How to Become a Professional Boxer in the U.S.

For most people, boxing is a journey that demands significant sacrifices to reach the level of a professional. Whether you're starting from scratch or aiming to pursue your dream of stepping into the ring, now is the perfect time to take your first steps towards a boxing career.

Get yourself into a boxing gym. It's important to choose a reputable gym with experience in training boxers and connections to professional boxing organizations. If you're serious about becoming a boxer, don't go to general fitness clubs that offer boxing classes. Instead, you need a dedicated boxing gym (and possibly other martial arts disciplines).

• When asking around, you might get lucky and discover a highly respected gym that's considered the best in your area—one that everyone wants to join.

Speak with the trainer. He will provide you with details about the club’s hours, fees, and training methods. You’ll also have the chance to find out if he is just a coach or if he was once a professional fighter. Afterward, meet the people and get a feel for the environment. If it aligns with your excitement and expectations, it’s the perfect place to begin.

• "Ask questions". You should understand what types of training they offer for beginners. Is it a good match for you? What’s the schedule like? Who will you be working with? How do you meet them? Make sure you have all the information before committing.

Observe the other members. It's important to join a club with a variety of members at different skill levels. As a beginner, you’ll need to spar with others to improve. A place with members across different levels will be ideal, as you’ll always have someone to train with and grow stronger.

• Imagine entering a restaurant: if it’s empty, you probably wouldn’t want to dine there. If there’s only one person wearing a green hat and you’re not, you might leave. Or if there’s just one person who looks miserable, would you want to stay? Look around—do the club members seem A) fit and professional, and B) satisfied with their training here?
• If possible, try asking someone not employed there for their opinion. Sometimes it’s useful to hear from an outsider to get a more objective perspective.

Get familiar with the basics. Before you begin training with a coach, it’s a good idea to learn about boxing and its key terms. You don’t have to know everything, but enough to understand the conversations at the club. Here are some essential concepts:

• Jab. This is the most frequent punch in boxing. It’s a straight punch aimed at the opponent's chin with your dominant hand (same hand as your lead foot).
• Straight punch. A punch thrown with your dominant hand. It’s a powerful strike. To execute it, rotate your upper body slightly and throw the punch from behind, landing it directly on the opponent’s chin.
• Uppercut. This punch targets the chin or stomach. It’s thrown at close range, making it harder for your opponent to maintain balance.
• Hook. A punch thrown from the side, with the elbow bent, making your arm resemble a hook.
• Southpaw. These are fighters who are left-handed by nature or training. For a regular boxer, everything is done in reverse. This difference makes southpaw fighters tricky to counter.
• Out-fighter and In-fighter. An out-fighter prefers to keep distance and strikes with jabs, while an in-fighter moves in close and uses hooks and body punches.

Begin working with a coach. Your trainer will teach you fundamental moves like the jab, uppercut, and hook to help you get used to boxing. Later, you’ll also learn footwork, posture, and defensive techniques.

• A good coach will also focus on building your stamina and agility. If the trainer asks you to run around a field, it’s for a good reason. And don’t expect to spar immediately—they’ll tell you when you’re ready.

Start a structured physical training regimen. Many boxers can surpass their physical limits. A good training program includes bag work with a reflex ball, long-distance running, and jump rope. You’ll need to train outside of the ring at least three to four times a week.

• You should be taught exercises for fat loss and weight management; jumping, yoga; core exercises, and high-intensity interval training to improve supplementary skills. Make sure to rest appropriately so your body responds well to training.

Engage in heavy training sessions. Each session should last 90 minutes and occur three to four times per week. A basic boxing workout includes 20 minutes of sit-ups and push-ups, 20 minutes of cycling, and 30 minutes of running. Finish the session with 10 minutes of jump rope, 10 minutes of bag work, or if possible, sparring with someone.

• You should combine a 3-mile (4.9 km) run with jump rope, box jumps, sit-ups, push-ups, and bag work. See how long it takes before your body starts to fatigue and your technique suffers.

Don’t forget to stretch. Warm-up for 20-30 minutes (joint rotations, warming up your body as it hasn’t been moving for hours) before you begin training or competing. After long training sessions, perform some stretches (hold each position for a while). This helps prevent injuries and reduces muscle tension.

• You might find it funny, but yoga isn’t a bad idea. It’s great for muscle tone, increasing flexibility, and overall body relaxation, preparing you for anything ahead. Not to mention the calmness and focus that yoga brings.

