Why I think Flintoff will surprise a few people....

I'd imagine most athletes know how to throw a pretty hard punch, it's just another thing landing it without breaking your forearm, and then managing not to be slayed the first time you're hit back.

Rugby fans with a bit of a memory will remember a player called David Furner, played for Canberra before coming over here and playing for Wigan and Leeds. By all accounts he was the dogs at boxing.

I remember once asking Barrie McDermott about it - himself a pretty decent operator (both on the rugby field hitting people and in the boxing ring) and he went pale.

Back in the late 80's/early 90's when he'd have been making a career choice, it'd have been rugby all the way. The chances of an Aussie middleweight making big bucks would be comparatively slim.

 

Think you always get people who are snobbish when it comes to their own sports but everybody has to start somewhere. I wouldn't write anybody off until they've had a go at any sport. The only thing I'd say about boxing is that it isn't something to go into as a bit of fun, especially somebody famous for doing something else who will have the headhunters after him. The fact Flintoff has been on a lot of gruelling bike rides of late may point towards him taking the fitness side of things properly so if he's fit that's a good starting point at least.

 

I think the way professional rugby is played these days (both union and league) would give rugby players an advantage in having a go at boxing over other sports people. The impact from the big hits these days means all rugby players have to have very strong neck muscles otherwise they'd be f*cked, and so are better prepared to absorb a punch. Being used to such a physical smashing should give them a head start in terms of taking punches over someobody like Flintoff. As big and strong as he may be, taking punches is gonna be more of a culture shock for Freddie than someobody like Sonny Bill Williams. Rugby players may have more problems with throwing punches properly, however, as even an outside half has to have shoulders starting at his ear lobes. So being musclebound could present problems.

 

Yeah, definitely.

A lot of rugby players don't do much 'rugby' training, especially in league.

The middle session is usually rugby related drills, tactics and stuff, rather than tackling, passing etc.

The morning and afternoon sessions are either swimming or weights and conditioning... a lot of them do boxercise type stuff.

In all honesty the way that most fighters do exclusively padwork and sparring, their training isn't any better suited to boxing (sparring aside) than what rugby players do.

 

Wait, Andrew Flintoff is becoming a boxer?!?!

Like, WTH?