What age shold a kid be allowed to start boxing?

My son is 6 and loves watching boxing. We have a heavy bag in the house and some pads and gloves but I'm not a trainer and quite frankly don't know what I'm doing.

I phoned my local amateur boxing club and was informed it's against the law for my son to take up boxing until he is 10. He's not even allowed to train in the gym.

Like I said my son loves watching boxing he has grown up so far around me my Dad and my Grandad who all love the sport. He watches most fights every weekend with myself and would rather be hitting his heavy bag than playing computer games.

My problem with this is he participates in football and also loves the sport and I'm worried that by the time he is 10 he may not be as interested in the sport anymore. Due to the fact he can't participate in it with kids his own age. I'm sure he won't be the only one.

I fully understand that we don't want to see young kids in the ring throwing punches at each other but he can go and take part in a number of martial arts and also wrestling.

I personally don't see what harm teaching young kids some basics would do. Surely it would better prepare them for when it is legal for them to enter the ring.

This seems a strange and inconsistent law that isn't good for the future of boxing. I'm not claiming my kid will be a boxer when he grows up far from it. My worry is him and many others may lose interest in the sport due to lack of participation.

Organise a back yard street fight against another kid? Once every weekend?

Valuable experience

I phoned my local amateur boxing club and was informed it's against the law for my son to take up boxing until he is 10. He's not even allowed to train in the gym.

Really? I'm sure Naseem Hamed walked into the Ingle gym when he was 7??

i think it's 11 before they can compete, the gym i used to box for before packing up had kids as young as 9 sparring though, just couldn't compete til about 11

Dazstarr wrote:I phoned my local amateur boxing club and was informed it's against the law for my son to take up boxing until he is 10. He's not even allowed to train in the gym.

Really? I'm sure Naseem Hamed walked into the Ingle gym when he was 7??

That was a while ago Daz.

Steven_89 wrote:i think it's 11 before they can compete, the gym i used to box for before packing up had kids as young as 9 sparring though, just couldn't compete til about 11

Not sure about the specifics but I'm in Scotland apparently it's worse up here than down in England

Unfortunately most ABC’s are reluctant to offer training for children until the age they can get carded, understandably as resources and the trainers time are spread fairly thinly.

But as you say other combat sports put classes on for much younger age groups, a long time ago now but I did marital arts from a really young age, but, due to my dad I had always been interested in boxing, so started at an amateur club in my early teens, probably your best bet.

Failing that look on youtube there’s plenty simple guide things for basic footwork and how to throw punches.

As to what age they should be allowed to box competitively, I always find it a bit much when you have 11 years olds fighting in front of a few hundred drunk blood thirsty punters.

Kids should be FORCED to box at 5yrs old, they should have to do exercises whilst wearing wrist/ankle weights and forced to do several hundred sit-ups before bedtime. Then when they're training, the parents should film it on their camcorder whilst shouting abuse in the guise of encouragement at them. This footage should then be put on YouTube and then the parent should post a link to a boxing website asking everyone to tell him just how brilliant his child is.

Shortly thereafter, when concern for the child's welfare is voiced, the parent should call everyone a racist and abuse them relentlessly. This should take the form of questioning their parentage, sexuality, marital status and, in the case of one poster, their actual species.

Then the parent should go on to tell everyone just how rich they are which should result in another poster doing research to discover that the OP was actually convicted of a criminal offence. This will result in the OP disappearing for a sustained period of time, only to resurfaced sporadically to question whether or not our ambivalence towards Amir Khan means we're all racists.

I'm not really interested in him fighting competitively. I did as a teenager and it was horrible. Grown men cheering when you get hurt isn't great when you're 12.

That would be his decision when he is older. It's just because he is interested in the sport. Was hoping to see him get taught the basics and see how interested he really is.

I'm not really interested in him fighting competitively

Blindfold a local kid from the estate and give him a pair of gloves?

Just my two cents

Hope it helps

Coxy I hope you're not a parent.

DAVE667 wrote:Kids should be FORCED to box at 5yrs old, they should have to do exercises whilst wearing wrist/ankle weights and forced to do several hundred sit-ups before bedtime. Then when they're training, the parents should film it on their camcorder whilst shouting abuse in the guise of encouragement at them. This footage should then be put on YouTube and then the parent should post a link to a boxing website asking everyone to tell him just how brilliant his child is.

Shortly thereafter, when concern for the child's welfare is voiced, the parent should call everyone a racist and abuse them relentlessly. This should take the form of questioning their parentage, sexuality, marital status and, in the case of one poster, their actual species.

Then the parent should go on to tell everyone just how rich they are which should result in another poster doing research to discover that the OP was actually convicted of a criminal offence. This will result in the OP disappearing for a sustained period of time, only to resurfaced sporadically to question whether or not our ambivalence towards Amir Khan means we're all racists.

WTF?????

prettyboykev wrote:WTF?????

In joke about someone that used to post on 606.

Im sure there are some white collar / boxing fitness type things in your area that will teach him basics, but approach them with caution im not sure about a lot of the white collar gyms springing up.