Start an athlete’s diet plan. All professional boxers must follow strict diet plans or high-nutrient portions. The hard work in training will be in vain if you don’t eat correctly. Moreover, a poor diet will lead to a drop in performance. In this case, your body is your tool for earning money.

• What is an athlete’s diet like? It consists of high-protein foods such as chicken, fish (like salmon, tuna), eggs, peanut butter, fruits, and vegetables. It also includes healthy fat sources like olive oil, butter, and various nuts. Your body needs balanced nutrition and fats to withstand the intense training regimen.

Build endurance. If you think this refers only to cardiovascular endurance, you’re partially right. It also involves two other types of endurance:

• Leg endurance To become a great boxer, your legs must move constantly. There will be fast moments requiring agile feet. After several rounds, your legs will feel as if they’re weighed down by lead. Jump rope can help train your legs to sustain longer endurance.
• Shoulder endurance Once your shoulders are fatigued, both punching and defending will become nearly impossible. You’ll struggle to raise your arms if your shoulders are heavy and worn out. Practice punching with a reflex ball and perform continuous arm movements to increase shoulder endurance.

Continue sharpening your mind. Boxing isn't just about throwing punches. While that's at its core, you'll need additional skills to perfect yourself and prepare for your future. Don't laugh just yet—consider the following suggestions:

• Take a couple of dance classes. Many athletes aren't just fighters—they're dancers too. Why? Because dancing requires balance, agility, and flexibility—three crucial traits for success in any sport.
• Take an acting class. Have you ever thought about promoting and marketing your career? No one wants to look like a fool while doing so. So, polish your stage presence and add some flair to your public image.
• Enroll in business or sports management courses. There are two reasons for this: A) you don’t want to become the next Mike Tyson, blowing through your fortune and relying on people who say 'I deserve that cut' and B) you want a future. You can’t fight forever, and at some point, your body will no longer keep up, so gain the knowledge to transition into coaching or promoting later on.

Find a local amateur boxing organization. You can perform a quick search online or ask your fellow club members about it. When the time is right to compete, your coach will inform you—or you'll feel it yourself.

• This step is the most paperwork-heavy. Visit the USAboxing.org website (if you're in the U.S.) to stay up to date on events in your state. That’s where you'll find open competitions you can participate in.

Register as an amateur athlete. You’ll need to fill out an application form and undergo a physical exam by a doctor. In the U.S., this is done at the regional level through the State Athletic Commission.

• You must contact the relevant authorities to obtain certification to participate in competitions. A small fee is required, which varies by region. Think of it as covering the costs of paperwork and physical evaluations.

Participate in unofficial boxing tournaments. Many fighters gain early experience through these events. You can find them by checking links and upcoming events sections on online boxing forums.

• You’ll be classified by age, weight, and experience level. Some amateur boxers start as young as eight!

Start as an amateur boxer. The difference between an amateur and a professional is that amateurs are allowed to wear headgear. This is crucial in the early stages of your fighting career to prevent potentially life-threatening injuries as you learn how to protect yourself.

• Once again, you will be classified by weight, age group, and skill level, and you will be considered a 'novice' if you are 17 years old. You will begin competing in local and regional events, with the long-term goal of advancing to the USA Amateur Boxing Championship and securing a spot on the National Team.

Don’t rush to fill a spot in a weight class. Some trainers can be a bit careless. They might encourage their athletes to join a weight class just to get them fighting quickly and earning profit. Don’t agree to this – sometimes, it's not beneficial for your health, and your body could be at higher risk of injury. Only register for a class where you feel comfortable, not just because the trainer says you should.

• Think about your normal weight (of course, when your body is in proper shape). You should consider joining a weight class slightly above or below 50 kg. Any class that feels too challenging can be harmful to your health as your body will be under additional strain.

Make your body more toned. You will face a real challenge, a truly classic one. If you think you’re already in great shape, you’ll be surprised by the progress your body can make, especially in terms of endurance. At this stage, you need to achieve the following:

• Run 3-5 miles (4.8-8 km) without getting tired.
• Jump rope continuously for 30 minutes.
• Hit the punching bag nonstop for 15 minutes.
• Be able to spar with any amateur boxer from any gym (excluding high-level amateur fighters with more than 100 bouts).
• Have the stamina to compete for twice the standard number of rounds (for amateur boxing, that’s 3 rounds).

