He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life. Muhammad Ali
Boxing is one of the most complete sporting disciplines. It’s also becoming increasingly popular.
But, what are the benefits of boxing? And what are the mental disadvantages of boxing? Can you find work as a professional boxer?
Read on to discover the answers to all your questions.
The Struggles of Becoming a Professional Boxer
There’s a big gap between practising in a boxing club and becoming a world titleholder!
Very few professional boxers live off their earnings from boxing matches. While there are many physical and mental benefits to boxing, it’s a small minority of professional boxers who earn the big bucks.
Like with top-level athletes across all sports, there are very few who earn their living professionally. If you want to earn a good living from fighting, you need to be gifted, patient, and put the effort in.
How Hard is it to go Pro in South Africa?
Boxers have to surmount quite a number of obstacles before they can become professionals in the sport. They need to be dedicated to their training, win regular fights at amateur level, and remain in peak physical condition.
You'll also need a licence to make a career of boxing.
You can get a boxing licence from Boxing South Africa (BSA). You'll need to be at least 18 years old to apply for a professional boxer's licence in South Africa, and if it is your first registration you must be under the age of 35.
You can also get a licence from an international federation such as the World Boxing Association (WBA), World Boxing Council (WBC), World Boxing Organization (WBO), or the International Boxing Federation (IBF).
When you hold a professional boxing licence you will be prohibited from using boxing techniques outside of boxing clubs.
Boxing is the ultimate challenge. There's nothing that can compare to testing yourself the way you do every time you step in the ring. Sugar Ray Leonard.
If you use boxing techniques in self-defence, you can end up in a lot of trouble for use of excessive force. Some boxers have been imprisoned for using their skills outside of training sessions or the professional ring. Don’t be one of them!
Check for good boxing classes on Superprof.
The Disadvantages of Boxing Professionally
So, what are the risk factors of boxing?
Injuries
One of the biggest disadvantages of boxing is the risk of injury either during training or during a fight.
Whether you do traditional boxing, kick-boxing, savate, or Muay Thai, you need to be aware that you run the risk of:
- Black eyes
- Cut eyebrows
- Fractured jaws
- Brain damage.
Of course, these are the risks to professionals. If you’re boxing just for fun, there should be very little physical contact and you’ll be boxing against a punching bag or pads.
Normally, a professional boxer will regularly practise defending. They’ll learn how to keep their guard up, move around, and dodge their opponent’s attacks. However, everyone makes mistakes.
How dangerous is boxing really?
Even with all the protective equipment such as mouth guards, cups, boxing gloves, and hand wraps, injuries aren’t uncommon among boxers. A blow to the head can knock out any boxer and injuries often occur when boxers make mistakes.
Certain weight categories are required to wear helmets during fights.
Find out more about becoming a professional boxer.
Time Spent Training
In boxing, you have to train a lot.
Just like with other combat sports and martial arts, there are many techniques to learn.
Fighters need to work on all of the following:
- Cardiovascular system and cardio performance
- Precision and power of attacks
- Movement
- Dodging
- Guarding
- Footwork
- Speed
- Breathing
- Knowing their limits.
Through training and experience, you’ll form useful habits that you can use during a boxing match.
To form a habit, though, you’ll need to practise regularly and over a long time. The sacrifices boxers have to make is enough to put even some of the most determined competitors off.
Other Disadvantages of Boxing Professionally
A boxer needs to find opponents so that they can climb the rankings and increase their earnings.
Professional boxers need to run their careers like a business and employ a team that will prepare them for fights and manage their training. In addition to working with a manager and promoter, in a match, each boxer will usually have 3 people in his corner ho each perform a distinct role:
- A trainer who will coach the boxer during the fight.
- A second who assists the boxer with anything he needs during the match, like giving water, removing gloves, and giving advice.
- A cutman who tends to cuts and swelling.
Unfortunately, boxing follows the rule of supply and demand, which means most boxers don’t become millionaires from fighting.
