Is it too late to start boxing?

First and foremost, apologies for this narcissistic post however I could not resist tapping into the experienced knowledge base on this forum.

Goal:
- To box professionally

Background:
- 29 years old, 5ft 9in tall and weigh 75kg (12 stone), medium/skinny build
- 6 months of boxing experience picked up 14 years ago, when I was 15
- Director in a company; working hours consist of 9am until 6pm - Monday to Friday
- In the last two months I have been hitting the gym, on average 4 times a week. Usual routine consists of 3 days of 3km runs followed by weights, rotating around chest, arms, shoulders and back, which is then followed by 10mins of ab work. The 4th day is usually a 2 hour kick-boxing class, which is mainly used for fitness; skipping, ab work and squats.
- Diet in the last few months consists of:
7am - Oats with sultana and apple, followed by a multivitamin tablet
10am - Bran Flakes with sultana and banana
12pm - 2 tins of tuna with mayo and sweetcorn
2pm - Half a family tub of yoghurt with fruit (grapes & bananas)
4pm - Philadelphia cheese on crackers
7pm - Either grilled chicken breast or steak or fish with steamed vegetables
10.30pm (after gym session) - protein shake

* I was having 2 boiled eggs every morning, but I am getting a reaction on my skin when I take them so I've taken them out of my regular diet and only eat them on an occasional basis
** I had asthma as a kid which I have mainly grown out of, however I still occasionally need to use a pump
*** I don't smoke and drinking is kept to once a week, but usually 70cl of Vodka

Where I need advice:
- At 5ft 9in tall and my current weight, that would make me a super middleweight. I've met former Super Middleweights Joe Calazaghe and Steve Collins; needless to say, they would both kick my bum by their sheer size, let only fighting ability. Bearing in mind I have a skinny/medium build then what fighting weight should I aim to boil down to?

- Are there any boxing gyms you can recommend in North or East London? Repton has been mentioned to me a couple of times

- What is the route to fighting professionally? Do I need x number of amateur bouts first?

- How long do I need to get into fighting shape/training/sparring? Are there any benchmarks that would show when I'm ready from a fitness standpoint? 10km runs?

- How should I tweak my training and diet inorder to make it more specialised for boxing

- Is my asthma or age really going to stop me achieving my goal?

Go to a gym.....and they'll tell you all you want to know...

My advice if you want to see if you've got what it takes or not....

Walk in to the gym ...go to shake hands with the trainer and when he puts his hand out.. crack him on the chin...If you are still in one piece a minute later...then maybe you have something!!!

As Truss says, go to a gym - they'll tell you all need to know. Firstly you better see of you like it or not. See how you fancy getting hit on the end of the nose.....

http://www.eastsideboxing.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=13

SugarRay/Truss,
That's part of the question; recommendations on gyms in North or East London?
I've found the following link: http://www.boxinggyms.com/addresses/england.htm , but they aren't rated.

Scottrf,
That is an amazing link!!! Thank you very much

i'd just like to say i dont think age makes that much difference, there are plenty of late comers to the game.

i have just started boxing myself (im 24 in a couple of weeks), i smoke like a chimney, drink like a fish (well not as bad as i used to but a few times a week at least) and my idea of a salad comes on top of a big mac, but i think the most important thing is you enjoy it- if you enjoy it enough then the dedication of eating right, working out, spending time in gym seem easier. what i'd do is like me see if you actually enjoy it then if you do look into it further.

youlikedags wrote:
SugarRay/Truss,
That's part of the question; recommendations on gyms in North or East London?
I've found the following link: http://www.boxinggyms.com/addresses/england.htm , but they aren't rated.

Scottrf,
That is an amazing link!!! Thank you very much

I can't recommend any in that area but my advice would be to go to the nearest club to where you live. You'll soon get sick of travelling miles to a club, even if you think it's better than a nearer one. If it turns out you don't like the nearest club for whatever reason then you can always move to another.

SugarRayBray wrote:

youlikedags wrote:
SugarRay/Truss,
That's part of the question; recommendations on gyms in North or East London?
I've found the following link: http://www.boxinggyms.com/addresses/england.htm , but they aren't rated.

Scottrf,
That is an amazing link!!! Thank you very much

I can't recommend any in that area but my advice would be to go to the nearest club to where you live. You'll soon get sick of travelling miles to a club, even if you think it's better than a nearer one. If it turns out you don't like the nearest club for whatever reason then you can always move to another.

The Ultrachem TKO Gym in canning town is open to the public, i was in there a few weeks ago with my brother and Mitchell was in there, also Akaash Bhatia

Young_Towzer wrote:

SugarRayBray wrote:

youlikedags wrote:
SugarRay/Truss,
That's part of the question; recommendations on gyms in North or East London?
I've found the following link: http://www.boxinggyms.com/addresses/england.htm , but they aren't rated.

