Expert: Jack Rose - 11/8/2008

Question
Hi, my names Eric.  I'm 5'8, and weigh around 150lbs or so. I'm 17 and am currently going to school at UCF in Orlando.  I've never boxed before at all though i do have a few family members who used to. I've always loved boxing and now i want to start.  I'm fit, healthy, extremely muscular, and in overall great shape.  I've already googled "Florida boxing gyms" and found a few potential places to go to. Here are my questions

When i first go to the gym, will i be trained personally or just free to do my own thing?

How long before i start sparring with someone?

How long before my first amateur fight?

How long before my first pro fight?

What should i look for in a boxing gym?

And much will all the protective gear and everything cost?  if you have any tips or anything you think i should know please tell, infact please tell me as much as you can think of about starting up.  thanks for your time.

Answer
Eric,

It depends on the gym but they should assign you a trainer and you'll fight for his team representing a weight division. If you go to a private gym there is no telling how it is run as they can do what they want. Hopeful you have a golden gloves gym near you as they have the best program by far.

If you come in at least 3 nights a week you should be sparring within 2 months. It's monitored sparring though. Sparring had to be done while teaching to be effective. Your trainer should stop you alot at first to correct your mistakes.

When your able to defend yourself sufficiently and develop a good offense you should get a fight. This should around a month after you start sparring.

First you have to turn pro before I could even begin to predict your firs pro fight. But generally speaking you should get as many amateur fights as you can before you turn pro. I wouldn't even consider it myself unless I had at least 75 amateur bouts.

You should look for a gym that's dedicated to boxing, no MMA stuff. A gym that has trainers who know their stuff. You should be able to register there as a USA amateur boxer and fight out of that gym in USA /golden glove sanctioned bouts.

If you go to a golden gloves gym your only cost will be a mouthpiece $10, a pair of handwraps $10 and your yearly registration fee $40, all approximates.
Private gyms where you pay a monthly fee are all different. I don't even think you can register there as they do not have golden glove sanctions. You will pay for the same equipment plus maybe your sparring stuff.

Your trainer is very important. He will be the one to shape you into the fighter you will become. Make sure he gives you plenty of teaching time.... instead of just saying "jump rope for 20 minutes, do 8 rounds on the bag, 6 rounds on speedbag then do 3 sets of situps and then your done" .... he should work with you one on one perfecting your technique, making sure your getting in shape, push you to get it done right, stop you from cheating on situps...you know, somebody who shows he cares that your doing it right.

good luck,
jackson