Expert: Melanie Ley - 5/4/2009

Question
QUESTION: I am 19 yrs old and I want to Turn pro ASAP I have trained but never fought an amature fight yet. What would you sugjest the minimum number of amature fights I should win before turning pro becuase I am wanting to turn pro by the time I am 21, becuase I understand you only get older and in boxing the youth always has a better chance.

ANSWER: I strongly suggest that you have at least two years of solid amateur experience before turning pro.  You won't have a better chance at 21 if you don't have the skills and experience to compete with the pros - most of whom have had prior amateur experience.

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QUESTION: Although its not likly it is possible to turn pro with no amature experiance and still become a great fighter right? Now if I do two years of amature and turn pro at say 23 is there still a chance that I may one day be a world champ? also what is the average pay for a pro fighter in his first fight?

Answer
If you have exceptional skills and can beat a fighter with lots of years of experience, it's possible that you could become great - but not probable.  There is always a chance in anything you do.  Most club fighters start out at $50 to $100 per round.