Richard Dawson (Flintoff opponent)

[andeeholden]

Because Flintoff is denigrating the sport we love?

You see this is something that I disagree with as this is a sport that over history has been ran by organised crime, participated in by thugs, rapists, wife beaters, murderers etc. etc. Yet it's only since a washed up cricketer comes along that the sport's getting denigrated? I'm not so sure...

HAHAHA World class response

[deadpan]

Think of the shedloads of shit heaped on Audley for headlining a bill on his debut. And he was Olympic champion. Flintoff tops the bill at the MEN Arena because he used to play cricket? I reserve the right to want him to discover that this sport isn't as easy as that.

[JLP]

Would as many people tune in on a Saturday night if it was 'Come Dancing' with professional dancers only, rather than 'Strictly Come Dancing' with celebrities plus professionals? Likewise the live tour they do. Would they do anywhere near the ticket sales sans celebs? It's a resounding 'no' on both counts.

There will be die hard ballroom/latin dancing fans and participants who hate Strictly with a passion because newbies with no experience are immediately headlining and grabbing more attention than they'll ever have in a sport in which they may have put in decades of training for minimal recognition.

There will be other dancing enthusiasts, however, who gladly accept the fact that 'Strictly Come Dancing' has been a meteoric shot in the arm for a sport that was pretty much on its last legs. Participation in the sport has sky-rocketed in the last few years purely because of 'Strictly'.

Whilst I accept that the Flintoff fight is slightly different, it is still, ultimately, a celebrity reality television programme. Boxing is a sport that has a waning general interest that could benefit from a bit of a vajazzle. Flintoff may find he has serious potential, like some of the celeb dancers have done over the years, he may find he's boxing's equivalent of Russell Grant.

[Jeff Thomas]

Because Flintoff is denigrating the sport we love?

You see this is something that I disagree with as this is a sport that over history has been ran by organised crime, participated in by thugs, rapists, wife beaters, murderers etc. etc. Yet it's only since a washed up cricketer comes along that the sport's getting denigrated? I'm not so sure...

Totally agree, though I have changed my mind on this only recently - how can Freddie Flintoff possibly bring this joke of a sport into disrepute - in fact, bang in an IBF Australasian super cruiserweight title along with it - why not? Anything goes nowadays.

DD

[Coco]

To use the Strictly Come Dancing scenario it is a bit like employing him as a professional dancer to partner a celeb, giving him 10 weeks to make the grade.
Except a big bloke beats him up if he is a failure!

[Darcy Delaney]

is there any footage of freddie sparring or on the pads ?

[Wales]

To use the Strictly Come Dancing scenario it is a bit like employing him as a professional dancer to partner a celeb, giving him 10 weeks to make the grade.
Except a big bloke beats him up if he is a failure!

Im with Marc. Im hoping this shows the UK how tough a sport boxing is, something I dont believe people really appreciate.

[grannyman]

If someone sells tickets then why wouldn't a promoter use him? It's a business!

If watching somebody well known train hard and compete in a boxing match gets more people into boxing gyms, then what's the problem?

Something boosting gym memberships is only good.

Also, being retired doesn't make you washed up.

[Coco]

If someone sells tickets then why wouldn't a promoter use him? It's a business!

If watching somebody well known train hard and compete in a boxing match gets more people into boxing gyms, then what's the problem?

Something boosting gym memberships is only good.

Also, being retired doesn't make you washed up.

The problem is that he should be fighting white collar.
10 weeks experience is not enough for anyone to box professionally.
The vast majority of fighters have had years in the gym and amateurs before considering fighting pro.
The fact he is in his mid thirties and has been a bad liver makes this more of a joke.
Professional sport should have standards.
They would not employ me as a pro dancer to partner a celebrity in strictly come dancing if I had never danced before.
The BBBoC have not never licensed someone as bad as Flintoff before, this is the reason they can't unearth a British licence to fight him.
Instead they have been forced to give the work to a tomato can from the American tank town circuit.

[grannyman]

If someone sells tickets then why wouldn't a promoter use him? It's a business!

If watching somebody well known train hard and compete in a boxing match gets more people into boxing gyms, then what's the problem?

