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.