Expert: Lian Shoemake - 12/15/2006

Question
hey how you doing i am 15 years old i am about to turn 16 in weeks. but i dont really enjoy school but my grades are good until now because i push myself to do well. but i would like to start a boxing career since i dont enjoy school. what hold me back is that i wear hearing aids so i can hear. so do i qualify to start my boxing career and be able to reach oscar de la hoya level with my hearing problem? i mean i would train hard and i enjoy working out. i want to become a pro in boxing i am not really interesting in going to college i would like to become a pro in boxing and become famous.

Answer
Hi Carlos,

Thanks for the question.
As a teenager, presumably you would be competing under the rules of USA Boxing. As such, a deaf or mute boxer need only to pass the same type of physical exam as any other boxer to compete. Participation for hearing-impaired boxers is not restricted by that condition.

I hope that helps, Carlos.

Thanks again for writing!

Regards,
Lian