Rely on your defense, speed, strength, and self-discipline. Let's break down these critical elements:

• Defense. You will be observed from 60-150 punches per round. It doesn’t matter how powerful your punches are – always maintain shoulder endurance, solid defense, and keep pushing forward with 100% energy.
• Speed. You need to fight your opponent with your maximum speed. People don’t care how strong you are – if you take a hit just because you’re too slow, you won’t get anywhere.
• Strength. This comes from good technique. Sure, wild punches will count by the end of the match, but you’ll wear yourself out. You must focus on your strength and control it. Wasting energy will cause you to lose the fight.
• Self-discipline. From now on, you need to be on autopilot. There’s no time to think, “Alright... now I should throw a left hook... raise my hand, young man... oh, time to duck now,” and so on. Every move needs to be executed without thinking.

Find a manager. Your manager will connect you with event organizers who will set up your fights. Now that you're earning money, keep in mind that at least 20% of your winnings will go to your manager and the event organizer. This is for a good reason – they work to build your reputation.

• Now that you're fully immersed in the boxing community, you'll get to know which managers are trustworthy in your area. If you're talented, they will likely want to work with you. Just make sure you can trust the person you choose to work with.

Don’t quit your old job just yet. The legendary boxers driving expensive cars and making huge sums of money, only fighting a few times a year, might seem like the dream. Then, an average fighter lands sponsorship deals and quickly earns tens of thousands of dollars. After that, others follow. But you can’t stay at the top forever, so it’s wise to keep your current job.

• Just like in Hollywood, you can't know how many people are struggling to make a name for themselves. This is normal when you're starting out. Don’t forget that about 50% of your earnings will go to those supporting you, like your manager or promoter. Therefore, keep a steady income from at least a part-time job as a safety net.

Get certified. You’ll need to join a federation (IBF, WBC, WBO, or WBA) and obtain a fighter’s certification from the boxing council governing the events you participate in. There's a concept called the 'alphabet soup' because so many federations pop up these days. If you don’t like the name of one federation, there are plenty of other options to consider.

• In the U.S., this process is done at the state level. Each region has different requirements, ranging from amateur fighters to those with managers. Be ready with at least your birth certificate and social security card as there will be a lot of paperwork to complete.

Climb the ranks. Your ultimate goal should be to hold a championship belt. If you can defend your belt three times in four seasons, you'll be crowned as a 'Super Champion.' Holding all four belts will make you an 'Undisputed Champion.'

• Achieving this takes time, perseverance, and the ability to endure injuries and setbacks. Your skin will need to thicken in more ways than one. Boxing has a way of eliminating weakness from both the body and the mind.

Look to those who have gone before you for inspiration. The media has a way of promoting certain types of people with unique traits. Many famous boxers are charismatic and photogenic, like Jack Dempsey. But if you dig deeper, there’s no one-size-fits-all template for what a true boxer looks like – in fact, very few fit that mold.

• Remember, glory doesn’t necessarily come from talent and achievement. Gene Tunney defeated Jack Dempsey twice, but his introverted lifestyle kept him away from the spotlight, unlike his outgoing and gregarious opponent. Not all boxers are in search of fame. Many fighters come from different social backgrounds.
• Need inspiration to bolster your belief that you can achieve anything? Look into Calvin Brock, the 'boxer and banker.' He was a well-educated man with a legitimate banking career before transitioning to professional boxing. If you’re still in college, don’t worry – this is achievable.
• On the other hand, you're never too young. 'Little Bull' Juan Diaz started his professional career at the age of sixteen. Of course, it wasn’t sustainable for long, but he did it. Now, he holds a law degree and is doing quite well. So, no matter which path you take, you’ll be fine.

• Always show respect to fellow fighters! It’s what makes a great and admirable athlete.
• For the big guys: focus on speed, as you already have a lot of strength. Smaller fighters should focus on targeting their opponent's midsection and work on building more power.
• If you decide that professional boxing isn’t for you, there are plenty of other exciting careers within the sports industry that might interest you.
• Don’t expect to win every fight; there will be times you lose. But stay persistent. Even the greatest fighters in history have been defeated many times.
• Sharpen your focus. Remember, success in many different styles of fighting is challenging. While it’s possible, specialize in one style first. Find a gym with a coach who specializes in that particular discipline.

• Once you become a professional fighter, be extremely cautious about getting involved in violence outside the ring. If you attack someone with your hands and get caught, it’s detrimental to your career as legal proceedings will document your ability to throw punches.
• You may be drawn to the sport by thoughts of big money. However, very few fighters compete for the glory; most are in the ring for the steady income it provides.
• A boxing career can lead to serious, lifelong injuries or even death.