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| You are better than this Freddie.. |
I've never been a big fan of boxing. I find the hype it produces akin to the 'sports entertainment' dished up by the likes of the WWF and other such three letter organisations that appear all over satellite TV.
Flintoff's opponent, Richard Dawson from the USA, has had two previous bouts and won both. One against another debutant and the other against an opponent that had lost all 4 of his professional fights. So he has no great pedigree. But at the end of the day he is a boxer.
No matter how much training or how much effort he has put into it, Flintoff is not a boxer. He has been given a licence with no amateur experience to speak of, to get in the ring with a heavyweight boxer. The people that issue these licences see only pound notes. As seen recently with the Dereck Chisora v. David Haye farce.
Boxing has gone down the same track as these 'entertainment' fight makers.
It has no credibility. A plethora of organisations with similar acronyms just serve to confuse. I for one could not name one, of probably half a dozen, current heavyweight champions. 20 - 30 years ago the whole world knew who the 'Champion' was.
As much as we all love Freddie, I can't help feeling that this latest venture is ill advised.
Freddie has the heart of a lion but the brains of a Kamikaze volunteer.
So why is he doing it I hear you cry. Is it to keep his profile in the spotlight. Charity? Advertising? Money? Prestige? Well probably all of those reasons. But he is certainly not doing it for the best reason of all. His health. The boxing world is littered with brain dead middle aged men talking of their former glories without really knowing what day it is. Taking blows to the head from a trained heavyweight is not the advice I would offer to a 34 year old family man.
Back to the fight. What can be achieved? Let's consider the outcomes:
Freddie Wins. Reaction will be .. A star is born, next heavyweight champion, who's he fighting next.
Freddie Loses. Oh well he gave it a go. Brave Freddie. It wasn't to be. Hang up gloves before you get hurt.
Whatever the outcome.. Sport loses, Boxing loses and Freddie loses.
I cannot see Freddie surviving the first real punch that Dawson lands. All I hope is that his health survives.
Dig In Freddie, good luck. You will need it.
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1st December 2012
Post Fight Verdict.
Freddie was brave and worked hard. But as I say, he is not a boxer. Style, technique and experience cannot be gained in 6 months of intensive training. At almost 35 years of age I am afraid you have missed this particular bus Freddie.
It is good that Freddie survived unscathed but that is all that was good about this 'fight'.
Dawson was clearly under instructions not to throw any real punches. He is a professional bunny, a sacrifice to the next Flintoff outing that will be bigger, better, and more lucrative than this one. All going according to the script so far.
Only one winner last night and that was the art of hype. And Barry McGuigan's wallet.
Sports entertainment, maybe.
Sport, definitely not.
Well said.I agree 100%
ReplyDeleteYou have to feel for these ex-players. They can't just go out and get a normal full-time job they have to do something on tv, or radio etc.
ReplyDeleteThey are basically unemployable and so to pay the bills for the luxury cars and holidays they do shit like this.
He's been training and getting hit by 'real' heavyweight boxers for the last 9 months. At the end of the day it's something he's always loved and he wants to try it out. Would you begrudge David Haye the chance to play cricket if he wanted to? Even in club cricket there are bowlers quick enough to put a short, sharp one to the temple and that can have a similar effect.
ReplyDeleteLet him have his moment!
Training for 9 months with sparring partners is similar to doing nets with Samit Patel as practice for facing Michael Holding in a Test Match.
DeleteAmazing how he is now in the 'shape of his life.' Would have been nice if he had done the same when he was playing the Aussies
ReplyDeleteTo be fair, he needs to be in a far better condition to step in a boxing ring! There's only one cricket ball coming at you at a time and you've got a good idea from what direction that is. Boxing? It will quicken the pulse a bit more.
DeletePlus in 2005 he was a God.
I agree with you on this Fred. I think Freddy's Trying to fill the void left by cricket. I can't help feeling if he's not up to playing cricket then boxing which is a far more physically demanding sport, although I suppose in a different way is definatley not the way to go. As you stated he's not a boxer and no amount of sparring will ever fully prepare him for when that bloke lands one. #digin Fred thas goin t need t
ReplyDelete