Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff swaps cricket whites for boxing gloves as he makes his heavyweight boxing debut exclusively live on BoxNation.
In a sporting first, England’s Ashes hero from 2005 and 2009, who made over 200 appearances for his country across all formats of the game, will take up the biggest challenge of career as he faces unbeaten American prospect Richard Dawson in a four-round contest on Friday, November 30 (ring-walk 10.30pm).
Flintoff’s professional debut forms part of an intriguing night of boxing from the north-west, which also features an all-British heavyweight showdown between David Price and Matt Skelton, and British light-welterweight prospect Bradley Saunders.
Mentored for the past eight months by the former world champion Barry McGuigan and his son Shane, Flintoff, 34, is fitter than at any time in his professional sporting life.
He will be hoping to land his newly tutored big right hand somewhere on a vulnerable part of his 23-year-old opponent.
In risking his professional reputation, and those within the sport of boxing, Flintoff competes in the challenge of a lifetime, which culminates in a professional bout at the Manchester Arena in front of thousands of fans.
Flintoff, who played in 79 Tests and 141 one-day internationals for England, was forced to give up cricket because of injury problems in September 2010, a year after his final competitive game.
He is reluctant to speculate on whether his boxing career will extend beyond this single bout, but insists that his foray into professional boxing is anything but a publicity stunt.
Flintoff faces American prospect Richard Dawson, who has an unbeaten record to his name from his two fights so far, including a win by stoppage after his opponent retired.
The Oklahoma-fighter sealed both of his wins in his home town, but he’s now looking to venture over to impress a British audience and enter the ring with a sporting legend.
Jim Rosenthal presents BoxNation’s exclusive coverage of the night’s events, with Steve Bunce and Steve Lillis providing expert analysis. Commentary on the Flintoff fight comes from Alex Steedman and Barry Jones.
Flintoff’s journey to the professional boxing ring also forms part of a Sky 1 documentary series ‘From Lord’s to the Ring’, with the third and final episode due to be broadcast on the Thursday following the fight.
Also in action in Manchester, Bradley Saunders looks to build on his growing potential with a fight against Peter McDonagh.
The County Durham fighter will lace up his gloves for his fifth professional bout in light-welterweight division.
Plus, the Commonwealth Welterweight Championship is also on the line as the popular Ronnie Heffron looks to dethrone Denton Vassell.
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Also on Friday night, David Price returns to the ring to face veteran Matt Skelton in an all-British heavyweight showdown in Liverpool (ring-walk 9.30pm).
Price is being called “the next big thing” in British boxing. Not only is this a reference to his massive, 6ft 8in frame, but also to his huge potential to be Britain’s next heavyweight world champion.
2013 could be a very big year for the popular Liverpool fighter, who recently defended his British and Commonwealth Heavyweight titles against a 38-year-old Audley Harrison with a blistering 82-second knock-out.
Now Price faces 45-year-old Matt Skelton, himself a former British and Commonwealth champion.
The Bedford heavyweight, who has a 28-6 record, will look to return to the top of the British heavyweight pecking order, and Price could be in for a difficult evening.
John Rawling, Andy Clarke and Paul Smith will provide commentary from the Aintree Equestrian Centre in Liverpool for BoxNation.
BBC Radio 5 live has commentary of the fight with Mike Costello from 9.30pm.
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