Freddie Flintoff: Will fortune favour the brave?

By Boxing News - 11/05/2012 - Comments

By Jack Tarpey: Well it appears it is actually happening Freddie Flintoff (real name Andrew) will be stepping into the ring for his first professional outing as a heavyweight boxer come 30th November on Boxnation, which is the same night Price defends his British heavyweight title from previous British/European champion and former kick boxer Matt Skelton.

When I first heard about Freddie entering the ring I had to double check it wasn’t April fool’s day, I honestly believed there was as much truth about the rumour as David Haye supposedly fighting Tom Hardy (Bane from Batman) but low and behold Freddie appears to be actually going through with the match up, with the opponent still to be named.

The boxing public seem to be in mixed opinions about Freddie’s new challenge he has set himself, Price’s promoter Maloney being one the main outspoken critics of Freddie branding the fight a joke and that the British boxing board of control a disgrace for approving his professional license. Maloney appears to be giving Freddie as much chance of having a boxing career as General Custer had of victory when charging his clueless 600 men to their deaths at the hands of thousands of Indian warriors, moral of the story was General Custer had more bravery than brains.

I for one have respect for anyone who has the courage to enter the ring, let’s get one thing straight Freddie isn’t coming into boxing looking to dethrone the Klitchko’s, from what I gather and have heard he has always been fascinated with pugilism and he appears to be a man who wants push himself to the limit and find out exactly what he is capable of.

I as a keen boxing fan certainly don’t feel offended that he is deciding to lace up the gloves, if anything it gives our sport more needed publicity and it was only natural that Freddie who has now made the transition from cricketer to celebrity would attract curiosity from the general public. Maloney feels it is a dangerous and idiotic move, however the days are long gone when boxers were allowed to take vast amount of punishment in the ring, if as predicted by Maloney Freddie is in way over his head the fight will be stopped and so will his aspirations of staying in the sport.

This isn’t the first time an athlete has decided to jump ship from his primary sport to challenge himself in the ring, most notably Curtis Woodhouse taking the leap from a successful footballing career and to be quite fair showing a good account of himself, but then we have former Olympic rower James Cracknell being knocked out in seconds of his pro debut, so it is certainly no guarantee that there will be a fairy-tale ending to Freddie’s 1st outing, presumably whoever they choose would have had some amateur experience and possibly even professional experience so its certainly not going to be a walk in the park for Freddie.

Freddie has the outspoken former feather weight world champion Barry McGuigan in his corner and Barry is adamant this is no joke and that Freddie is capable of doing himself justice in the ring, as always only time will tell, I for one wish Freddie the best of luck in his new challenge and I am very curious to see whether he can make a good account of himself in the ring.
Look forward to your thoughts fellow boxing heads.



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