- Heavyweight
Flintoff hoping to channel nerves
Andrew Flintoff has admitted he is battling nerves ahead of his professional boxing debut.
Flintoff, a former England cricketer, is preparing to face Richard Dawson in Manchester on Friday evening, as he fulfils a long-held ambition to strap on the gloves and prove himself inside the ring.
The 34-year-old is nervous ahead of his appearance in the four-round bout, but hopes he can channel those nerves into a positive performance - just as he often did during his cricket career.
"I'd be lying if I said there weren't any nerves," Flintoff told Sky Sports News. "But I experienced nerves in my career before, in cricket, and managed to use them to my advantage - so hopefully this will be no different.
"It's a big task I'm taking on, I've worked hard for it - and we'll see what the result is afterwards."
Flintoff has been dogged by accusations that his boxing adventure is anything from an ego trip to a publicity stunt - criticisms the former Lancashire allrounder strenuously denies.
"You can't go into this sport for a bit of fun - it's a serious sport, it's a serious business," Flintoff added. "He's come here to win and so have I."