Boxing - Freddie Flintoff fight On Saturday in Manchester

[galaxie500]

Anyone going to the event or watching on tv or even vaguely interested?
I'm intrigued - saw the build up programme and genuinely impressed by the big man's dedication and improvement. And I've always liked Barry McGuigan. A real boxer.
Gents?

[Moz]

He'll get put on his arse hopefully.

Heavyweight boxing is a joke as it is, and this just adds to it.

Any no mark, just walks in with all the time in the world and is thrusted into a fight. It's all bullsh*t.

[Janner_Sy]

As a very keen boxer myself i think hats off to the guy, fairplay. From complete novice to pro with no amateur experience is a tough ask. 

tbh im a little surprised he's passed the assessment board, but i guess we haven't see all the footage, so they might be playing him down a little on the show to give him the best chance of winning against his opponent.  Either way he'll be well matched to an anbd wont be pitted against someone who will destroy him.

I remember the first time I walked into the ring, and I was crapping myself.  Even after 15 years of boxing im still nervous as hell before getting in the ring (Im now on the coaching side of things and find it even worse than when i boxed myself  ).  His first fight is as a professional, in front of a BIG crowd and is fully televised and he has ALOT to loose.  You cant begrudge him that surely.  All the best to him.  Hope he does well.

[gazbutS3]

As he says ^^^^^^^

[garrardrj]

Boxers are very much a different breed. To be a winner in boxing is easy to fake . Unless the bloke he's fighting is in his first fight too Flintoff will be down and out in 2 rounds

[Deako]

Dont write him off yet. I think its fantastic and have been watching the show keenly. Im a bit disappointed that the 3rd show isnt on till next week, but i guess it will include a summary of what happens tomorrow.

[MC71]

Am a big fan of Freddie! Really enjoy the programme and big respect for him for doing this. He's got the heart, I hope he has the ability.

 

[galaxie500]

I have a vested professional, personal & boxing fan's interest. My buddy is the cameraman shooting the documentary programme for Sky along with a few good friends peripherally working on the show.
I have mixed feelings about this event. I am surprised the Boxing Board gave him a licence. Perhaps they thought misguidedly its good for the sport. I'm not sure it is good for a sport that's recently seen a brawl at a pre fight press conference ( Haye v Chisora) more trash talk from Haye last year about Klitchko before the Ukrainian soundly beat Haye and last weekend's sad 2nd retirement of the spent Ricky Hatton. It's all looking very tired and perhaps Boxing's deal makers and Sky Tv felt the Flintoff fight is meant to rejuvenate an ailing sport by restarting an ex cricketer's career. It might just work but is boxing becoming even more 'sideshow' like? I fear this fight relegates boxing in many people's minds to that of Tv entertainment, almost a reality show where overweight ex sportsmen and women become boxers and effectively fight for their lives. Is this what we want from boxing? I don't think so.....

[galaxie500]

The fight is tonight - 30th November.

[geordie56]

Everyone portrays people differentley and is entitled to their opinions. After watching the documentary i am quite impressed with how his training has gone and what hes achieved. As above dont write the guy off its one of his lifetime ambitions and not just a tv stunt. Anyway im there tonight, got front row seats so looking forward to it. I done boxing for 10 years, my nose has seen better days from it but its what i enjoyed doing, same as freddy he enjoys it so lets see what happens. Not everyone wins everything in life but people have ambitions and this is one of his. He has a good right hook aswell.

[Deako]

I have a vested professional, personal & boxing fan's interest. My buddy is the cameraman shooting the documentary programme for Sky along with a few good friends peripherally working on the show.
I have mixed feelings about this event. I am surprised the Boxing Board gave him a licence. Perhaps they thought misguidedly its good for the sport. I'm not sure it is good for a sport that's recently seen a brawl at a pre fight press conference ( Haye v Chisora) more trash talk from Haye last year about Klitchko before the Ukrainian soundly beat Haye and last weekend's sad 2nd retirement of the spent Ricky Hatton. It's all looking very tired and perhaps Boxing's deal makers and Sky Tv felt the Flintoff fight is meant to rejuvenate an ailing sport by restarting an ex cricketer's career. It might just work but is boxing becoming even more 'sideshow' like? I fear this fight relegates boxing in many people's minds to that of Tv entertainment, almost a reality show where overweight ex sportsmen and women become boxers and effectively fight for their lives. Is this what we want from boxing? I don't think so.....

I dont understand your first post if this is the reality.

[chungster]

Is this fight live on telly ?

[Wolf Burger]

Is this fight live on telly ?

Think it is on Boxnation pay per view channel on Sky.

[galaxie500]

Hmmmm.

This is the paradox Deako.  I love boxing, been a fan for many years but have been dismayed with certain aspects of it in recent times.  Its always been commercial, sometimes flashy, often arrogant but very few boxers who enter the ring are lazy or uncommitted to what is a dangerous and brutal sport.  If you're involved at any level as a boxer, you've done the training, the hours in the gym, the sweat and toil etc... Sadly, with so many entertainments available to the masses for little or no money - internet film downloads, computer games, DVD's etc, boxing promoters have to come up with stunts to sell tickets - such as the Haye v Chisora fiasco which was of course a Frank Warren concocted scam.  It worked with many thousands attending Upton Park for the 'fight' and many others buying online subscriptions to Box Nation but also taking boxing so far down the sporting food chain it almost surpasses Celebrity Wrestling in its crassness. (Remember this ITV pile of dog poo>>)
I love it yet hate the path being trod.... a paradox indeed...

[rich83]

I completely disagree with boxing... It should be banned in my opinion.