Scottrf,
That is an amazing link!!! Thank you very much

I can't recommend any in that area but my advice would be to go to the nearest club to where you live. You'll soon get sick of travelling miles to a club, even if you think it's better than a nearer one. If it turns out you don't like the nearest club for whatever reason then you can always move to another.

The Ultrachem TKO Gym in canning town is open to the public, i was in there a few weeks ago with my brother and Mitchell was in there, also Akaash Bhatia

So a taxi driver and a quitter?

At 29 just go the gym and enjoy yourself in the knowledge that it will never be anything more than getting fit and a bit of fun for you, even heavyweights would struggle to start at nearly 30 so dont put pressure on yourself.

My old club fought Repton down in Chigwell in 2006, good times. My advice to you mate would be to go along and enjoy it, 29 is a bit old to be getting into it and you could get hurt or put yourself off if you rush it. The only way to get a push in the professional game is to be a decent amatuer, but i'm sure your only allowed to box amatuer until you are 33.

He could still compete as an amateur in the masters from 34 through to 40.

hogey wrote:He could still compete as an amateur in the masters from 34 through to 40.

True, the ABAE have that, not sure if it's the same in Scotland yet.

hogey wrote:At 29 just go the gym and enjoy yourself in the knowledge that it will never be anything more than getting fit and a bit of fun for you, even heavyweights would struggle to start at nearly 30 so dont put pressure on yourself.

Could still fight, took me 4 month to get my medical and a bout, he could do the same.

You're never too old to be punched in the face.

Sounds to me like you are having some kind of an early mid-life crisis.

Mate if it's something you want to do just go for it, any boxing gym worth it's salt will have trainers that can give you the advice and direction you need. Don't let age be a factor, at 29 you're still in your physical prime, but with a bit of extra experience upstairs. If you're asthma is controlled by inhalers it won't be a problem, I also had asthma as a kid but in recent years have done triathlons, played footy to at a very good standard and am running 10k's in 37 minutes. Don't over use your inhaler as the lungs can become resistant to salbutamol, but always have it handy when you're training. Your diet sounds good, reminds me of the 'Brad Pitt Fight Club Diet' I did about 4 years ago - eating six small meals per day and protein shakes. I wasn't boxing or anything, just being vain I guess, but I got my physique more shredded than it's ever been - but the diet and training regime was too much of a pain to keep up long term! Fair play to you if you can stick it. I have to say 168lb seems a shade heavy if you're 5'9", most super middles are around the 6 foot mark. 160 (middleweight) may be a more suitable weight. Hagler was 5'9" and a middle, stocky as hell, whereas the current top middle Sergio Martinez is 5'11". I imagine you'll find a natural weight when you start the training, but don't let silly things like age or asthma get in your way - if you don't give it a crack now you'll only regret it in years to come when it really is too late. Good luck.

I'd say that if you really want it then you need to throw yourself into it as quickly as possible as really you've left it a little late, when I was doing a bit of Thai Boxing back when I was 18/19/20 I'd do an hours practice then go on and do weights for an hour and then circuits and then aerobics and not even feel it the next day and I'd be doing this 5 times a week and still be out doing 10 mile cross country followed by a kick about on Sunday, most mornings I'd aim to do 400-500 crunches some of my mates were doing over a 1000 over the course of a day, I was 6ft and 12 Stone at the time, and even though I'd say I was fit I'd still have to watch it when doing the full 5 round stretch when sparring. Age was the factor as when you're young the body recovers so much quicker also I was at Uni so didn't have the work routine to fatigue me. If you're not up to this sort of fitness then you need to be for your weight and I'd say you need to loose a few pounds as well. Anyway good luck.

Some excellent feedback; thank you all.

Sugar Boy, thanks for the tip on the asthma. 10km in 37mins is very impressive mate. I'm not fat at all, but I have similar reservations to you about my height and weight ratio.

Young_Towzer; 4 months is a good target considering professional's usually have 12 week (3 month camps). Then again they don't have full time jobs, so the additional month for the first bout seems realistic.

Lightsout, valid point about younger bodies being able to recover quicker, but my game plan is to hit this hard for the next 5 years and retire by 34. It might be much sooner if I get KO'd It might workout OK, due to the fact that I haven't put my body through the rigours of training and fighting from a young age.

I agree with the general consensus that it's now or never, and I know I'll regret it if I don't give it a shot now.

Called up a local club (as per the above advise) and I was told they wouldn't take me on due to my age. Told them I wasn't interested in just a 'keep fit', that I wanted to fight and that I had prepared in my local gym for the last 2 months so I wouldn't be way behind everyone in the boxing gym when I started. That seemed to change the trainers opinion around and he agreed to take a look at me tonight, but said 'no promises'. Kicking myself for going 5-aside footie last night, but fingers crossed for this evening!!

