London, Nov. 18 : Budding boxer Freddie Flintoff has revealed he has given up boozing as he gears up for his boxing debut in the Manchester Arena on November 30.

The ex-England cricket star, 34, also claimed that the carbs that gave him that famous flabby tummy are also out for the count after nine months of training with former world boxing champ Barry McGuigan.

"It was easier than you would think for me to give up alcohol. The first fortnight maybe you wouldn't mind a pint but after that you just get into the training," the Daily Mirror quoted Freddie, as saying.

"The thing I miss most is picking at my kids' meals like fish fingers and chips. It's been harder eating a steak at 6am than it was giving up booze," he added.

According to the report, gone is the wild all-rounder who turned up the worse for wear at 10 Downing Street after the 2005 Ashes win and had to be rescued when he drunkenly fell out of a pedalo at the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean.

"I love being fit and I don't want to go on some bender and ruin it," says the dad of three.

He's also been getting advice from boxing legends Mike Tyson and Sugar Ray Leonard at the training centre in Battersea, South West London., the report said.

"Sugar Ray gave me an amazing coaching session then Mike Tyson pitched up. I was stood in the ring getting to hear Tyson's thoughts. He told me how to deal with fear. Now I'm going to see how I go," said Freddie. A(NI)