I want to get VERY far in boxing.What do I do and who do I have to know ??

Answer 1

You gotta start an amateur career first....which means join a gym and then once you are ready, they will put you on amateur cards.

Answer 2

You have to be good, very good.

If you are still young, aim at the Olympics. Many popular professionals started there. It will also give you some interesting training as the scoring is different.

Fighting for a club or Golden gloves will also highlight your skills if, you are good, very good!

Answer 3

When I get asked how to go about getting started in boxing competively... I often start with what not to do.

1. Do NOT buy a few bags and a jump roap and think that your going to make it. You won't.

As a matter of fact, I can almost guarentee that if I let you train for 2 months your way, somone that I have trained for 3 weeks my way will knock you flat on your ***. The reason is simple. When you try to do it yourself without any instruction, you develop bad habits such as dropping your hands, hitting the bag improperly, etc. not only is that bad for you, but its bad for a trainer, because he has to now break you of a bad habit insiead of just teaching you the correct one. You wouldnt build a house that you were going to live in whithout learning how to do it correctly first, think of boxing the same way.

2. Do NOT train with Ballys or a Golds or with any other health club trainer and expect to become a champion. You won't.

There is no certification for a boxing instructor, so anyone can throw a towel around their neck and claim to know what they are doing. I see it all the time. If you want to be great, you need someone that has a sole focus on boxing... trainers are great in their respective forms, and while their are SOME exceptions, you must realize that a trainer's primary focus is to get you into shape. While boxing is a sport that requires extreme fitness, its not merely a goal, its the price of admission, You wont go anywhere if you arent in exceptional shape, as a matterof fact you need it jsut to get through the boxing workouts. It goes without saying that the focus is not the same. I'm not saying don't use trainers, I'm saying use them for what they are good for. I have 3 trainers: 1 for cardio, strength, and agility., all those aspects that are needed as a prequisite to be a great fighter...but my cardio trainer knows thats where her expertise ends... and dosent say anything to me about throwing a jab... the nuts and bolts of the game are taught to me exclusively by my boxing coach.

which brings me into what you SHOULD do if your considering a boxing career:

First things first, the most important relationship you will have in boxing is with your trainer, this is especially true in the amateurs. So your number one goal should be to find someone that you trust, and that is respected as a boxing coach. For me it was a man that was a family friend for many years. you want somone that knows what they're doing has a good track record, produces fighters that win, and will take your strengths and weakness into the mix to make you the best fighter you can be, NOT the fighter he wants you to be. Your trainer must give a realistic scope of your ability, build your confidence, and make sure your safety is not compromised. If that is not enough, he also has to know to trust you and know that you have to push your limits as well. It is very easy to get blinded by things like championships. I have seen too many quality contenders fade away because of a poor match-up choice made by their trainers. If you do not have anyone in mind, shop around...ask fighters, watch how they coach their fighters. this is the single most important decision you will make. take your time to make it the right one. Do your homework, I promise it will pay off in the end...


Next, do not rush into training, boxing is tough. If you go in with no foundation of endurance, you going to get winded really quick, wasting your time as well as your trainers. Its really easy to tell the kids that havent done their work... they are the ones that only go 2 rounds before they got exhausted, and the truth be told, they were a **** poor 2 rounds . While your shoping for a trainer, do your roadwork, run 6 days a week. a mile a day. I cant stress how important this is. Do pushups and situps every day, as many as you can. I would recommend that you do it for 3 weeks before stepping foot into a boxing gym...

and wen you do step into the boxing ring...Train seriously. Start slow, but make every round count, do not slack! Do all of your bag work, ring work, pad work, and then your calestenics. Power will come from correct form & training, do not take shortcuts, or rush it!!! Train even when you are not in the gym. There is nothing wrong with throwing a few jabs at the bathroom mirror.

next, after you train for a few weeks your going to start to get he-man syndrome. Which is what I refer to when a fighter is itching for their first fight. DO NOT RUSH IT. There is something about knowing you trained harder & longer than your opponent that sets you apart from them when the bell rings, so do not overlook that. While USA boxing mandate is a 1 month hold on your passbook, I would recommend at least 3 months of continuous training before even thinking of stepping into a ring. Why just beat an opponent when you can destroy them? Boxing is 80% mental; when people know that you are all business, they hesitate when stepping into that ring with you. Take your time; learn the craft, PERFECT THE BASICS. . You are going to have to push the limits every second in the ring, if the combos & punches are second nature to you, you are going to be faster out of the gate every single time.


and lastly, is something that cannot be taught.... heart.

Heart is huge in boxing, it makes you push on when there is nothing left. A champion gets up even when they cant; thats because of their heart. You have to live for the fight. There has to be a driving force inside of you, something that makes you say I will not stop. I will not fail. Understand that failing does not make you a failure, quitting does. Understand that you WILL get hit. It (sometimes) will HURT. You may lose, but pain is temporary, losing only makes you better, & quitting is not an option. If you stay faithful to the form, dedicated to perusing proper technique, you will be a very successful boxer...and thats what you need to concentrate on now. going pro is a very different aspect, and honestly if you dont make a good amatuer showing..your not going to get infront of the managers and trainers that have the ins with promoters that will get you paid big...