Former England cricket hero AndrewFlintoff has found himself on the back foot even before he throws his firstpunch for money in the boxing ring on Friday night.
Freddie, as he is fondly known in Britain, isbeing filmed as part of a documentary series on Sky television, "Flintoff:From Lord's To The Ring", which culminates in his professional boxingdebut against American Richard Dawson.
For the past five months the 34-year-oldFlintoff has been trained by former world featherweight champion Barry McGuiganand his son, Shane, as he gears up for four two-minute rounds against Dawson,who has won both his previous fights.
But he has received criticism that he is nottaking boxing seriously and that Friday will be all about TV, not sport, withBritish promoter Frank Maloney hitting out at boxing authorities over thedecision to grant Flintoff a licence.
Flintoff, who stands an imposing 6 feet 4inches (1.93 metres) tall, insists his new career as a heavyweight boxer is forreal and he is not motivated by the intention to make a documentary seriesabout it.
"I understand people are protective ofthe sport, but I'm going in the ring on Friday and that's what all my energy isgoing into," Flintoff told AFP.
"They need to watch me and give me achance. Through the fight and documentary, I want to show what sacrificesboxers go through and things that your casual sports fan might not necessarilyrealise about boxing.
"There's no talk of disrespecting boxingbut of celebrating boxing, and I hope I manage to do that. I'm a boxing fan andsport has been very good to me over the years.
"The fight came before the TV show -- theTV show is a result of getting the fight, but you saw on the TV show... thatI've put the hours in."
Flintoff retired from cricket two years agoafter a colourful career including two Ashes victories over Australia in 2005and 2009.
When he steps into the ring at the ManchesterArena, the venue will look a lot emptier than it was last weekend, when 20,000people watched former world champion Ricky Hatton make an unsuccessfulcomeback.
Ticket sales have been slow for Flintoff'sprofessional boxing bow, but he hopes those who do turn up or watch ontelevision take him seriously.
"I didn't do this as a gimmick, he said."There's too much at stake. When you get in that ring and there's someonecoming at you, you've got to do it for real.
"Hopefully at the end of it people cansay, 'You know what? He's had a go and done well there', but that's not mymotivation behind it."
As a morale booster for Flintoff, and to makethe documentary series more interesting, ring legends Mike Tyson and Sugar RayLeonard have come into the gym to offer advice.
"I was fortunate enough to have Sugar RayLeonard pop down and spend an hour with us," Flintoff said.
"I think most fellas my age alwaysremember Tyson and he came down to the gym the other week and told me about themindset of boxing and what he went through as a fighter, and to hear it fromMike Tyson -- someone as a kid I watched and loved to watch fight -- wasamazing."
Flintoff, who has eschewed the traditionalroute of learning to box as an amateur before entering the professionalbusiness, is not committing himself to boxing beyond Friday.
"Hopefully Friday's going to go well andwe'll take it from there, but after all the hard work I've put in, it'd be hardto stop after Friday if it goes well," he said.
"But I'm realistic about where I am, standard-wise,and I'm realistic with my age, so we'll just see how it goes."