My nephew is five and his mother told us he was really interested in football. So, we took him into the garden and set up the mini nets and discovered, to little or no surprise, he was more interested in the fact that the nets made a cool bridge for the pocketful of toy cars he'd brought with him.

The fact that a five year shows interest/no interest in a subject now, often has little or no bearing on what he's going to want to do in later life

Scottrf wrote:

prettyboykev wrote:WTF?????

In joke about someone that used to post on 606.

Flew right over my head then.

True Dave, i had a penchant for flashing my willy around when 5.

Sadly i didn't turn out to be a pornstar.

DAVE667 wrote:My nephew is five and his mother told us he was really interested in football. So, we took him into the garden and set up the mini nets and discovered, to little or no surprise, he was more interested in the fact that the nets made a cool bridge for the pocketful of toy cars he'd brought with him.

The fact that a five year shows interest/no interest in a subject now, often has little or no bearing on what he's going to want to do in later life

I know what you mean at first I thought this was a phase that would pass but it's been just over a year now. He is getting more interested in the sport by the month.

coxy0001 wrote:True Dave, i had a penchant for flashing my willy around when 5.

Sadly i didn't turn out to be a pornstar.

I sincerely hope that penchant has since abated.

coxy0001 wrote:True Dave, i had a penchant for flashing my willy around when 5.

Sadly i didn't turn out to be a pornstar.

prettyboykev wrote:I know what you mean at first I thought this was a phase that would pass but it's been just over a year now. He is getting more interested in the sport by the month.

What's his AT P4P Top 10?

coxy0001 wrote:True Dave, i had a penchant for flashing my willy around when 5.

Sadly i didn't turn out to be a pornstar.

Thats probably because it hasn't grown since then.

coxy0001 wrote:True Dave, i had a penchant for flashing my willy around when 5.

Sadly i didn't turn out to be a pornstar.

Thought you were going to say you still enjoyed flashing around to this day...phew!

Scottrf wrote:

prettyboykev wrote:I know what you mean at first I thought this was a phase that would pass but it's been just over a year now. He is getting more interested in the sport by the month.

What's his AT P4P Top 10?

He's writing it up just now.

He doesn't know the ins and outs of the sport.
TBH he would watch any boxing although he does know who Ricky Burns, David Haye and Manny Pacquiao are.

my mates son gets to train at a local gym he only 7.they think hes got something so they let him spar and trai with some other young uns.dont think they would let them in if it was illegal.hope that helps

Looks like it's illegal but they may be a way round it. Not even bothered about him sparring wanted him to learn some basic skills and see if he was still interested. Cheers mate I'm going to look into it a bit more.

under 10? thats crazy, amatur boxing is probably more safe than alot of other sports.

eddyfightfan wrote:under 10? thats crazy, amatur boxing is probably more safe than alot of other sports.

Under 10's ski jumping springs to mind

prettyboykev wrote:

DAVE667 wrote:Kids should be FORCED to box at 5yrs old, they should have to do exercises whilst wearing wrist/ankle weights and forced to do several hundred sit-ups before bedtime. Then when they're training, the parents should film it on their camcorder whilst shouting abuse in the guise of encouragement at them. This footage should then be put on YouTube and then the parent should post a link to a boxing website asking everyone to tell him just how brilliant his child is.

Shortly thereafter, when concern for the child's welfare is voiced, the parent should call everyone a racist and abuse them relentlessly. This should take the form of questioning their parentage, sexuality, marital status and, in the case of one poster, their actual species.

Then the parent should go on to tell everyone just how rich they are which should result in another poster doing research to discover that the OP was actually convicted of a criminal offence. This will result in the OP disappearing for a sustained period of time, only to resurfaced sporadically to question whether or not our ambivalence towards Amir Khan means we're all racists.

WTF?????

This is the kid that Dave is probably referring too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbQkoih0SZM&feature=channel_video_title

eddyfightfan wrote:under 10? thats crazy, amatur boxing is probably more safe than alot of other sports.

Like i said in the OP he is allowed to take part in various martial arts and even take wrestling classes. I was dumbfounded. I never expected him to do sparring just learn some basic skills.

I'm not really interested in him fighting competitively. I did as a teenager and it was horrible. Grown men cheering when you get hurt isn't great when you're 12.

That would be his decision when he is older. It's just because he is interested in the sport. Was hoping to see him get taught the basics and see how interested he really is.
................................................................
That's just fighting home and away though isnt it, its like playing football, or anything if you go away the kids home support will want him to win, i had 15 amateur bouts, fought in various places but can honestly say i never got 'bloodthirsty drunken punters', i got people wanting the home fighter to win against me but we both got a round of applause at the end of the fight, the kids are 100% unlikely to suffer my little brother is still boxing and i go to see him fight wherever he fights he loves it, as do most kids who do it, they buzz of the atmosphere more than anything

I never had the bloodthirsty drunks either. But I did go to some pretty hostile places when I was young. My boy loves watching it. He goes at his heavy bag like a maniac.

DAVE667 wrote:Kids should be FORCED to box at 5yrs old, they should have to do exercises whilst wearing wrist/ankle weights and forced to do several hundred sit-ups before bedtime. Then when they're training, the parents should film it on their camcorder whilst shouting abuse in the guise of encouragement at them. This footage should then be put on YouTube and then the parent should post a link to a boxing website asking everyone to tell him just how brilliant his child is.

