Is it possible to have a successful boxing career if you started in your late 20s?

I have never understood why, these type of questions are asked on this forum. 'Just go ahead and do it'. You are asking advice from who exactly? The forum can at times be full of people 'Who just in general lack optimism when it comes to the sport' There is a culture of accusing most boxers of using performance enhancing drugs etc I asked this question because i know there people will come up with some excuses or things that might get in the why so i must be prepared for it. Like someone just said i gonna need to sell tickets so im gonna study how i sell tickets and learn how to get the crowds. Im gonna do it anyway

I have never understood why, these type of questions are asked on this forum. 'Just go ahead and do it'. You are asking advice from who exactly? The forum can at times be full of people 'Who just in general lack optimism when it comes to the sport' There is a culture of accusing most boxers of using performance enhancing drugs etc

You’ll never know unless you try. Stop thinking about it and do it. F.Y.I Sergio Martinez started older. Sergio "Maravilla" Martínez started at the age of 22. He had his first professional fight on 27 December 1997 in Ituzaingo, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

You just said it man, i got nothing else. And why i did it because it was like finding my purpose in life. I know its late but I'm gonna do it anyway, btw thank you for your words it made me realize that i need to rush my plan and rearranging my steps Don't listen to that guy, or people like him. Don't waste time listening to people who immediately try to talk you out of pursuing your dreams, no matter what they are or how unrealistic they seem to Joe Shmoe. If you're serious about boxing, PM me. I can set you up locally in a gym and will even teach you some fundamentals outside of the gym when things normalize. Also, start posting in the training forum. Do your homework, study fights, get in shape, and immerse yourself. If you have any kind of a sports background, it will help. If you play basketball, it won't be hard for me to show you fundamentals.

Okay, are you SURE you have nothing else? Have you tried finding and joining a trade union (plumbing, electrical) or some type of labor skill (HVAC, carpentry)? What about waste management for your area? Like, you really better be at the end of the line to be considering professional boxing. The only way I'd consider boxing at such a late age is if I had nothing but roofing jobs left or something. If that's the case, and this is the way you're going to try to feed and provide for yourself I have some suggestions, some of which will be dependent on your location and where or who you're training under. You said you're 140lbs, so this is probably going to be extra hard on you. Starting out boxing is all about getting a crowd. You will be expected to sell tickets. Find some type of niche character you can sell to the crowd. Find out who your local promoters are and try to build some type of personal relationship. If you can make these promoters money they won't care who you are fighting. Make sure you get matched up for easy touches AS LONG AS YOU CAN. You want to stay local, fighting the absolute worst fighters, just so you can get some experience and pad your record. But back to drawing a crowd and making your promoter money... you won't get this kind of option if you aren't making your promoter money. If you can't make your promoter money they'll use you to make some money. So get good at selling tickets (and I don't mean this figuratively, you will literally be expected to sell tickets). I could honestly go on and on, but you really need to take a BIG step back and think about exactly what you want here. If you want to be champion and the best and all that bull**** you literally have zero shot. Do not bother, you will be vastly outclassed when you near the top. If you need to make money and you actually think boxing is your best option then you need to look at it as a business. The most important thing in any business is SALES. Find yourself a drunk rowdy crowd that will back you, get them to your fights. Work with your local promoters to let them know, you can get asses in seats and they buy drinks and concessions at a higher rate than the normal crowd. Once again, if you're trying to be world champion and you're imagining being on top of the world don't bother. I used to want go pro, not be some title holder or anything, I just wanted to get some local fights, get a record, put in some work, spar some top level guys, all that. I started boxing at 18 and kept boxing until 24. Around 22 I started training out of st pete boxing where Keith Thurman trains. I got to spar Keith and it was something else. It wasn't that disheartening getting beat down by Keith. What was disheartening was getting beat down by some of his sparring partners feeling the vast gulf of difference. Way better options out there to make money rather than getting beaten up. More than realism you're looking for excuses for a man not to chase his dreams. If you were my close friend and you did this to me it would be the last time I ask you for advice.

