MX23RW : Monday, December 16 14:12:41| >> :600:379862894:379862894:

Barry McGuigan: "We never belittled the sport"

By , Reporter
McGuigan defends Flintoff
© PA Photos
Barry McGuigan insists that Andrew Flintoff has not belittled the sport of boxing.

Barry McGuigan has hit back at critics of Andrew Flintoff following the former cricketer's first professional boxing victory.

Flintoff secured a points victory against Richard Dawson on his debut inside in Manchester on Friday and his coach, McGuigan, has responded to the people who had doubts about the 34-year-old's new venture.

The former WBA featherweight champion said: "We never belittled the sport.

"We were never in this, in any way, to belittle boxing. Those who said that were idiots. We're in this to show how serious he was about it.

"We never pretended that he was anything other than a novice but we told everyone he was going to give it everything he's got and I think in the fight he showed that."

Carl Froch has backed Flintoff to improve following the victory.

ID:57436: cacheID:57436:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:1836:
Written by
Callum Mulvihill 
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Andrew Flintoff during the press conference and weigh in on November 29, 2012
Read Next:
Froch: "Flintoff did himself proud"
>
Read more about Barry McGuigan Andrew Flintoff Richard Dawson Boxing