Professional Boxing in my blood, does it help?....too late to start at 23 years old?

Thanks all for the advice so far.

At this point in your life training for boxing part time won't get you where you need want to be by the time you hit your so called boxing prime. If you want to a professional with a chance you have to make up for some lost time and dedicate your life to it. but like everyone said everyone is different.

You've asked a question that only you can answer, everyone is different, anything they tell you and these so called facts don't necessarily relate to you. I recommend you got to a gym, get with a good trainer and take it from there, once you start sparring with good fighters you'll have an idea where do you stand.

No its not too late. You could be a pro by 26. You never know. Just take it up and see how things go then judge off that.

most boxers have to work and train at the same time. because they can't afford not to work. only the elite on top can dedicate themselves to boxing full time. continue workign and do as much training as possible with a short period of rest here and there. Thanks for all the replies. One more thing...how much of a role does "genetics" play in boxing? For example....will it help me that I have professional boxing in my blood? Edit: Also...can I still work 40 hours/week and do this? Or am I wasting my time. I realize that many boxers (and probably a lot of you guys) spend 5-6+ hours in the gym everyday. But me...that would be very tough working my schedule (7:30am-5:30pm work). I'm willing to sacrifice....but will I burn out?

on an average individual, 23, I would say it is too late. but since you have some experience and are athletic with the bloodlines, I wouldn't say it is too late. but I would get going and give it a 100% effort. boxing is not easy and takes alot of work and dedication. good luck. The title explains it. I'm 23. I boxed when I was 6 years old until I was 9 years old. After that, I concentrated on other sports (baseball, football, and wrestling). I played all three of them through high school.....and played football in college. Now I'm done with all of those sports. I want to return to boxing. My grandfather, great grandfather, and his father were all professional boxers. I have great uncles that were also pro fighters and amateur fighters. One of my relatives was a GREAT pro fighter. I'm not going to list his name...but this is just added info to my question. Two questions: 1) Is it too late to start boxing at 23 years old if I want to make a career of it? 2) Does the fact that I have boxing in my "genetics" and that I've had successful amateur and pro boxers in my family help me a lot? I know to "punch" the right way, etc. and I'm very knowledgeable of the sport because of my family. I'm also very athletic....and I workout 5 times/week (I bodybuild basically as a hobby because I have nothing else to do). The thing is....I don't want to box just to box as a hobby. I'd like to make a career out of it.....but I don't want to be wasting my time. I've been away from the ring for a long time, I don't have connections, boxing people to talk to, etc. So I decided to post on here. I appreciate all the help/advice I can get. Thanks.

It's in your blood, which will be all over the canvas if you try to box professionally at this point.....

Thanks for all the replies. One more thing...how much of a role does "genetics" play in boxing? For example....will it help me that I have professional boxing in my blood? Edit: Also...can I still work 40 hours/week and do this? Or am I wasting my time. I realize that many boxers (and probably a lot of you guys) spend 5-6+ hours in the gym everyday. But me...that would be very tough working my schedule (7:30am-5:30pm work). I'm willing to sacrifice....but will I burn out?

Ray Mercer didnt even start until he was 20 and Ken Norton didnt until he was 25. you can make a career out of it if you want it enough and have some skill

Same as anything else - depends how much you want to put into it & how much you have (natural talents, smarts) to put in. If you are prepared to put in the work, there is no reason why you can't still be successful - most fighters these days reach their prime in their 30's. Thing is, you're looking at 4 to 6 years of hard work, paying money for the first few years (gym fees, equipment, travel) & then earning very little out of it for the next few, just to get in the position of making a living as a professional boxer, & there are no guarentees involved. You have to very dedicated, & realize this is your life for the next 15 years or so, if you make it past the hurdles. (I wasn't - dropped out after a few years) If you do go for it, good luck! PS. another fighter you might to note is Anthony Mundine - didn't start boxing until he was 26 or 27, but came from a boxing family & was a former pro athlete (rugby). Started off straight into the pro ranks & now makes a bundle each fight, as well as being among the best Super-Middles in the world.

Anyone can turn pro but don't expect to make a career out of it.

You have enough time to turn pro. You could go to the amateurs for a few years and go pro with 25 or 26, that ould still be enough time. Skelton turned pro wwith 35 or 36 and hes a well known boxer, not one of the best though.

what weight class are you? if u're 170lbs above, i would say go for it... lightheavy(175lbs) + weight classes are weak right now, so you should be able to climb the ranking (if you're above average). Good luck...

Generally? Yes. It's far too old. Although, like others have already pointed out, there have been some exceptions.

Carlos Maussa didn't start until he was 29 and Tarver didn't start until he was 31 or 32

well i just turned 20 2 months ago...and i really really want to start taking the sport to a more serious level other than just hitting the heavy bag at the gym and working the mitts with my boy here and there. but to me even just turning 20 is too old to begin and hope for a seriously prosperous career in the sport but what do i know?

The way I see it is you graduated college... now excuse my language, but lets face the reality, you are a fuck up and you fall on boxing as your last resort. you have never taken this sport serious and will never make a worthy career out of it. my advise to you is to pass! I apologise for being offensive and spoke my honest opinion, but hey.. this is just a picture I drew of you in my head based on what you said in your post. :boxing:

The title explains it. I'm 23. I boxed when I was 6 years old until I was 9 years old. After that, I concentrated on other sports (baseball, football, and wrestling). I played all three of them through high school.....and played football in college. Now I'm done with all of those sports. I want to return to boxing. My grandfather, great grandfather, and his father were all professional boxers. I have great uncles that were also pro fighters and amateur fighters. One of my relatives was a GREAT pro fighter. I'm not going to list his name...but this is just added info to my question. Two questions: 1) Is it too late to start boxing at 23 years old if I want to make a career of it? 2) Does the fact that I have boxing in my "genetics" and that I've had successful amateur and pro boxers in my family help me a lot? I know to "punch" the right way, etc. and I'm very knowledgeable of the sport because of my family. I'm also very athletic....and I workout 5 times/week (I bodybuild basically as a hobby because I have nothing else to do). The thing is....I don't want to box just to box as a hobby. I'd like to make a career out of it.....but I don't want to be wasting my time. I've been away from the ring for a long time, I don't have connections, boxing people to talk to, etc. So I decided to post on here. I appreciate all the help/advice I can get. Thanks. Not too late, didn't Rahman start at age 20, made a pro debut at like 22?

i also have fightin in my blood. i say go for it, where do you live? i do have alot of boxing connections and i am only 14.