Am I too late to start boxing training? (16 years old)

[Jake Green]

I've always liked boxing but never really gotten into it properly. I'm not really too interested in tournaments and stuff I would just like to start the training and if I like it, maybe get a boxing license eventually.

I've done it before, when I was around 12 years old - but it wasn't too serious as my dad took me and my brothers, who are 2 and 4 years younger than me. My dad used to be in the army as a sniper and eventually, towards the end of his short career started boxing for the army and quit after a great record of wins. I've seen videos of him where he's really strong and fast.

I'm currently 16 years old. I'm around 6ft 2" or maybe 3" and around 72KG. I'm not exactly skinny, just a medium build. If it helps you understand how I am, I'm stronger than I look as I don't diet and have only just started skipping for cardio (20+ minutes per day of straight skipping with no breaks, only a sip of water after every 250). Basically, I have abdominal strength but it's not extremely obvious, I don't have huge biceps or triceps but I have naturally thick (undefined) arms. My thighs are extremely strong and since the skipping my calfs can take a lot of bouncing around for long periods of time and my stamina has massively improved. I have extremely fast metabolism, so I eat whatever I want and stay the same weight - the only problem with this is that while I don't change in appearance, I can feel how sluggish I am after a week of bad eating habits - but I'm not addicted to anything at all.

My main problem is that I'm not naturally a sport person. I've always been good with computers and enjoy video games, but I'm definitely not lazy or slow. The reason why I spend so much time with computers and inside is because I build them for money, and have my own sort of micro-business so this is basically the underlining reason why I haven't got good fitness yet.


TOO LONG DIDN'T READ:

Am I too late to start boxing training? (Will I just look stupid compared to the people who have been boxing since they were around 10?)

Is boxing training the best way to gain muscle mass, get a good cardio and increase overall fitness for me? (Compared to just skipping, and spending a lot of money on weights etc. as I only have a 5KG weight right now which isn't very good for increasing bicep size, only triceps.)




Thanks if you read the whole thing. I understand it was boring, but I'm really interested in this. I'm not prepared to take protein powder or anything of that sort, I just want strong clear muscularity and a good cardiovascular workout.

[southpawwolves]

Not at all. I started at 15, stopped at 16 and didn't pick up the gloves again until I was 22. I love boxing and even though at the moment you don't want to box competitively i'd be careful because once you start the bug tends to grow and before you know it you're in there fighting The best thing for you to do is stop worrying if it's too late to start and how your body is going to respond, just get down a gym n if u like it stick with it and everything else will come along nicely.

[Scrap]

Ray Leonard started at 16.

[southpawwolves]

Didn't know that Scrap. I know Bernard Hopkins didn't start until he was 23 though.

[Scrap]

His 1st sport was as a Gymnast

[southpawwolves]

That doesn't suprise me with his suppleness