Shortly thereafter, when concern for the child's welfare is voiced, the parent should call everyone a racist and abuse them relentlessly. This should take the form of questioning their parentage, sexuality, marital status and, in the case of one poster, their actual species.

Then the parent should go on to tell everyone just how rich they are which should result in another poster doing research to discover that the OP was actually convicted of a criminal offence. This will result in the OP disappearing for a sustained period of time, only to resurfaced sporadically to question whether or not our ambivalence towards Amir Khan means we're all racists.

That is brilliant, good old Adad eh? Now he was a tool of the highest order.

coxy0001 wrote:True Dave, i had a penchant for flashing my willy around when 5.

Sadly i didn't turn out to be a pornstar.

I heard your a legend at the public bogs though.

Personally, I would never let my boys box. If they want to do a combat sport, something lower impact like a martial art or wrestling is good enough. I loved boxing as a kid and my heroes were guys like Hagler and Duran (and Bruce Lee in fact). Was desperate to box, but am thankful to my parents for forbidding it. Did various martial arts as a kid and semi-contact tournaments. I think it's a similar buzz - crowds, trophies and camaraderie, but without the brain trauma.

As an aside, I accept other sports are more dangerous, but I don't want them doing anything stupid like Rugby either.

If it makes me a hypocrite for being a boxing fan, fck it - blood is thicker than mud.

a few youngsters take up martial arts to bridge the gap until they are allowed to box.

although i was in a boxing gym and there was a lad there no older than 8.

As an aside, I accept other sports are more dangerous, but I don't want them doing anything stupid like Rugby either.


If ever i wasm to have a kid rugby would be the first sport i'd get him involved in. You can't beat the camerarderie that it produces and it also teaches kids respect. If you want to keep them away from a sport try football. Perhaps the biggest scourge on our society today

Thinking about the OP, I suppose the main question should be: How much money is involved?

Michaels, Sean wrote:As an aside, I accept other sports are more dangerous, but I don't want them doing anything stupid like Rugby either.

If ever i wasm to have a kid rugby would be the first sport i'd get him involved in. You can't beat the camerarderie that it produces and it also teaches kids respect. If you want to keep them away from a sport try football. Perhaps the biggest scourge on our society today

I played rugby for local club - colts (spelling? < 17 anyway). Two of our side were basically punchy they'd been knocked out so many times. My inside centre would get KO'd every single game.

Tennis and croquet for my little angels

coxy0001 wrote:True Dave, i had a penchant for flashing my willy around when 5.

Sadly i didn't turn out to be a pornstar.

LMFAO!!!!!

Fists of Fury wrote:

DAVE667 wrote:Kids should be FORCED to box at 5yrs old, they should have to do exercises whilst wearing wrist/ankle weights and forced to do several hundred sit-ups before bedtime. Then when they're training, the parents should film it on their camcorder whilst shouting abuse in the guise of encouragement at them. This footage should then be put on YouTube and then the parent should post a link to a boxing website asking everyone to tell him just how brilliant his child is.

Shortly thereafter, when concern for the child's welfare is voiced, the parent should call everyone a racist and abuse them relentlessly. This should take the form of questioning their parentage, sexuality, marital status and, in the case of one poster, their actual species.

Then the parent should go on to tell everyone just how rich they are which should result in another poster doing research to discover that the OP was actually convicted of a criminal offence. This will result in the OP disappearing for a sustained period of time, only to resurfaced sporadically to question whether or not our ambivalence towards Amir Khan means we're all racists.

That is brilliant, good old Adad eh? Now he was a tool of the highest order.

Yeah if Adad was here now he would be having kittens posting up his latest vidoes of his poor son being forced to his pads non stop for 5 minutes... poor kid.

BALTIMORA wrote:Thinking about the OP, I suppose the main question should be: How much money is involved?

In what sense?

Not really bothered how much it costs me (within reason) if it's something he wants to do.

prettyboykev wrote:

BALTIMORA wrote:Thinking about the OP, I suppose the main question should be: How much money is involved?

In what sense?

Not really bothered how much it costs me (within reason) if it's something he wants to do.

I meant purses...

BALTIMORA wrote:

prettyboykev wrote:

BALTIMORA wrote:Thinking about the OP, I suppose the main question should be: How much money is involved?

In what sense?

Not really bothered how much it costs me (within reason) if it's something he wants to do.

I meant purses...

I don't carry a purse always preferred a wallet?

Each to their own though Balti. I don't discriminate if you want to carry a purse that's up to you mate.

prettyboykev wrote:

BALTIMORA wrote:

prettyboykev wrote:

BALTIMORA wrote:Thinking about the OP, I suppose the main question should be: How much money is involved?

In what sense?

Not really bothered how much it costs me (within reason) if it's something he wants to do.

I meant purses...

I don't carry a purse always preferred a wallet?

Each to their own though Balti. I don't discriminate if you want to carry a purse that's up to you mate.

Only if it goes with my heels. Hey, if it's good enough for Oscar...