Starting Late- Fighting Heaver?

[KrnxMan86]

I've been going to my local boxing gym for just over a month now, and I'm currently 20 years old.
I want to be a decent pro and I've been training really hard since joining the gym and have a strong level of dedication, attending 3 times a week as recommended.

One thing I've noticed is that the majority of late starters in boxing fight at heavier divisions, and on another boxing forum, I've heard people say things like "In the HW division you can be late starter if you have the talent" and "Lower weight fighters burn out quickly. If you're a fly or bantam, you could be past your prime by age 27".

Personally, I've been a keen gym goer for the past 4 years, and have build up a muscular physique, and I weigh significantly more in muscle than my natural physique. I no longer train like a bodybuilder but I still do compound and functional training.
If I keep at it, I'd probably be fighting at light heavyweight, or cruiserweight, I feel I'm too short for heavyweight being 5'10.

What I'm trying to ask is should I try to fight at a heavier weight division given my late start in boxing? Will I not be able to live up to the skill and agility relied upon by lower divisions since I didn't start till recently nor did I have a strongly athletic background?

[Ren28]

Depends on how good those physical gifts are.

[Hnnnggg]

It really depends on how your body reacts to the weight you’ll feasibly put on and how that plays into your style.

I’m short at 5’9 but hover around 160 even though I’m very lean, but since I’m pushing 30 I’m not sure how much more I could lose. Most guys at middleweight are 5’10 or taller. My preference is to fight on the outside and box, but because I’m one of the shorter guys for the division I’ve had to adjust my style. I’d probably benefit from shredding down because I’m not the most comfortable getting into and working in the pocket.

Only you and possibly your trainer if you have one will know what’s best for you.

[OctoberRed]

It all depends on your physical gifts. Have you had any amateur fights?

[KrnxMan86]

It all depends on your physical gifts. Have you had any amateur fights?

Not yet. I've not done any sparring yet or even been shown much in the way of technique. I've been attending boxfit classes to build a fitness base and show commitment.

How do you know which division is the best for you?

[tcbender]

Not yet. I've not done any sparring yet or even been shown much in the way of technique. I've been attending boxfit classes to build a fitness base and show commitment.

How do you know which division is the best for you?

Wait until you spar for the first time lol, then you'll get a much better bearing on your physical gifts.

I came into the boxing gym in extremely good shape. I had been training regularly and been a high level athlete for over 10 years, and while I loved my first 3-5 sparring sessions it also really helped me realize things that I needed to work on.

Now that I've drilled those things for hours on end my real physical gifts (including just way better cardiovascular fitness than anyone else) really allows me to win almost every rd against much more experienced (and generally heavier) competition.

For amateur boxing the division should be whatever weight you naturally walk around at while being in your best shape. I wanted to get down to 152, but as an amateur I decided against it. After a longer period of caloric deficits and very strict dieting I was able to get down to 156-158, but was a killer on the mental.

Being about 5'9"- I also prefer to be able to get under their punches and inside (even though I have an abnormally large reach), and have found that I honestly don't like fighting opponents shorter than me (as getting under them is a little more difficult). If I were to fight at a lower weight class theres a good chance that I would be fighting people that were closer to my same height, while fighting at a higher weight class most individuals are going to be a bit taller.

I'm fairly stocky, thick legs wide shoulders, and have always felt athletic and fast and explosive at higher weights (weighing up to 190lbs when I used to compete in organized sports through college).


Sorry for my run on sentences etc lol.

Get in the gym, and get to sparring. I'm very hands on and will learn much better that way. It also gives you an idea on what you need to drill (my stance and technique surprisingly was good, my footwork was terrible, my breathing needed work even though I was in great cardiovascular shape, had to work on head movement, and all that).

Don't get discouraged and keep working hard. There's no shortcut for hard work, and it becomes apparent when you're in the gym.

[Lomadeaux]

3 times a week? Bro you need to be running every single morning and going to the gym every single night.

[Warrior Scholar]

I've been going to my local boxing gym for just over a month now, and I'm currently 20 years old.
I want to be a decent pro and I've been training really hard since joining the gym and have a strong level of dedication, attending 3 times a week as recommended.

One thing I've noticed is that the majority of late starters in boxing fight at heavier divisions, and on another boxing forum, I've heard people say things like "In the HW division you can be late starter if you have the talent" and "Lower weight fighters burn out quickly. If you're a fly or bantam, you could be past your prime by age 27".

Personally, I've been a keen gym goer for the past 4 years, and have build up a muscular physique, and I weigh significantly more in muscle than my natural physique. I no longer train like a bodybuilder but I still do compound and functional training.
If I keep at it, I'd probably be fighting at light heavyweight, or cruiserweight, I feel I'm too short for heavyweight being 5'10.

What I'm trying to ask is should I try to fight at a heavier weight division given my late start in boxing? Will I not be able to live up to the skill and agility relied upon by lower divisions since I didn't start till recently nor did I have a strongly athletic background?

my advice to you is to enter a spartan animalistic mindset and this is only able by not ejaculating. so if a woman is behind your motivations for this, forgetaboutit. if not, then, save it up and see where your hormones lead you, kid. live like a monk now and kick ass, the other guys wont be doing what im talking about, and youll roll over em. its an absolute sport, dont play w it.

[Warrior Scholar]

over time, kickin ass and workin hard feels way better than bustin a nut.

[Ren28]

I train 6 days a week, take sunday off but that sunday i'm doing active recovery stretching/foam roll etc.