F lintoff, coached by former World Champion Barry McGuigan, had weighed in at 216lbs (97.98kg), 25lbs (11.34kg) lighter than Dawson, 23, who had won his previous two professional fights.

D espite his successful start the former all-rounder was cautious about his future in the sport, saying "we'll see how we go. It's not natural to me, I've had to work so hard."

"Y ou talk about the Ashes and things but as a personal achievement, this is the best," Flintoff, part of England's Ashes-winning teams in 2005 and 2009, told BoxNation.

F ormer cricketer Andrew Flintoff beat American Richard Dawson on points after surviving a knockdown in his first professional fight at the MEN Arena in Manchester.

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