Expert: Lian Shoemake - 10/22/2007

Question
I have a friend who wants to start boxing. He has no real experience, so I am needing guidance on how to get him started. We live in KC and I am having a hard time finding a place for him to train and fight. Could you give me direction on where we need to go, or a website that we can visit to get information in our area? He is 26 years old and from my understanding he can still fight as an amateur, but again I am having a hard time finding info on how to get him started. Can you please help me? Thanks

Answer
Hi Doc,
Thanks for the question.
Your friend will need to register with USA Boxing with his Local Boxing Committee (LBC).
I believe the LBC for your area is as follows:

Missouri Valley Association: State of Kansas and that part of the State of Missouri bounded by and including Moniteau, Morgan, Benton, Hickory, Polk, Greene, Christian and Taney Counties and excluding Schuyler, Adair, Macon, Randolph, Audrain, Callaway and Cole Counties.

Missouri Valley Association Contact: Kara Murdock, Tel. 913-526-3949, Wk. Tel. 913-888-7766, email kara@ringside.com

If you get in touch with the contact person, she should be able to provide you with a list of registered amateur boxing gyms in your area.

And you're correct, at 26, he is still eligible to compete as a "regular" amateur (as opposed to a Masters boxer, over the age of 35).

I hope this helps, Doc.
Thanks again for writing

Regards,
Lian