You just said it man, i got nothing else. And why i did it because it was like finding my purpose in life. I know its late but I'm gonna do it anyway, btw thank you for your words it made me realize that i need to rush my plan and rearranging my steps Okay, are you SURE you have nothing else? Have you tried finding and joining a trade union (plumbing, electrical) or some type of labor skill (HVAC, carpentry)? What about waste management for your area? Like, you really better be at the end of the line to be considering professional boxing. The only way I'd consider boxing at such a late age is if I had nothing but roofing jobs left or something. If that's the case, and this is the way you're going to try to feed and provide for yourself I have some suggestions, some of which will be dependent on your location and where or who you're training under. You said you're 140lbs, so this is probably going to be extra hard on you. Starting out boxing is all about getting a crowd. You will be expected to sell tickets. Find some type of niche character you can sell to the crowd. Find out who your local promoters are and try to build some type of personal relationship. If you can make these promoters money they won't care who you are fighting. Make sure you get matched up for easy touches AS LONG AS YOU CAN. You want to stay local, fighting the absolute worst fighters, just so you can get some experience and pad your record. But back to drawing a crowd and making your promoter money... you won't get this kind of option if you aren't making your promoter money. If you can't make your promoter money they'll use you to make some money. So get good at selling tickets (and I don't mean this figuratively, you will literally be expected to sell tickets). I could honestly go on and on, but you really need to take a BIG step back and think about exactly what you want here. If you want to be champion and the best and all that bull**** you literally have zero shot. Do not bother, you will be vastly outclassed when you near the top. If you need to make money and you actually think boxing is your best option then you need to look at it as a business. The most important thing in any business is SALES. Find yourself a drunk rowdy crowd that will back you, get them to your fights. Work with your local promoters to let them know, you can get asses in seats and they buy drinks and concessions at a higher rate than the normal crowd. Once again, if you're trying to be world champion and you're imagining being on top of the world don't bother. I used to want go pro, not be some title holder or anything, I just wanted to get some local fights, get a record, put in some work, spar some top level guys, all that. I started boxing at 18 and kept boxing until 24. Around 22 I started training out of st pete boxing where Keith Thurman trains. I got to spar Keith and it was something else. It wasn't that disheartening getting beat down by Keith. What was disheartening was getting beat down by some of his sparring partners feeling the vast gulf of difference. Way better options out there to make money rather than getting beaten up.

Nate Campbell did it. He beat the fountain of youth Juan diaz. Father time vs the young buck. Dewey bozella who was robbed of a life and career due to false imprisonment lined up one pro fight in his forties or fifties thanks to a coach at bhops gym. At first he failed at getting licensed but when he put his all into it blood sweat and tears he got the licensing and went on to beat a journey man hw and also won the Arthur ash award for showing most bravery and courage from ESPN. Also I believe, Jameel mccline stepped into a boxing gym in his 20s after doing a jail stint. He had redeemable qualities: a bohemeth of a man. Just like Dewey kept his mind free while being held captive physically. Just like Nate Campbell can punch and spent his days as a gym rat. Just like Johnny tapia, he only felt peace thru fighting. Fighting to him was easy,, life was hard. So these guys obviously had a talent, they pushed for the sky, and even Monte Barret, he came home one day with blood from his eyes and ears and he was gonna give up, but he hopped in his car the next day to go to the gym because even though he was scared, it would make him a better fighter. Some guys just work on the loading docks, which keeps them in tip top shape. Mike mollo, Cinderella man, etc. I think these are called the intangibles, as teddy atlas' would say, I think that's the word, you either have it or you don't. Look at kimbo slice, old and asthma, went down as one of the greatest in time. Some young guys still don't have it all, even with proper technique baby bull could not punch hard, but he made up for it in speed. You're 25 years young and you're undefeated. You're a whole different animal without that L. The imagination has no limits, reality does. Crush those boundaries and kick some major ass!

I was asking the same question OP is asking ten years ago. Now after ten years of half assing it, I really wish I would have went all in back then.

