Expert: Jack Rose - 7/26/2009

Question
I recently was watching a boxing bout on tv with a star prospect trying to build a record facing a guy in his pro debut with no amateur experience who was said by the announcers to be "trying it out" and he was dropped immedieately.  The guy had a job in construction and just turned pro out of the blue to give it a run.  I have absolutlely no intentions becoming a pro boxer but was just curious how easy it is to pro.  I know obviously everyone would recommend an extensive amateur background but where do these guys come from that just turn pro with no prior experience and what is the bare minimum you have to do to be in a pro fight.  The guy was well conditioned and in good shape but he was mismatched and this happens alot in boxing.

Answer
Frank,

This has been a problem in pro boxing for many years. Just about anybody can turn pro. It is up to the state's athletic commission their fighting in to set the requirements to become a pro boxer. Presently it is pretty easy to get a license. In most states you only need to fill out a form and pay a fee. It is really old school, let's just give a man a chance to make a living (if you will).

But there really needs to be some prerequisites. They should require experience and in my opinion, the approval of at least three unrelated trainers that the boxer has the skills to box effectively and most importantly, a minimal ability to protect themselves.

These guys are trying to make a quick buck. Some of them are down on their luck and others just don't have enough job skills to find work. Others are street fighters and are out whipping everybody on the street but get a dose of reality when they fight a boxer. People who don't know the fight game think fighting is just fighting and if I kick everybody's ass on the street then I should try boxing. It's no contest. But, the good thing for trainers is that these street fighters can be molded into fine boxers in some cases but you have to get them in the amateurs, they have to be seasoned like a fine steak.
So anyway, the boxing game still needs some tweaking. Some people like the rawness of it and the fact it's rough around the edges. But the truth is, boxing would be more respected by sports enthusiasts and a whole new demographic of people if just any joe blow was not allowed to turn pro. In every fight that goes down, either boxer should have at least A CHANCE to win the fight, but as it is, the fights like the one you mentioned the "opponent" has no real chance of winning....so the fans leave with a bad taste in their mouth because it was such a joke.

It's a crazy game.....  maybe that's why I love it, unpredictable and off the wall....ha

thanks, good question !