Training to become a boxer is difficult – you need consistency and dedicate at least several hours a day for training. To be a proficient boxer (capable of self defense), you will need at least 1 year of consistent training.
If you wish to be a professional boxer, it will take longer. With daily training and dedication, it is possible to become a professional boxer after 2-3 years. This requires training 5 days a week for at least 2-3 hours.
Regardless, boxing is an enjoyable sport and is often cheaper than its other martial arts counterparts. If you’re looking to learn boxing professionally, it’s definitely worth your time, especially if you’re still young.
Many people have asked me if it’s too late for them to get started, and to them, my reply is always the same. It’s never too late to do what you love. Not only does it help you learn self-defense, but it also helps you lose weight and stay fit.
In this article, I will discuss the steps required to go pro in boxing and other things that will show you how difficult (or easy) it is to become a boxer.
Content outline:
- 9 steps for a beginner to go pro in boxing
- How Long Does It Take To Be a Boxer (As Beginner)?
- How Much Training Does It Take To Be a Boxer?
- What Is a Good Age to Start Boxing?
- What Age Is Too Late to Start Boxing?
Table of Contents
9 Steps for a Beginner to Go Pro in Boxing
Step 1: Understand the Training Requirements
Boxing is a physical sport that requires a lot of training and preparation to go pro. To become a professional boxer, you need to be in good physical condition and have the stamina to last for several hours in the ring.
Boxing is not an easy sport. It requires a lot of dedication and strength to become successful. If you think it’s not hard, you may waste your time and energy. It is essential to realize this before committing to becoming a boxer.
You also need to learn complex boxing techniques quickly and have strong sparring partners who can help you improve your skills which takes us to our next point.
Step 2: Find the Right Coach & Boxing Club
A good boxing coach can make or break your career as a boxer. They will be responsible for teaching you the techniques and strategies necessary to succeed. It is crucial to find someone who is experienced and knowledgeable in boxing.
A good coach should have a great work ethic meaning they should be hardworking, and they should motivate you to train even when some days you may be feeling a bit lazy. Having a coach who stays by your side constantly is what will help take your career from a total beginner to a pro.
But what good is a great coach when you don’t even go and train? This takes us to our next point.
Step 3: Get in Regular Training Sessions
Professional boxing requires a significant amount of practice, and you need to give it everything you got. Regular training is a must if you want to achieve that. It’s recommended to train for at least 5 days a week for at least 2-3 hours per day.
Dedication and proper sessions are a must if you want to achieve success. You need to be consistent in your efforts to become a professional boxer. If you cannot commit regularly, it is likely that your career as a boxer won’t be successful.
Step 4: Get Fit & Train Your Stamina
You’ll need both the persistence and the power to last throughout a long fight to be a professional boxer. Boxing is a physical sport that requires both endurance and strength. To get fit and train your stamina, you’ll need to participate in boxing workouts to increase your aerobic capacity and muscular strength.
Not only should you focus on boxing workouts, but you should also focus on general exercises like running, as this will help you build up your stamina so that you can last longer in fights.
Step 5: Learn the Rules of Boxing
The boxing ring has four sides; the front, back, left, and right. There are 12 rounds in professional matches at a championship level, while 10 or fewer rounds may be at lower rankings. Amateur matches have less than 5 rounds.
Boxing is a sport that involves two people, one being the boxer and the other being the opponent. The boxing ring is divided by a line drawn down the middle.
Judges are usually seated at the ringside and just the fight on a 10-point system. Usually, most rounds are scored at 10-9, with the better boxer gaining 10 points. However, the judges can also give a 10-10 score if they find that both boxers performed equally.
Step 6: Prepare for Competition
Boxing is a demanding sport to be successful at. It takes a lot of training and preparation to go pro. You need to be good at many aspects of the sport, such as strength, speed, conditioning, and technique. Studying your opponent is just as crucial as training for your fight.
Once your coach decides that you’re ready to compete, you can get a license and enter amateur competitions. Slowly but surely, you can work your way up and participate in more and more contests.
At professional levels, boxing isn’t just about throwing punches. You have to get into your opponent’s mind in order to win, so start watching your opponent closely, the way they fight, and videos of their previous matches.
Creating a new strategy for every new opponent is crucial to be fully prepared for a fight.
Training and studying your competition is crucial when going pro.
Step 7: Workout and Diet Plan Creation
It is also essential to make sure that you are eating the right foods so that your body can fuel its intense workouts. A balanced diet will help to reduce inflammation and promote muscle growth.
When creating a diet and workout plan, it is essential to remember that being a boxer requires a lot of dedication and hard work. To become a professional boxer, you will need to properly put in the necessary time and effort to train.