Pros earn their money from fights, sponsorship, pay per view, etc, but they’ll need to constantly be at the top of their game. Losing a fight can lose money and potential future sponsorship earnings.
Even after a defeat, though, a boxer can learn from their mistakes and set their sights on winning the next fight. If you want to win a title you will constantly be looking for stronger opponents to challenge and maximise your earnings.
There are multiple weight classes and it’s not uncommon for boxers to move up or down different weight categories.
Previously, there were 8 weight classes, however, today, professional bodies recognise the 17 following boxing weight classes:
- minimumweight (48 kg*)
- light flyweight (49 kg*)
- flyweight (51 kg*)
- super flyweight (52 kg*)
- bantamweight (53.5 kg*)
- super bantamweight (55 kg*)
- featherweight (57 kg*)
- super featherweight (59 kg*)
- lightweight (61 kg*)
- super lightweight (63.5 kg*)
- welterweight (67 kg*)
- super welterweight (70 kg*)
- middleweight (72.5 kg*)
- super middleweight (76 kg*)
- light heavyweight (79 kg*)
- cruiserweight (91 kg*)
- heavyweight, unlimited.
*upper limit for the weight class.
Another disadvantage is that only the most famous boxers get any media attention. This attention is what gets them sponsorship deals, increasing their earnings. High-level athletes can earn incredible amounts of money as ambassadors for brands.
Find out more about starting a professional boxing career.
The Advantages of Boxing Professionally
There are many benefits to boxing, both in terms of your physical and mental health.
Boxing is great for your self-confidence, and professional boxers are in great physical shape.
You use almost every muscle in your body when you box, which is great for maintaining a healthy weight. Just take a look at some photos of famous boxers. Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao, Frazier, Klitschko, Cissokho, Stevenson, Michel Soro, Gatti, etc. all have fantastic physiques.
Thought regular training, boxers also improve their:
- Reflexes and endurance
- Flexibility
- Composure
- Control.
There’s also the prestige that comes with being a world champion or titleholder.
Boxing can be seen as an art form. The way boxers move is like dancing, and it’s hardly surprising that boxing is also known as the Noble Art.
Boxing develops agility, improves your cardiovascular system, and increases your lung capacity and endurance.
Professional boxers can also use boxing as a way to alleviate stress and improve their self-confidence.
As you can see, boxing is a complete sport and a lifestyle that can help you both physically and mentally.
Are you tempted by the idea of becoming a professional boxer?
The first thing you should do is look for your nearest boxing club and find out how to join it. Perhaps in a few years, you’ll be competing professionally.
If you dream of becoming a world champion in boxing, kickboxing, Thai boxing, mixed martial arts, or any other combat sport, find the best tutors on Superprof to help you with throwing punches, preparing for bouts, sparring, etc.
Before you pick your private tutor, there are several things that you'll need to carefully think about.
Firstly, no two tutors are alike and you need to pick the one that'll help you to get the most out of your training and set on you on the path to glory.
Secondly, there are three main types of tutorial available from the tutors on Superprof, face-to-face tutorials, online tutorials, and group tutorials, and you need to pick the one that's right for you.
- Face-to-face tutorials are one-on-one, in-person sessions between you and your tutor or coach. They'll work alongside you, tailor the sessions to you and your goals, and give you their undivided attention. They'll often also work outside of your sessions to plan and prepare your upcoming training. Of course, all this extra work will come at a cost and while face-to-face tutorials are often the most cost-effective type of private tutorial, they also tend to be the most costly per hour.
- Online tutorials tend to be cheaper than face-to-face tutorials since the tutor doesn't have to travel to each of their students and can schedule more tutorials per week. However, these types of tutorials tend to be much better for academic subjects than sports. Although you could very easily get started with boxing through online tutorials, you may reach a stage where you'll need to have the tutor or coach right there in the room with you.
- Finally, group tutorials have the coach teaching several students at once. Unlike the other two types of tutoring, you won't have your coach's undivided attention. However, you will be dividing the cost of the tutor between yourself and the other students.
Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion. Muhammad Ali
Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
