boxing - ITV News

12:28 am, Sat 01 Dec 2012 Flintoff wins maiden fight

Old pals and cricket fans praise Flintoff's boxing win

Andrew Flintoff's former England captain Michael Vaughan - who is trying his own hand at a different physical test on the Strictly dance floor - has led Twitter praise of his old teammate.

Night all...what a day!!! Samba,double dip spray tan and @flintoff11 wins a boxing match....

From @MichaelVaughan on Twitter: (11:38 pm, Fri 30 Nov 2012)

Former England batsman Adam Hollioake, who entered the worlds of professional boxing and mixed martial arts after his cricket career ended, singled out Flintoff's strength in fighting back to claim victory.

Congrats to my man @flintoff11 to win is a gr8 effort but to get off the canvas to win shows your character

From @adamhollioake on Twitter: (11:16 pm, Fri 30 Nov 2012)

While celebrity Flintoff fans also weighed in with their own compliments:

One of the gutsiest things I've ever watched. Take a bow, Andrew Flintoff! @flintoff11

From @piersmorgan on Twitter: (11:08 pm, Fri 30 Nov 2012)

12:17 am, Sat 01 Dec 2012 Flintoff wins maiden fight

Flintoff: First boxing fight was 'out of body experience'

Andrew Flintoff has described his first boxing fight as an "out of body experience" after beginning his professional career with a win.

Sporting several bruises from his encounter with Richard Dawson, he told reporters:

I think I got the full experience. I got the canvas. I got a black eye. And I got the win. ... It was a bit wragged and arms going - I just wanted to leave it all in that ring.

Flintoff hails 'best' personal sporting victory

Andrew Flintoff wins maiden fight — Andrew Flintoff told Box Nation his boxing victory was the "best" personal achievement of his sporting career. Credit: Dave Thompson/PA Wire

11:35 pm, Fri 30 Nov 2012 Flintoff wins maiden fight

Freddie Flintoff wins maiden heavyweight boxing bout

Flintoff's maiden fight — Former England cricketer Andrew Flintoff tasted victory in his first professional fight. Credit: Dave Thompson/PA Wire

9:30 pm, Thu 29 Nov 2012

Ricky Hatton: 'Life goes on, I'm happy'

Ricky Hatton: 'I needed answers, I needed to find out if I still had it. I don't' Credit: ITV Granada

Ricky Hatton has spoken to ITV Granada in his first TV interview following his knockout in the ninth round of his comeback fight against Vyacheslav Senchenko.

Watch how he explains how he is over his career heartbreak and looking to the future.

9:08 pm, Thu 29 Nov 2012

Andrew Flintoff admits 'nerves' ahead of boxing debut

Andrew Flintoff weighs in ahead of his big fight in Manchester.

Andrew Flintoff said he will use pre-fight nerves to his advantage for his professional boxing debut in Manchester.

Read the full story

Andrew Flintoff weighs in for boxing debut

Andrew Flintoff during the weigh in at The Hilton Hotel, Manchester. — Andrew Flintoff has lost three-and-a-half stone for his first professional heavyweight fight. Credit: PA

Former cricketer Andrew Flintoff weighed in at 15st 6lb today ahead of his professional boxing debut against American Richard Dawson at the Manchester Arena tomorrow.

The 34-year-old lost three-and-a-half stone for the fight, while his competitor is two stone heavier.

Andrew Flintoff during the weigh in with American Richard Dawson. — Andrew Flintoff during the weigh in with American Richard Dawson at The Hilton Hotel, Manchester. Credit: PA

Flintoff told reporters at a press conference today: "The wonderful thing about Twitter is I didn't realise how many people wanted to punch me! I get offers left, right and centre now.

"There's a lot of people who are passionate about boxing and they want to protect it, but hopefully they'll see with what we've done ... hopefully it will attract different spectators to boxing and it will show boxing for how hard it is, the sacrifices that fighters make and the journey they go on."

You can watch his interview on ITV Granada.