Expert: Alan Kahn - 8/22/2004

Question
Hello...I have a few questions that I hope you could answer for me, but first let me tell u a little about my situation.

       First of all i am a very hard working and deticated boxer.  I started boxing when I was 19 but growing up I had been in about 60 fights in school, in the streets, etc., so I knew how to fight but I never had formal training.  I started training by myself, then I was trained under the guidance of Pro boxer Chris Byrd and his father Joe Byrd and they said it looked like I had been boxing for years.  I fought my first fight in the Golden Gloves but I lost a close decision.  When I turned 20 I stopped for about 18 months because of a job I had.  I have a goal to be in the 2008 Olympics, and maybe 2012, and also win numerous other national and international compititions.  Im almost 22 now and I was wondering was it too late to try to reach that goal because of the lack of experience that most fighters get while they are young?  Also does extensive sparing (every two days or so) help gain the experience that fighters starting young have?  Your thoughts will be greatly appreciated.   

Answer
Hi James

I will try to answer your questions or offer some insights:
This will be long, so Print it off, if possible.

You asked:

"...Im almost 22 now and I was wondering was it too late to try to reach that goal because of the lack of experience that most fighters get while they are young?"

Answer:

I personally don't really know. The real answer does not only address your age, which doesn't appear to be "too old", but also has to address the Olympic team "Selection Process." I do not know the actual selection process for the US Olympic Boxing Team. I would suggest you contact a few other sources and look at some online resources about that.  Here is a web link to Melanie Ley's home page. She is a top resource for Amatuer Boxing and also a great lady.

Melanie Ley Site
http://www.amateurboxing.com/

* here a few other links

FAQ about amatuer boxing
http://www.amateurboxing.com/faq.htm

USA boxing
http://www.usaboxing.org/
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I just did a little Web research on this, and found this:

http://www.amateur-boxing.com/04olyselection.htm

I. ATHLETE SELECTION SYSTEM - 2004 Olympic Games

The road to be nominated to the 2004 U.S. Olympic Boxing Team is a multi-step process that culminates with the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials and the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Box-Offs. The steps taken to qualify for these events are as follows:

In order to qualify for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, an athlete must earn one of the eight (8) spots per weight class. Once an athlete earns a spot for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, they are eligible compete in the other qualifying tournaments (exception being the Eastern and Western Trials) but they will attend the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials as the representative of the first tournament that they qualified under regardless of how many other spots they earn. Those eight spots can be earned in the following events:

2003 U.S. Challenge (April 4-5, 2003, Colorado Springs, Colorado)
The winner in each of the 11 weight classes at the 2003 U.S. Challenge will qualify a spot in the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. The 2003 U.S. Challenge is a tournament that includes only the top 4 athletes in each weight class from the 2003 Senior National Championships. The 2003 U.S. Challenge is used to determine USA Boxing's National Select Team, various levels of athlete stipends and various team selections. The 2003 Senior National Champion in each weight class shall box the 4th place finisher from the 2003 Senior National Championships, and the 2nd place finisher from the 2003 Senior National Championships shall box the 3rd place finisher from the 2003 Senior National Championships. The winners of the #1 vs. #4 bout and the #2 vs. #3 bout will box-off for the #1 and #2 positions and the losers of the #1 vs. #4 bout and the #2 vs. #3 bout will box-off for the #3 and #4 positions on the National Select Team.

2003 National Golden Gloves (May 26-31, 2003, Las Vegas, Nevada)
The winner in each of the 11 weight classes at the 2003 National Golden Gloves will earn a spot in the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Athletes earn the right to participate in the National Golden Gloves by winning one of the 30+ regional Golden Gloves franchise tournaments. If an athlete wins their weight class and they have already qualified for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, the next highest placed athlete who has not qualified for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials will earn the qualification slot.

2003 National Police Athletic League Championships (September 20-27, 2003, Toledo, Ohio)
The winner in each of the 11 weight classes at the 2003 National Police Athletic League Championships will earn a spot in the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. The 2003 National Police Athletic League Championships is an open tournament and all boxers ages 17-34 are eligible to compete. If an athlete wins their weight class and they have already qualified for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, the next highest placed athlete who has not qualified for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials will earn the qualification slot.

2003/2004 Armed Forces Championships (TBD late 2003)
The winner in each of the 11 weight classes at the 2003/2004 Armed Forces Championships will earn a spot in the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Athletes earn the right to participate in the 2003/2004 U.S. Armed Forces Championships by winning their individual military championships. If an athlete wins their weight class and they have already qualified for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, the next highest placed athlete who has not qualified for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials will earn the qualification slot.

