So I've always wanted to box my whole life and now I can pay for it myself. I'm 18 though, and I'm not sure if this is a big deal. Also I'm about 5'8 135, but I'm thinking I can cut down a decent amount of weight and add some muscle. I have two questions... What would average strength be for people in my weight class/around my weight class? I want to know what I should set my goals to. Also is 18 years old too late to be somewhat successful? I go away to college in a month so I was thinking of going to a boxing gym for a month when I'm home and then when I go away join another one.
Age doesn't matter in boxing, reasonably. Rocky Marciano, Sergio Martinez, and Antonio Tarver are examples of people who started in their early to late 20s and were very successful. As long as you have a "gift" for boxing where you learn quickly then it would be no problem for you. I would join a gym for a month and then another while in college but DON'T NEGLECT YOUR EDUCATION. You might find that getting punched in the face isn't the way you want to make a living. As for strength, it doesn't really matter in boxing. What does matter is speed, agility, and power. Start doing alot of polymetrics and running. Two of the basic exercises are push ups and crunches. Sit ups are bad for the back. Try to compete as an amateur throughout 4 years of college and if you do good then it is up to you to turn pro. Btw your weight class has shorter guys in it but if 135 is your natural weight, then you have the advantage.
I see thank you. I just thought benching and all that would play a factor in boxing. I don't really consider myself weak for someone who's 135, but I'll find out when I start boxing if any of that helps lol.
Its not that benching doesn't help which it can but you have to use weights right. I don't know enough about weights for boxing to be an authority on them. But I can say that you want to do workouts that work your whole body since your whole body is used for punching. Look up brandon krause on Esnews, he gives great advice and he's and I would say he's and expert since he has a degree and was a good amateur boxer. Good Luck
Bench press isn't going to do anything for punching power. If you want to increase punching power, build some powerful hips and legs.
