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Career as a Professional Boxer

Professional boxing is a hard, demanding sport and like so many other areas of activity or sport in which young people like to participate there is a degree of risk. The rules of the British Boxing Board of Control governing the licensing of all professional boxers are designed to minimise such risk and to ensure that boxers are fully prepared fit and properly matched to enjoy a rewarding career with some financial benefit. Many young people may be attracted to the sport by the lure of big money and it must be realised from the outset that very few boxers make it to the very top. For most boxers their ring earnings will act as a boost to their ordinary earnings and all potential boxers are therefore advised to ensure that they have a good regular income which they can maintain during their boxing career. A sympathetic and understanding employer is always an asset. The Board expects that all applicants have had experience in amateur boxing. Amateur records are usually checked and anybody contemplating a professional career who has not already boxed is advised to contact an amateur club in their area. For anyone striving to get to the top of the professional sport it is almost impossible without first having had a good amateur career. Current British, Commonwealth and former K.1 Champion Matt Skelton is the exception rather than the rule. The Board may grant a licence to boxers who have no or only limited amateur experience but before doing so they will want to know that they have had proper and good tuition for some period of time under the supervision of a professional trainer and without exception, the applicant will be required to demonstrate his/her skills in a trial bout in a gymnasium prior to further consideration. All applicant boxers are required to be trained and supervised by a licensed trainer/second and all must enter into a standard Boxer/Manager Agreement with a licensed manager of the Board. When making an application the applicant and his/her manager must ensure completion of all following items:- 1. Application form properly signed and witnessed. 2. Payment of licence fee deposit. 3. Complete medical examination on standard form by a Board doctor, together with confirmation of identity. 4. Complete ophthalmic examination by qualified optician on standard form together with confirmation of identity. 5. MRA/MRA brain scan including skull x-ray report and confirmation of identity 6. Certificate of HIV testing 7. Hepatitis B vaccination 8. Lodging of standard Boxer/Manager Agreements with application 9. Lodging of birth certificate with application All these documents having been completed and/or supplied would be passed to the Area Secretary of the relevant Area Council of the Board in which the boxer lived, for consideration. The boxer would then be required to attend an interview in order that the Area Council can be satisfied that he/she is aware of the risks attached to the sport and the requirement upon him/her of keeping him/herself fit at all times. The boxer will also be advised that his/her conduct outside the ring as well as in will be monitored and that he/she must keep out of any form of trouble which may reflect badly on him/herself and the sport. He/she will be advised to make as such of his/her earnings as possible and certainly to keep a portion aside to pay income tax. He/she will be advised to seek financial advice concerning this and he/she will also be given an opportunity to ask any questions he/she may have. Despite the demands and risks of the sport, boxing can offer so much to young people, not only financially but also for the forging of friendships which will last a lifetime and the making of important contacts which may be of considerable value once the boxing career is over. Professional boxing is not a career to be embarked upon lightly but for the dedicated, determined and fit young person it may offer an area of opportunity in times where there may be very few others around.