Fighters like Amir Khan and Kevin Mitchel who turn pro young regardless of their ability and health have to wait until they are 20 before fighting for domestic honours. Since The Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 a boxer could challenge BBBOC on this point. Has any manager/promoter ever tried to put on a British title fight involving a teenager? Tyson was World Champ at 20, and there have been some teenage world champs.
Wilfred Benitez was 17 when he won a world title..... It is basically a good rule. The hardness of this sport is such, that I think you should not be allowed to be a pro boxer until you are at least 20. That way you get more experience as an amateur and waiting them extra years shows you have at least got some dedication. A case in point would be a boxer by the name of Tony Collins who turned pro at 17, but under British rules was only allowed to fight four rounders. He fought so often at that level it ruined him, and although he had a statistically impressive record, he never fulfilled his potential (much like his brother) and was retired before he hit 23.
I think a problem with making you wait until the age of 20 is the difference between amateur and pro boxing. The two sports are less alike than rugby league and union - if a guy isn't a particularly good amateur he will jack it in and pro sharpish.
Basically I don't see there being a problem with a kid either turning pro young, or fighting for titles as a youngster. I would place more emphasis on the other end of the spectrum. As should HBO. Seems you need to be old and shot to be on HBO, even shotter to be on PPV
LOL, I know what you mean, but if you can protect yourself, old age is not an issue IMO ask Buckley and Taylor. But I do think that by putting the age up to at least 20 before you can turn pro, it would make a lot of youngster decide whether they really do want a profession in one of toughest sports in the world.
There is a difference between protecting yourself and trying to win though. Both of those guys stopped coming to win a while back - once that stops it is time for them to be red carded IMO. Nothing against guys earning a living, but they are just pretending and taking money that could go elsewhere - such as into a fund for ex-boxers that fall upon hard times.