When creating your workout plan, be sure to allow for enough rest so that you don’t over-train yourself. Finally, be consistent with your routine to see positive results over time.
Step 8: Training Camp Preparation
Training camp preparation for professional boxers is intense. To transition from amateur to professional, the boxer must be in top condition both mentally and physically. The physical conditioning required of a professional boxer is highly rigorous.
Boxers must be able to bench press 400 pounds, run a mile in under four minutes, and do pull-ups with 25 pounds added to their body weight. Many boxers also participate in circuit training that consists of sprints, jumps, and weightlifting.
Mentally, a professional boxer must be prepared to be a pro fighter. This includes dealing with negative criticism from fans or fighters who are not as committed to their craft, managing finances effectively, and maintaining focus during long fights.
Step 9: Compete and Win
Being a professional boxer is a demanding and challenging career. The training and preparation required to go pro are intense, and there are many obstacles. However, with hard work and dedication, anyone can achieve their boxing goals.
How Long Does It Take To Be a Boxer (As Beginner)?
It can take anywhere between 1-3 years to be a professional boxer if you work on it consistently, depending on the amount of time and effort and your physical state. Being a boxer, especially professionally, requires you to have a lot of endurance and stamina, which need extensive training, especially as a beginner.
Suppose you are looking to foray into the world of professional boxing. In that case, you will need to be in excellent physical condition, have a rigorous and disciplined training regimen, and be able to dedicate a great deal of time and energy to your boxing career.
The boxer’s training and preparation are definitely not for the faint of heart. Generally speaking, it takes an average amount of time (6-8 months) to become a professional boxer.
This includes both the initial training period (which can vary depending on your individual goals) and the years required to hone your skills and build a name for yourself in the sport. It may take up to 1-2 years for some people who aren’t naturally drawn to it.
Regular practice and a commitment to listening to and learning from the instructor are required to master the fundamentals. Some students are excellent at listening to coach comments and benefit substantially from it, while others do not take the process of learning seriously enough to progress.
Some people just have the innate aptitude, awareness, and rhythm of learning new abilities by observing and then doing.
Like any martial art, Boxing necessitates a certain amount of learning devotion. You must aspire to be better than you would the last time and return for it.
How Much Training Does It Take To Be a Boxer?
Generally speaking, it takes 2-3 hours a day to train for a professional boxer. Boxing is a physically and mentally demanding sport. It takes a lot of training and preparation to go professional.
A short boxing camp lasts 6-8 weeks, whereas a more extended camp can last 10-12 weeks.
A boxer needs to be in excellent shape, have strong muscles and bones, and withstand a lot of punishment. They also need good hand-eye coordination and reflexes.
However, this can vary depending on your individual goals and training regimen. Some boxers choose to attend a boxing training camp, which may provide them with a set training plan.
Shorter training camps usually have a maximum of two spikes of additional sessions incorporated into their training schedule. On the other hand, more extended training camps would progressively raise their workout load to 2-3 spikes.
Finally, if you want to get in shape quickly and effectively, you’ll need to integrate endurance, stamina, strength workouts, and routines.
Excellent exercise methods are running, high-intensity interval training, sparring, mitt work shadowboxing, weightlifting, physical conditioning, and boxing drills. Always remember to work out with vigor!
What Is a Good Age to Start Boxing?
Specialists usually recommend starting at 9-10 years for children. Boxing is a great sport to start mastering at an early age. It teaches kids to control anger and learn to have the patience or even to let off steam. This type of strenuous training encourages the production of endorphins.
Starting off at an early age is good, but starting out too early can cause frustration for a lot of children. It’s best not to force your child to start boxing, as it might give them a reason to quit altogether. However, once your child starts training, they will start to build discipline, stamina, muscle memory, and good habits.
Although you shouldn’t expect to see an 8-year-old at the gym working hard to become the next Floyd Mayweather, children should be taught to practice a healthy lifestyle at an early age.
What Age Is Too Late to Start Boxing?
Most experts suggest that before 25 is a good age to start. However, a lot of it also depends on how fit you are. Although it’s not too late to start boxing, it can become challenging to achieve professional status if you start late.
For those who wish to compete, tournaments are held at most age levels. There are opportunities at any age. If you’re older, then you should consult your trainer first before starting a training regime. A 50-year-old’s boxing strategy is going to be clearly different than a boxer in their early 20s
Conclusion
Boxing is a skill accessible to anyone at any age or skill level. Following the steps provided in this article can be a great way to get started. The bottom line is that it’s never too late to get started on your journey to becoming a professional boxer.
The right coach and going to the gym regularly are crucial to achieving your goals. I hope this article helped you better understand what you need to start your journey to become a professional boxer.