Something boosting gym memberships is only good.

Also, being retired doesn't make you washed up.

The problem is that he should be fighting white collar.
10 weeks experience is not enough for anyone to box professionally.
The vast majority of fighters have had years in the gym and amateurs before considering fighting pro.
The fact he is in his mid thirties and has been a bad liver makes this more of a joke.
Professional sport should have standards.
They would not employ me as a pro dancer to partner a celebrity in strictly come dancing if I had never danced before.
The BBBoC have not never licensed someone as bad as Flintoff before, this is the reason they can't unearth a British licence to fight him.
Instead they have been forced to give the work to a tomato can from the American tank town circuit.

Fair points, but don't the BBBoC review sparring and training to ensure that the applicant can box? If he's deemed good enough then age shouldn't matter as long as he can defend himself.

[Coco]

If someone sells tickets then why wouldn't a promoter use him? It's a business!

If watching somebody well known train hard and compete in a boxing match gets more people into boxing gyms, then what's the problem?

Something boosting gym memberships is only good.

Also, being retired doesn't make you washed up.

The problem is that he should be fighting white collar.
10 weeks experience is not enough for anyone to box professionally.
The vast majority of fighters have had years in the gym and amateurs before considering fighting pro.
The fact he is in his mid thirties and has been a bad liver makes this more of a joke.
Professional sport should have standards.


They would not employ me as a pro dancer to partner a celebrity in strictly come dancing if I had never danced before.
The BBBoC have not never licensed someone as bad as Flintoff before, this is the reason they can't unearth a British licence to fight him.
Instead they have been forced to give the work to a tomato can from the American tank town circuit.

Fair points, but don't the BBBoC review sparring and training to ensure that the applicant can box? If he's deemed good enough then age shouldn't matter as long as he can defend himself.

BBBoC do give competency tests to less experienced amateurs and as long as this was done properly I would not have an issue.
However from his 7 weeks experience and judging by his woeful training vids that he would not pass the tests if this was done properly.

[ThereByTheGrace]

Anyways this Richard Dawson guy, I still havent seen him yet. Is he a "pasty white boy"?

[Darcy Delaney]

Anyways this Richard Dawson guy, I still havent seen him yet. Is he a "pasty white boy"?

why spend all this money getting a import when i said i do it for nothing, also why didn't they get another novice british fighter ?

[ThereByTheGrace]

Anyways this Richard Dawson guy, I still havent seen him yet. Is he a "pasty white boy"?

why spend all this money getting a import when i said i do it for nothing, also why didn't they get another novice british fighter ?

Good question, I guess we'll find out in 2 weeks time!

[Coco]

Anyways this Richard Dawson guy, I still havent seen him yet. Is he a "pasty white boy"?

why spend all this money getting a import when i said i do it for nothing, also why didn't they get another novice british fighter ?

Simply because there are no British licencees bad enough to fight Flintoff

[TheCobra]

I'm just laughing that Kimbo Slice has become a boxer!

[keithmoonhangover]

So let me get this straight......

If Flintoff wins, it's a fix and the other bloke has been brought in to lose.

If Flintoff loses, then he's hopeless, it's not a fix and the other bloke was not brought in to lose.

Sounds like a no-win situation to me.

[johnnygreaves]

FOr gods sake, flintoff has been working out in my gym at times. The peacock. Now I can assure you all that he's training like a pro.putting an awfull lot of work in.he done a trial in front of the board against a lad I know.he passed.now a few clowns on here rubbishing him could also step up and have a go.theres many people on here talk out their arses.he is a name & it might be seen as bollocks but he fornicating done the work and passed his trial.he may get beat but you have to doth your cap to a man that's put in the work & is willing to put himself on the line.many keyboard hard nuts wouldn't even dream of it.

[banjo]

If someone sells tickets then why wouldn't a promoter use him? It's a business!

If watching somebody well known train hard and compete in a boxing match gets more people into boxing gyms, then what's the problem?

Something boosting gym memberships is only good.

Also, being retired doesn't make you washed up.

He retired due to injury, that says washed up to me.