You just said it man, i got nothing else. And why i did it because it was like finding my purpose in life. I know its late but I'm gonna do it anyway, btw thank you for your words it made me realize that i need to rush my plan and rearranging my steps u might change ur mind when u spar someone v good and shows u how far u really have to go, if u can get past that ass kicking maybe u can do something late on

I'm not going to bull**** you. You have pretty much no chance. Could you work in the boxing industry and make a living? Maybe. Could you make a living as just a fighter? Probably not. Could you become champion? Like WBA/WBC/WBO/IBF Champion? Not unless you have a connected team already backing you. Even then, it's going to depend on your weight class and a lot of luck for you to get lined up to fight a weak champion. You're starting to box at 25 years old. These top guys have never done anything BUT boxing. History is sparsely littered with champs that didn't come from that background, but they're rare. Most of those fighters got lucky, either with their timing or with meeting the right people. There are tons of champions that weren't really that great. If you're an okay professional boxer you can probably earn if you play your cards right. If you can beat your local challengers you can probably pump up a record fighting locally and try to time yourself to get a bigger money fight. You really shouldn't be trying to box at your age unless you've got nothing else left. Also, if you're 25 now you want to get into the pro ranks faster. Waiting until you're 29 to start fighting as a pro is really late. You just said it man, i got nothing else. And why i did it because it was like finding my purpose in life. I know its late but I'm gonna do it anyway, btw thank you for your words it made me realize that i need to rush my plan and rearranging my steps

I fella I know did it. Sean “Masher” Dodd. He came to a gym I used to train at Ventura ABC in his mid 20’s after a history with drugs, mixing with the wrong crowd etc. It completely turned his life around, he turned pro in his late 20’s and went on to win the commonwealth title. So yeah it can be done... it’s not easy though. Not a real title.

Well now im 25 years old i have a bad history with smoking and alcohol and i started boxing for 5 months now, i train hard run 3 times a week i cut all my bad habits and i was wonder if I stick to the training and maybe turn pro at 29 is there a chance to have successful career and maybe be champ, knowing im ready to risk everything for it? I'm not going to bull**** you. You have pretty much no chance. Could you work in the boxing industry and make a living? Maybe. Could you make a living as just a fighter? Probably not. Could you become champion? Like WBA/WBC/WBO/IBF Champion? Not unless you have a connected team already backing you. Even then, it's going to depend on your weight class and a lot of luck for you to get lined up to fight a weak champion. You're starting to box at 25 years old. These top guys have never done anything BUT boxing. History is sparsely littered with champs that didn't come from that background, but they're rare. Most of those fighters got lucky, either with their timing or with meeting the right people. There are tons of champions that weren't really that great. If you're an okay professional boxer you can probably earn if you play your cards right. If you can beat your local challengers you can probably pump up a record fighting locally and try to time yourself to get a bigger money fight. You really shouldn't be trying to box at your age unless you've got nothing else left. Also, if you're 25 now you want to get into the pro ranks faster. Waiting until you're 29 to start fighting as a pro is really late.

You’ll never know unless you try. Stop thinking about it and do it. F.Y.I Sergio Martinez started older.

That is not the same as someone showing up to a boxing gym for the very first time at 25. Maybe you are right. I wanted to say that those guys who started late wear themselves not so hard as those who started early, and have a little bit more time.

Bernard Hopkins started late and was able to fight till 50 Not being that guy but just saying if you look into a lot of the "late starters" like hopkins or Tarver or others, usually there is more to the story. Hopkins first pro fight was at 23 but that was because he went to prison 5 years. He had 99 fights as an amateur and did very well at 94-5. That is not the same as someone showing up to a boxing gym for the very first time at 25.

Even when you look at the timelines of a lot of "late starters" they usually started by like 23-24. OP needs to really think about hobby vs career. You can do it for fun sure but will it be a career with a lot of money, probably not.

What weight are you? usually Cruoisers and heavyweights can be good later. It is alot hard the smaller the weight class for some reason. that was a joke)) if he would of been serious, he should of just train, without asking questions. I stay around 144, at ww.

Yes it is possible if a guy has tons of natural talent and trains hard and has a good trainer. Your years of self abuse with so much drinking and smoking have set you back a lot. Even if you don't make it as a pro you have probably added years of healthy life by losing those bad habits. Good luck and keep up your healthy life style.

Bernard Hopkins started late and was able to fight till 50 This. It's all about hard work and dedication. Take care of your body, stay in shape, and be a sponge in the gym. Many people make a late run and are fine. TS, I'd post these kinds of questions and questions about actual training in our training section.

Bernard Hopkins started late and was able to fight till 50 Put in alot of work while in prison tho