He's fought before, he's unbeaten, he's flown over from America and he's made good progress in his career so far. It'll be a competitive contest. You can't go into this for a bit of fun, it's a serious sport and a serious business. He's come here to try and win, as have I,” reported by telegraph.co.uk.

Irrespective of having a two match experience, Andrew Flintoff is not going to make life any easier for the US boxer, as he not only looks in better shape than Dawson, but also has an advantage in terms of height, where he could land the upper cuts and punches with great force and may be even knock-out the player with one of those shots. That would be one hell of a statement from the Englishmen to the rest of the boxers around the world. Flintoff, being a former cricketer is no stranger to footwork along with hand eye co-ordination, which is an important feature inside the boxing ring as well.

Andrew Flintoff decided to take up boxing due to pre-mature retirement from the gentleman's game after he became prone to injuries, especially knee injury. He was one of the most successful English cricketers with both the bat and the ball. If he accomplishes only half of what he achieved in a cricket field, he would be remembered both as a great cricketer as well as a boxer.

A massive advantage Flintoff has over Dawson is exposure to big-league match play and being used to not giving up - mental traits that can be vital when the punches start flying, and tiredness begins to set in. His killer instinct, honed during his stint in international cricket, is likely to be sharper.

But all of this will come to nothing, if Dawson is found blessed with the talent of landing well-timed punches and decieve an opponent through body movements. Today, Flintoff will come to know whether he also belongs to the boxing ring. If Dawson wins, he will make a name for himself at the expense of Flintoff.