Top 10 Things a Wannabe Pro Boxer Needs to Know!

The life of a professional boxer is not as glamorous as it first appears. Very few professional boxers hit the big time and earn millions of dollars; most are forever relegated to the twilight zone of small-time fixtures against forgettable opponents. Despite this, hundreds of wannabes spend their spare time training in the hope of becoming the next Carl Froch or Gennady Golovkin.

Their career path might begin with an athletes-usa.com sports scholarship to an Ivy League university, or they might be spotted throwing punches at an amateur bout and catapulted on to the road to stardom. Either way, there are a lot of things youngsters need to learn before they embark on the path towards a career in professional boxing.

1. You Need a Hard Chin

Boxers with glass chins go down fast when they take a hard punch. It doesn’t matter how fit you are, or how fast you move – if you can’t take a solid hit, you won’t last long in the ring.

2. Don’t Take Risks

Professional boxing is a lucrative career, so why risk that career by doing stupid things? If you love fast motorcycles or skydiving, then great, but save it for when your career is over.

3. Respect Your Opponent

Respect costs nothing, but it will improve your standing with the audience and your fellow boxers. Lots of boxers make a huge show out of putting their opponents down before a big match. Rivalry sells tickets, but remember, these guys train as hard as you do, so have some respect for their commitment to the sport.

4. Cardio Fitness Matters

Boxers need to be able to fight, but what many young boxers don’t realize is that boxers also need to be able to run – and keep on running! Cardio fitness is very important. If you can’t keep on moving for the duration of a fight, you’ll lose.

5. Turn the Other Cheek

Professional boxers can’t afford to be ruled by their emotions. Emotion is detrimental to performance in the ring, and outside the ring it could cost you your license. If you allow some idiot to wind you up with an insult – and you end up knocking them out (or worse) – it could spell the end of your career.

6. Take Care of Your Hands

A boxer’s hands are his most important tool, so they need to be carefully looked after in the ring and during training sessions. Tape your hands carefully at all times.

7. Weight Matters

Boxing is a weight dominated sport. If you don’t hit your weight target, you can’t fight. It’s that simple. Diet and training all play their part, so treat it like a science and don’t do anything that might be detrimental to your weight.

8. Rest is Important

You can’t train 24/7, so make sure you factor in adequate rest and recovery periods. These are very important!

With great reward comes great sacrifice, but if you think you have what it takes to be a professional boxer, then go for it.