Good luck.

Definitely...good luck...let us all know what they think, I think you'll find someone who'll take you on, by the way will you keep the day job as you'll be coming into the office with the obligatory black eyes etc, I've been sparring with my brother a few times at a Gym in Leighton Buzzard and we don't wear headguards (because we're stupid) and have come into work a little beaten up and it's been the talk of the office....

Its never too late!

It all comes down to how much you want it. How much heart you have. 29 is still young, and if you're fit the world is your oyster - really. If you have a lot of hunger and desire, if you can take a punch - then that combined with an ounce of talent alone will make you worthy of competitive boxing. Go for it, and don't let the doubters bring you down.

I'm 33 and I still feel I could offer something were I to take it up (amateur level of course, nothing more) - but I don't have the dedication. The pros out there are all role models however and show you what can be achieved by keeping yourself fit, keeping your body a temple as it were, watching your food and drink. It's a lifestyle in its enterity. The Klitschko brothers are not exactly brimming with youth, but their boxing-lifestyle of dedication and discipline is out of this world.

matt skelton was 35 when he turned pro....

eddyfightfan wrote:matt skelton was 35 when he turned pro....

True, but he had a lot of kickboxing and MMA experience already.

I have spoken to professional boxing coach Kevin Campion via Twitter, and he said he will make some comments for you when he gets back home later on today.

I think that the oldest fighter to turn professional was 63 on his debut, so you've still got plenty of time.

Atila wrote:I think that the oldest fighter to turn professional was 63 on his debut, so you've still got plenty of time.

Who?

SugarRayBray wrote:

eddyfightfan wrote:matt skelton was 35 when he turned pro....

True, but he had a lot of kickboxing and MMA experience already.

That's quite young for a Heavyweight though, not so much the other weights.

Scottrf wrote:

Atila wrote:I think that the oldest fighter to turn professional was 63 on his debut, so you've still got plenty of time.

Who?

Sorry Scottrf. It seems like I've given some bad info. The fighter in question didn't turn pro, it was an amatuer fight that he had.

http://www.wvpubcast.org/newsarticle.aspx?id=15103

Still a good effort. Not sure I'd feel comfortable punching a 63 year old.

Scottrf wrote:Still a good effort. Not sure I'd feel comfortable punching a 63 year old.

Would be strange fighting a 63 year old, i hope he picked on someone his own age.

Hi Mate, I am a professional Boxing Coach licensed by the BBBofC, what I would say is its not too late to start but professional boxing is quite difficult to get into without an amateur background. When you apply for your license they will ask if you have a professional coach but more importantly a professional licensed manager. A pro manager can only be someone who has held a licensed with the bbbofc for over 3 years that way ensuring that the manager has a good understanding of the sport and how the board want the sport to be run. So when you apply for your license you really need to have a manager in place, (the board tend not to entertain your application if you have no amateur background and no manager). My advice would be go and have a few amateur bouts first the board will take your application more seriously this way. also you will get a good idea of the level you will have to be at as there as some fantastic amateurs out there in this country.

A lot of pro boxers have full times jobs as well so the working thing might not be a issue but you will have to be mindful of the dedication it would take. You will have to travel, you will have to spend hours upon hours in the gym training. REMEMBER even the rudey poo pros are tough and very fit.

The diet / weight i cant even suggest unless i see you. dropping weight i can only advise by seeing your body frame and body fat % etc. I am based in Essex so if you ever wanted to pop down to the gym for a couple of sessions advice etc. you would be welcome so longs you arrange it with me first. You can also see my lads training and get an idea of what i put them through. You can contact me through this forum or via email kevinjcampion@gmail.com

Hope this helps a little

Kev, welcome to the forum, and thanks very much.

This boxing forum is really flying! Pro coaches and Q&A sessions with people like Martinez...glad I moved over!

Fists of Fury - thanks for the welcome glad i can help
License_007 - seems like a good forum mate, glad to help where I can

So to summarise Monday's trial session with the local gym. The trainers were rude as hell and basically told to get stuck in straight away to see if I was good enough. Asked them what they wanted me to start on first and their response was 'get on with it'.

After an hour of training they came up to me and said I could join the gym. At the time I was thinking great I've proved myself, but I went back again on last night and I feel the gym is just not very good.



Fists of Fury,
I expected good responses on this forum, hence my post, but you've just pushed the bar mate. Nice one!

Coach Kev Campion,
Really appreciate you taking the time out and posting your advice. I'll email you shortly to arrange a training/assessment session as I'm in Essex too.


All,
Thanks for all the good luck messages. I'll stop posting about myself now :-)

Make sure you let us know how you get on mate, be interesting to get updates as your progress!

Good luck mate, good to see that you are willing to at least give it a go.