2004 USA Boxing Senior National Championships (TBD January, 2004)
The Gold and Silver medallists in each of the 11 weight classes at the 2004 USA Boxing Senior National Championships will earn a spot in the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Athletes earn the right to participate in the 2004 USA Boxing Senior National Championships by winning one of fourteen (14) regional tournaments, four (4) military tournaments (U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy), the National Golden Gloves, the Police Athletic League Championships or by obtaining an at-large position as defined by Article VIII 108.9 (Attachment A). Qualification for the 2004 USA Boxing Senior National Championships occurs in the 12 months preceding the 2004 USA Boxing Senior National Championships. If an athlete finishes first or second in their weight class and they have already qualified for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, the next highest placed athlete who has not qualified for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials will earn the qualification slot.

The top four athletes in each weight class based on the fourth quarter 2003 USA Boxing rankings will be seeded as the top four seeds in each weight class for the 2004 USA Boxing Senior National Championships. If a top-four ranked athlete is unable to compete at the 2003 Senior National Championships in his ranked weight class, the next highest ranked athletes will all move up until the top four seeds in each weight class are filled. Athletes who are ranked in the top four in a certain weight class based on the fourth quarter 2003 USA Boxing rankings who move up or down a weight division will not be seeded in the higher or lower division but will be separated from the number-one, quarterly-ranked boxer in the brackets of their new weight division.

2004 Eastern Trials (TBD January/February 2004)
The winner in each of the 11 weight classes at the 2004 Eastern Trials will earn a spot in the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Participation in the 2004 Eastern Trials is limited to athletes registered in Local Boxing Committees east of the Mississippi River. Athletes are entered through, and submitted by, each individual Local Boxing Committee. Only athletes who have not already earned a 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials slot are eligible to enter.

2004 Western Trials (TBD January/February 2004)
The winner in each of the 11 weight classes at the 2004 Western Trials will earn a spot in the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Participation in the 2004 Western Trials is limited to athletes registered in Local Boxing Committees west of the Mississippi River. Athletes are entered through, and submitted by, each individual Local Boxing Committee. Only athletes who have not already earned a 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials slot are eligible to enter. The above tournaments represent the selection procedures to qualify for the 2004 U.S Olympic Team Trials. The 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials is the next step in the process to be nominated to represent the U.S. in the 2004 Olympic Games. The following is a summary of the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials that will be used to select the participants for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Box-Offs.

2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials (TBD February, 2004)
The 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials is a double elimination style tournament that features the eight qualified boxers from the above tournaments in each of the 11 weight classes. Athletes are seeded based on a blind draw. The winners of both the winner's bracket and the loser's bracket (2 athletes total) qualify for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Box-Offs.

2004 U.S. Olympic Team Box-Offs (TBD February/March, 2004)
The 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Box-Offs is the final step in the selection process for an athlete to be nominated to represent the U.S. in the 2004 Olympic Games. The winner of the winner's bracket and the winner of the loser's bracket from the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials will box each other once at the beginning of the competition. If the winner of the winner's bracket wins this bout, he is nominated to the 2004 Olympic Team. If the winner of the loser's bracket wins, the athletes will box a second time on the last night of the competition. If the winner of the winner's bracket wins the second bout after losing the first bout, he is nominated to the 2004 Olympic Team. If the winner of the loser's bracket wins both the first bout and the second bout, he is nominated to the 2004 Olympic Team. Final selection to the 2004 Olympic Team is contingent upon United States Olympic Committee approval and the fact that each weight class needs to qualify for the 2004 Olympic Games through one of three (3) Olympic Continental Qualification Tournaments. The first Continental Olympic Qualifier is the 2003 Pan American Games and the athletes will be selected to participate per the 2003 Pan American Games Athlete Selection Procedures. The Gold and Silver medallist will qualify a spot for the 2004 Olympic Games. The second and third qualifiers are to be determined at a meeting of our Continental Federation (COPABOX) during the 2003 Pan American Games but these tournaments should occur in late March - May, 2004. While we don't know how many athletes qualify at each of these qualifiers, we do know that the Americas region has a total of six (6) Olympic slots per weight class for 106lbs, 112lbs, 119lbs, 125lbs, 132lbs, 141lbs, 152 lbs, 165lbs, and 178lbs and three (3) Olympic slots per weight class for 201lbs and 201+lbs. The athletes who earn the right to be nominated to the 2004 Olympic Team in each weight class also earn the right to attend both the second and third Regional Olympic Qualifiers if their weight class hasn't already qualified at the 2003 Pan American Games.

