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I apologize for making this post, but I don't really have anyone else to ask. I am hoping some of you might have some constructive advice for a boxer. Long story short, I was a good fighter as a teenager (15-16). I won the state and national golden gloves at that age group in the 201+ division. A lot of stuff went on in my life shortly thereafter that and I did not box again until this past January. This past Saturday night I lost in the PA Golden Gloves State Championship by decision. The guy wasnt better than me, just had an akward style and I couldnt adjust. I definitely won the first round and maybe the second on some score cards...he just wasnt my style. Maybe my ring rust or lack of recent experience had something to do with the loss. I am at the point right now having just turned 25 years old that if I want to do anything I need to turn professional. Should I stay amateur a while longer and get a few more fights just to get some more experience? I don't know what to do. I was expecting to win on Saturday and have a bit clearer path...Just not so sure now.
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Unless you are broke and have NO skills I would say don't even think of it. Every, or almost every boxer that I've seen, who turned pro very late, AND MADE A SUCCESS, was either an Olympic medallist or competitor, or a national or world amateur champion or equivalent, boxing since childhood. Very few began at age 25 with little training and experience. It's a very tough life. of strict dedication. You're taking the chance of being crippled for life or killed for the gratification of a mindless blood-loving group of boxing fans, to whom you're just so much meat-on-the-hoof.
Of course if you're 6'6" and 250 lbs, it might help. You'd need good connections and a good boxing lawyer, and make sure not to tie yourself into a bad agreement. There seems to be some active boxers on this site who might help. It could depend on whether a trainer might just see something about you which he fancies. Like picking a horse at a racetrack.
If you are so alone that you have no support, no one to ask except this site, you are in a bad way.
My opinion. -
Get an education and become one of the professionals:
- Finance (trading in derivatives)
- Engineering
- Medical
- Lawyer (become a promoter..
)
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Being around boxing nearly all of my life, I give the following advice.
1. If your heart is in the sport never take time off as an amateur. If you are not ready to compete, then get good sparring in with good opponents preferably professionals if they are available in your area. I would take a good two years of consistent fighting before considering going pro. You need to face all types of styles and learn ways to defeat them.
2. Honestly assess yourself. What do you have to offer boxing as a fighter? Are you special? What kind of professional would you be? What is your strongest and weakest asset? What are your habitual mistakes in the ring and can they be corrected?
3. How hard do you train? Look at yourself in all phases of training and give yourself an honest grade.
4. Move to a place where you can get some good training and sparring. This will give good advice and a good assessment of your career because you'll get some good sparring in with top amateurs and pros. You remind me of a good friend of mine, Jeff Horen out of Boston who retired with a pro record of 6-6-4. He had his shot a few times by getting fights on big cards but it never really panned for him. He was a good fighter but lacked defense and literally every pro fight he had was a war. In the end he had a short career but he felt like he had a long career. Going to a good gym will let you know if you've got what it takes.
5. Before going pro you should have an entrance plan and end exit plan. You don't want to go pro for the sake of going pro. Why? There are tons of slime bag promoters that will exploit you. They'll give you room and board, pay you a salary of about $2000-3000 (if your decent)...but you'll purses will be about $1000 - $5000 which means you'll get really nothing after paying the promoter/manager and corner men. They'll have you sparring with guys that will beat the **** out of you sometimes right before your fight.
6. Finally, there are two alternatives: 1. If you know that you aren't championship material but a good all around fighter. Then consider becoming a professional sparring partner. Contrary to belief, the money isn't that bad, but you have to become known and you have to move around a bit. You'll take fights that you know you can win and never accept any challenging fight that could tarnish your rep. I knew a guy in Vegas who was a future champion from Cuba but got in a car accident causing all the big promoters away from him because of his conflicting medical evaluations. He decided to become a professional sparring partner and worked for him. He sparred for Diego Corrales, Freitas, and many others. The 2nd alternative is to give it a shot a pro for awhile while gaining an education. When boxing doesn't pan out for you, you stay connected to the sport on a professional level; promoter, manager, trainer, fitness coach, etc.
God bless and I hope this helped. This advice may not apply to you but it was given in sincerity and love for the sport.Comment
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Its not too late at the age of 25, but if you need confirmation from people on the internet it probably is for you. You can still do well at that age but you have to know for a fact you have what it takes.Comment
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listen to rocking
.......DROComment
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I disagree. If you're good enough to fight nationally as an amateur he probably needs to shake some ring rust. 25 is a late start for the pros so I'd say do it not and work your way up slowly gaining experience against different styles to gauge how much work you need and what you're actually capable of. Just my opinion.Comment
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by his words I had taken it as he wants to turn pro now. aswell fighting in the nationals as a junior is great but 10 years later with nothing inbetween is going to make his climb a steep and treturous one. He hasn't even had an open bout yet. He should enter himself into the PAL National if it's still rolling. Win that tournament and you might have a chance with the pros. When I fought there I encountered somebody similar to you, he had some how won his preliminary bout and we met in the semis. While I will give him credit for finishing the fight he took a horrible beating. Once I saw that he had a chin I just coasted trying to conserve my energy for the next fight the following day. Skill wise he just couldn't measure up, he simply lacked experience. Maybe this guy here can measure up but it's very unlikely. Jumping to the pros immediately will most likely get him hurt. If he can't even beat the amatuers whats he even thinking of the pro game for?.......Rokin'
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