Expert: Alan Kahn - 2/8/2007

Question
WHAT WOULD YOU SUGGEST TO AN HIGHLY SKILLED ATHLETE THAT  WOULD LIKE TO START A CAREER IN BOXING? HOW WOULD YOU GO ABOUT THAT? I HAVE MY OWN GYM TO WORK OUT SO I AM VERY SERIOUS ABOUT DOING THIS AND WHERE CAN I FIND A GYM RESIDING IN LITHIA SPRINGS, GEORGIA.

Answer
Hi Nick,

the desire to start a career in boxing might depend on a few things, such as your age, your physical condition, your location and ability/desire to travel, your financial situation (to pay for lessons from a legitimate boxing coach) etc. Since you "own your own gym", is that a dedicated boxing facility? or a weight oriented, fitness facility. Not many boxers train in the local weight room fitness areas. You really need a dedicated boxing facility, with well trained partners to spar with and knowledgeable coaches to watch your training and sparring. The training facility also needs to know about the USA amateur http://www.usaboxing.org/10.htm and perhaps professional boxing sanctions. Forget about training a few months and getting a professional boxing match from a sanctioned body on your own. Find someone who really knows the sport and your local area connections.

IN your area, looks like Douglasville, GA is the nearest facility listed in the boxing gym directory.  

http://www.boxinghelp.com/georgia.html

Atlanta would also be a good bet for decent training facilities with knowledgeable amatuer coaches.


you might go on a few boxing forums to see if there are any boxers from your local area that have some suggestions.

http://www.rosstraining.com/forum/index.php
http://www.worldboxingforums.com/forum/index.php?
http://www.boxingscene.com/forums/
http://www.eastsideboxing.com/forum/

you have to join the forums as a member to post, but they are well worth it.

a few other interesting links

http://www.augustaboxing.org/misc/start_ownclub.html
http://www.augustaboxing.org/about/index.html
http://www.nationalpal.org/
http://www.goldenboypromotions.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Boxing_Association
http://www.ringside.com/TournamentInfo.aspx

At Ringside boxing, call and see if you can contact John Brown, the owner. Ringside is a major sponsor in USA amatuer boxing.

I don't coach amateur boxers, so this is the best advice I could give you. Good luck in your training and boxing career.

sincerely,

Alan Kahn
author, The Speed Bag Bible