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

[Gray Lion]

Your at a great age to start boxing training. Go for it.

[alperbasaran]

I started at 30 but I guess you don't have to wait that long

[erics44]

if i was 16 it would be my first priority

[Sandman1995]

im 16, turning 17 in 4 months. and i started boxing a month ago

[Mo Frazier]

lol at 16 it's not 'too late' for anything

[Slim the BoxingManiac]

Fantastic time to start, man. I'm a lot like you. Except I started fighting when I was 12.

I hate other sports. I couldn't do anything else. But I'm an excellent boxer. I've been studying the history for a long time, and I can't get enough of it.

Boxing is an intellectual game built off of technique. If you don't have the technique and the training, you can't box well, no matter how athletic you are. I'm actually a lazy prick and I don't train consistently anymore. I'm six foot and 225 pounds, and I should be between 175 and 190.

I've spent a lot of time boxing overconfident gym rats. Real strong guys. Wrestlers and football players. The bigger, the stronger, and the more athletic they were, the easier it was for me to beat them. Shows how much size matters compared to knowledge of the game.

Last guy I lost to was actually 5'6" and 140 lbs.

It's an entirely different world, mate.

[Cruiser]

Hi Jake Green, I don't think 16 years old is too old to start boxing...go for it... apply yourself, and who knows, you might really like it. As far as gaining muscle mass, well I think lifting weights is the best for that(maybe get a gym membership instead of buying your own weights). Boxing is a great cardio exercise, but so are alot of things ie. swimming, running, bicycling etc. choose what you like... Jake Green I did want to say something because I read your thread...not everyone is cut out for boxing...but if you got "heart" that is one of the most important things in becoming a excellent boxer in my opinion. Cruiser