Ex-England captain Flintoff makes his ring debut against
American Richard Dawson in Manchester
on 30 November.BBCNews
"You should do boxing first, and then cricket,"
said former middleweight world champion Hagler. "At least you're not
getting punched around anymore.
"I just say good luck to him, and keep your head
down and your hands up."
Hagler, who switched to acting after his retirement from the
ring in 1988, added: "Changing from being a fighter to being an actor
is a lot different from changing to being a fighter from a being a cricket
player.
"But a lot of people have other dreams - they want
to give being a fighter a shot. I've seen this happen with actors before, and
fighters wanting to be actors.
"That's the way the world is, and everybody has to
do what they want in life."
The 58-year-old's words of encouragement are in contrast to
what many in British boxing circles have had to say about the star of England's
celebrated 2005 Ashes victory.
Much of the criticism has centred on the fact that
Flintoff's late career change is the subject of a three-part television
documentary.
Promoter Frank Warren dismissed it as "car crash
television", while the British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion David
Price said Flintoff, 34, "could get hurt".
Frank Maloney, the manager who led Lennox Lewis to the top,
went even further, describing the decision to award the 34-year-old with a
boxing licence as "a scandal".
Flintoff, however, rejects these claims and insists his
motives are honourable.
Speaking at a preview screening of the first episode of the
documentary, which will be broadcast a week before the fight, he said: "You
couldn't go through this for a TV stunt.
"If I was looking for publicity I would have picked
something easier.
"I appreciate that people want to protect their sport,
I'd be the same with cricket. But I'm hoping this is something where boxing is
celebrated.
"It's not my intention to cheapen the sport or show
it up."
Marvelous Marvin Hagler
Born 23 May 1954
in Newark , New Jersey , USA.
WBA & WBC middleweight champion (1980-87), IBF
middleweight champion (1983-87)
Won 62 of 67 professional fights (52 by KO), lost only three
(all on points), two draws
Named the third greatest middleweight of all time in 1999 by
The Associated Press.
Having struggled with his weight during his cricket career,
Flintoff claims to have lost 45lbs over the last three months thanks to trainer
Shane McGuigan's fitness regime.
McGuigan's father Barry, the former WBA featherweight
champion, has overseen Flintoff's boxing tuition and he is adamant the project
is worthwhile.
"To say it cheapens boxing is complete nonsense. That's
a case of the green-eyed monster, I'm afraid," said McGuigan.
"We're promoting the sport in a very positive way."
That may well prove to be true, but it is all a far cry from
the days when the likes of Hagler, Tommy Hearns and Sugar Ray Leonard helped
boxing dominate the sporting headlines.
Hagler, who was the undisputed middleweight champion of the
world from 1980 to 1987, retired in 1988 - a year after his famous, and
infamous, split-decision defeat by Leonard.
But it is probably the fight against Hearns, two years
before, that he is best remembered for now.
Billed as "The Fight", it has since become known
as "The War": a three-round classic that saw Hagler survive a torrid
first round, and a badly-cut head, to stop Hearns with a devastating
combination.
Speaking from the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation global
summit in Barcelona , Hagler said:
"I can't remember the first round, I just know we threw a lot of punches.
Play media
"The fight was just a battle and I still get chills
when I see it.
"They wanted to stop the fight in the third round,
but when the doctor wiped the blood out of my eyes, I said 'no, I ain't missing
him, am I?'"
In Hearns' corner that night was Emanuel Steward, the
legendary American fighter and trainer who died last month.
"Even though he trained Tommy Hearns, he was still a
great man for me," said Hagler.
"I remember him from my amateur days and I was with
him shortly before he passed away.
"He was always a supportive friend of mine. He was a
well-liked man and I know he is going to be missed."
0 comments:
Post a Comment