Expert: Jack Rose - 1/11/2008

Question
QUESTION: I have had a private boxing gym in L.A. for the last 25 years.
I fell into training stars for movies and got out of the fight world. My son is now 17 years old and has been training for 10 years. He is 6' and 168lbs. My plan is to have him go from amateur novice to golden gloves to Olympics then turn pro and then champ.
Big plans and why not.
With skills and footwork of a young Ali and Sugar ray he should go far.
He trains 6 to 8 hours a day and has a lot of sparring partners everyday. I do not want him to waste fighting in matches that do not advance him in standings.
What is the least amount of fights needed to enter each new level of boxing match, such as what is needed to enter golden gloves and so on.

I hope that he will be the next great white hope


ANSWER: Hello Chris,   

Your son is very fortunate. It sounds like you have brought him along at a nice pace. I would definately get him started in golden gloves. He is a good age and already has experience so things can move along a fairly good pace.
How long he fights novice is up to his coach. Golden Gloves suggests you have 15 to 20 novice fights before turning open. Your son would likely make the move quicker. Maybe 7 or 8 fights just by the way you described him. Even if he could fight open after one novice fight I would recommend getting 7 or 8 novice anyway because you should look at novice as just a learning tool. He will learn things outside of his raw skill. Like ring generalship, inside and outside fighting strategies, how to adapt mid fight and so on...
The novice fights will go on his record but the open fights are the ones that really count. You cannot advance to regional championships as a novice, only open. Once he turns open you'll want to get as many fights as possible. As an open fighter, he could conceivably fight any other open fighter. This means if he has had 3 open fights and you enter him in the regional, he could draw a national golden gloves champion in the first round with 150 fights. The amateur season heats up from nov thru may with the regionals and nationals coming in around feb - may. I would turn him open soon after May of 08 or 09, assuming he is ready, and rack up some open fights for the next year because he will be a lot more relaxed fighting a national champ with 20+ fights than with 3. He'll have to work to get those 20+ in one year. Boxing has changed, kids are turning pro early and  open fights are harder to get than the old days when I fought. Also, enter him in the ringside national tournament if you can. It is a great learning experience. He can do it as a novice or open fighter. This tourney is starting carry a lot of clout in the amateurs.
OK, he must win his weight division in his regionals to advance to the national golden gloves. He will represent his region at his weight at the nationals with other winners as a team. So there is a team title and individual title. If it's an olympic year and he wins the nationals he qualifies for the olympic trials. He must emerge as either the champion or runner-up at the Olympic trials and then win one or two bouts at the Olympic box-offs. If he is the Olympic trials winner, he has to win one bout to make the Olympic team whereas the trials runner-up has to win twice at the box-offs.
In short, there is no specific number of bouts to advance but you do have to be open.
To get started he needs to register with USA boxing. He can do this at the golden gloves. You can train him yourself is you like, just remember you'll have to get certified if your not already.
So that's about it. Probably more than you wanted to know ...ha
Very exciting having a son boxing. I wish you the best of luck. Keep me posted.

Later,

Jackson
www.fightersdomain.com
www.heavyweightcontender.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: If Spencer signs up now at 16 as a junior does he have to resign at 17 in March 08 as an adult. I know the license runs on a calender year but what about junior (age 16 or under 17)status, does it change or does he have to re apply at 17 as an adult.
Chris www.steeleboxer.com

Answer
Hi Chris, No, he does not have to register again when he turns 17. Nothing changes, his age will automatically classify him as an adult. Other than his regular annual registration that you mentioned he will be good to go.

By the way, I think we have a mutual friend. Go to my website at www.fightersdomain.com and scroll down until you see the guy sitting on the ring drinking from a water bottle. Does he look familiar?  Let me know if you know him.

Later,

Jackson