Andrew Flintoff has said that his experiences as a cricketer will help him to deal with any pre-fight nerves before his professional debut.
The former England and Lancashire all-rounder - coached by Barry and Shane McGuigan - takes on America's Richard Dawson at the Manchester Arena tomorrow.
"It's going to be different in some ways, I'm going into the unknown a little bit," the 34-year-old told Sky Sports News.
"But you know, having walked out in the likes of India in front of 100,000 people, going out at Old Trafford and one of the most intimidating atmospheres I've played in as a Lancastrian at Headingley, will stand me in good stead.
"So yeah hopefully my past experiences I can draw on, but there is that unknown as well, walking to a boxing ring inside an arena, rather than walking to the crease."
Flintoff said that he has trained hard for the fight and stressed that he is taking it seriously.
"You can't go into this for a bit of fun," he added. "It's a serious sport, a serious business. I found that out over the past few months, doing the sparring, doing the training.
"I fully accept he is coming over to win as am I, but I think every fighter experiences the nerves as they come into the ring but it is how they deal with that and overcome that."
Flintoff retired from cricket in September 2010.
Michael Penkman
