George Foreman on pro boxing: “The biggest challenge in my life”
Becoming a professional boxer may seem like a daunting life challenge to take on. “The biggest challenge in my life,” George Foreman commented on professional boxing. These words ring truer for some more than others. Without a doubt, a journey can feel daunting if you don’t know where to start, and that’s why we’ve brought you the low-down on the topic. Here are the six criteria you need to fulfill to box on a professional level.
Mental Strength
This shouldn’t come as a surprise but boxing is a mental sport first and a physical one second. It takes courage to get into the ring, knowing full-well that there’s a chance you’ll get quite a beating. Moreover, it takes a level of inner peace and confidence to be able to regulate your emotions and think through your anger after taking a hit or going through a bad round. Take a look at George Foreman, Muhammad Ali, and Mike Tyson. The greatest boxers of all time aren’t the angriest or the most ripped. They’re the ones capable of maintaining clear, calm, and composed minds at all times.
Boxing Skills
One of the most vicious boxing styles is technical boxing. The disciples of this style don’t bother with anything ineffective. Instead, they step into the ring with a plan and a purpose. Their footwork is calculated, their punches are as accurate as can be, and their reflexes are lightning-fast. Despite having the strength, they rely more on technique and strategy which makes them extremely effective. As a professional-to-be, you need to develop your technical knowledge in order to be able to keep up with the best of them in the ring, especially, if they’ve got the edge in terms of strength and toughness.
Stamina and Strength
You can’t win all your fights in the first round with a knockout punch. You’ve got to have the stamina to keep you standing up, maneuvering your way around your opponent until the final bell. This level of stamina and endurance, however, is hard to come by. Aside from doing the regular training, achieving this means a lot of strength and cardio workouts for boxing enthusiasts who want to be able to endure the physically demanding nature of the sport. While the cardio workouts will enable you to keep up with your opponent, strength training develops muscles necessary for protecting your vital organs and for strengthening your punches. Another important aspect of boxing is proper aerobic conditioning. Needless to say, too much of anything is never good. Muscles are helpful for boxers, but too much muscle only adds more weight without any significant benefits.
Training
Behind every great boxer, there’s a seasoned coach who knows what they’re doing. To become a professional boxer, you need to get yourself a proper coach to guide you on the journey. Aside from seeing your physical development as a boxer, coaches also create balanced training schedules, provide nutritional advice, explain boxing tactics, and subject you to different kinds of opponents and scenarios. Their job is to use their expertise in the sport to prepare you physically, mentally, and emotionally.
License
While amateur boxers may or may not need a license depending on the state, professional boxers need to have a license. Of course, the requirements are different from state to state, but there are a few basic ones. First, you must fill out a license application from the athletic commission, then you need to pass a physical exam that assesses whether or not you're fit to fight. You’ll also need to provide any documents requested by your state’s athletic commission. Last but not least, the commission might ask you to go through a series of additional tests: moral character, blood work, and drug tests. For many states, this is a normal part of the process.
Passing a Drug Test
As a professional boxer, you’ll need to stay clean because drugs, especially any type of performance-enhancers, damage the sport’s integrity and reputation. Before any event, you may be required to submit to a blood test or a urinalysis testing for drugs and prohibited substances. Even before licensure, many states require applicants to submit to a drug test. Whether discovered in your system, on your person, or through your attempt to conceal evidence of drug use, you’ll be held responsible and punished accordingly.
Once you know where to start, the journey towards becoming a professional boxer loses all complications. Nevertheless, while simple and quite straightforward, it still is a long, hard road. Before you take the leap, make sure that this is what you really want. When times get tough, nothing but your drive will help you make it out, so you’ve got to be honest with yourself about your goals.