II. DISCRETIONARY SELECTIONS

There will be no discretionary selections.

III. REPLACEMENT PROCEDURES

A nominated athlete who withdraws or is removed from the Olympic Team prior to the 2004 Olympic Games will be replaced by the 2nd place athlete from the 2004 U.S. Olympic Box-Offs. If that athlete is unable to participate (injury, turns professional, discontinues boxing, etc.), the next eligible athlete in rank order finish from the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in the respective weight division will be selected. If none of the top four finishing athletes are available, the two fifth (5th) place finishers from the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials will box off to see who will be nominated. If neither of the fifth place athletes are available, the two 7th place athletes from the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials will box off.

Reasons why an athlete would be replaced are as follows:

- Violation of any USOC, USA Boxing or AIBA rule which governs team conduct. (see Attachment C)
- Withdrawal due to personal reasons (school, family, etc.)
- Arrival at the mandatory training camp more than five (5) pounds overweight. The official camp weigh-in will be following the first camp gym workout. The exact date has not been finalized.
- Illness or injury as certified by the USOC's medical staff (inside of 45 days from the start of the 2004 Olympic Games) or by USA Boxing's medical staff (outside of 45 days from the start of the 2004 Olympic Games).

IV. TRYOUT SITES AND EVENTS

See Section I, "Athlete Selection System." The exact dates and locations of some of these events have yet to be determined, but will be communicated to all athletes at least 90 days prior to each event via Boxing USA magazine, USA Boxing's website (www.usaboxing.org), and through each of the 56 Local Boxing Committees.

V. PUBLICITY/DISTRIBUTION OF PROCEDURES

USA Boxing will announce the 2004 Olympic Games Athlete Selection Procedures through Boxing USA magazine, USA Boxing's website (www.usaboxing.org) and by mail to each of the 56 Local Boxing Committees.

** So you see it could be quite involved. But I didn't see any references to AGE, so it might not be a factor.

Experience might be, but sometimes heart and determination overcome experience. Best way to gain experience is to look up some local boxing tournaments and throw you "hat" in the ring. Just be sure you have a good coach around.
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Your Second Question.

"..Also does extensive sparing (every two days or so) help gain the experience that fighters starting young have?"

** Answer,

Maybe yes, maybe no.  It depends on the quality of the sparring, and if it is a supervised learning experience of just two guys banging away at each other. As a person just getting back into it, I would suggest you initially spar in a supervised atmosphere, with an opponent trying to teach as well as punch you, and a trained observer to critique your form, movement, footwork, etc.  Another reason for supervision is head contact. It needs to be limited. Only spar with high quality head protection. Most Sparring without legitimate purpose and supervision usually ends up being a polite street fight with gloves and headgear.  

Once you get your form and "boxing legs" back under you ( hey, you DID train seriously for a while and your body/muscles still hold the learned skills inside..)You can move on to more aggressive sparring.

As for now, Begin Working on toning up your basic skill development, such as Jab, Cross, uppercut, hook and combinations. do each separately standing still and while moving. Move forward, back, left, right and circling. Do each individual punch with movement and then some combinations. Remember, you DO have experience, so relax and let your body find the cues that have grown rusty, but have not left. Find your Balance in the motions of footwork and punching. Feel the weight shifts and where the "Power shift" comes from.

Let your Drills and skill development be a temporary substitute for "ring experience". Work you conditioning. At 22 you are still a youngster ALMOST in your prime, and your conditioning can overcome the lack of experience right now ( assuming you get ring experience,that is.  You do need it but not exactly right now)

Personally, I would advise you to take a last shot at your dream. Why not? We always see "older" athletes achieving more than we once thought possible. But usually they are in supurb condition). Learn as much about the sport that you can, find a legitimate coach and training site and go for it. Good luck and hope to see in on NBC in 2012. ( 2008 may be a little soon, but you never know....)

"Chase your dream for just a few years, or your wish you had for the rest of your life - which will be a lot longer."

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Here are a few more links of interest.

http://www.ringside.com/features.htm

http://www.ringside.com/tournamentcalendar.htm

Best wishes and good luck in your training. I hope I answered you questions.

sincerely,

Alan Kahn
author, The speed bag bible
http://www.speedbagcentral.com/