What is life like for a young, unknown prospect?

I am wondering what life is like for boxers who have turned pro and have less than 10 fights, but consider themselves serious prospects. What I am wondering is: Funding; do they self fund their training, travel, medical and all the support they need? Or do they have to be signed with some promotions company who sponsors them? Do they need a manager to have hope of career success? I.e To do proper match-ups so they can keep an unbeaten record for the first 20 fights or so? There are great fighters like Emmanuel Augustus who should have been more successful if they were well managed. Also, how would the start of a career differ for the Haney's of this world, or successful Olympians, compared with someone who starts their career with zero rep? Thanks