You just described me, perfectly...except I have not had a fight yet. My advice to the original poster is to head down to the boxing club a few days a week, and start walking every day for 45 mins or so. Eventually your fitness will improve and you can start to walk/run. Again, don't expect to be the next world champ, but you can certainly get into great shape and maybe even compete in the masters division...which is what I am hoping to do. :bbb Get your ass off the couch! :bbb
It is a good idea to get a physical first. Especially if you haven't been leading a healthy lifestyle over the last decade or so. I mean, you never know what kind of gym you're running into until you get there. The last thing you need is a quack ass training giving you a heart attack.
All good advice - thanks. I didn't think I was that old until I see it in black and white. Where did the last 30 years go? It's boxing for me, always has been. And yes, it is just for fitness and maybe a bit of self-respect. I trained and sparred 32 years ago - I was never any good - too slow, but by God, I got fit.
What is the Masters division? I thought you weren't allowed to compete as an amateur after the age of 35? Or is it white-collar boxing?
Its a regulated division in amateur boxing for fighters 35 and older. From the USA Boxing Rulebook (http://www.usaboxing.org/TechnicalRules.pdf) Under Article II: Contestants C102.3 Master Boxing Division: All boxers in this classification must be a minimum of 35 years of age. The age difference between contestants shall be no more than ten (10) calendar years. A boxer may compete against opponents who are no more than ten (10) years younger or ten (10) years older. All official rules apply to these classifications, with the exception of those listed below: (a) Boxers will be limited to boxing three rounds of two-minute duration. (b) 12 oz. Competition gloves will be used for all weight categories. (c) Boxers must pass an annual medical exam and be declared fit to box with the following elements before being registered to box: -- (1) No history of diabetes, high blood pressure or chest pain. -- (2) No history of chronic headaches. -- (3) Blood pressure less than 145/90. -- (4) Graded exercise EKG every five (5) years beginning at age 45. -- (5) Normal eye examination by an ophthalmologist every five (5) years. (d) The passbook of the master boxer must contain the signature of the examining physician who performed their annual physical and the results placed on file with the LBC, along with the boxers registration application. The signature shall be entered in the appropriate section under annual physical examinations. (e) Pre-bout examinations shall be the same as those performed on all other classifications of boxers. (f) Master boxers may not compete against boxers younger than 35 years of age.
Thanks for that. I don't think we have this in New Zealand. I spoke to a trainer here a couple of years ago and he said once you hit 35 you could no longer compete as an amateur. Bugger!
