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- Box at amateur or professional level
- An emotionally and physically demanding career path
- Potential to move into coaching or community sports development
As a boxer, you'll spend your time training and preparing for boxing matches, either at amateur or professional level.
DAY-TO-DAY DUTIES
- Include running, weightlifting and exercise sessions
- Working on body conditioning and endurance
- Developing your technical skills and mental strength
- Sparring in the ring with training partners
- Identifying areas for improvement with your coach
- Attending training camp before competitive fights
- Taking part in competitions and trials for national and international events
- Getting treatment for any injuries
- Promotional and media activities
- Mentoring younger boxers
DAY-TO-DAY ENVIRONMENT
You could work at a gym, sports arena or venue. Your working environment will be physically demanding (injuries are common), and will involve spending nights away from home.
You'll need
This role is ideal for someone with physical fitness and endurance, thoroughness and attention to detail, the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure, patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations, ambition and a desire to succeed, persistence and determination, and physical skills like movement, coordination, dexterity and grace.
You'll need a boxing licence from the British Boxing Board of Control, to pass a medical check, and have a good level of fitness.
You may be eligible for the Level 3 Diploma in Sporting Excellence (Boxing) if you are aged 16 to 18, a member of a club affiliated to England Boxing, show the potential to go far, and have some GCSEs. This course gives you the opportunity to develop your boxing skills as well as getting a coaching or sporting qualification.
You can also start out as an amateur boxer by joining a local boxing club or gym. Clubs usually offer 'taster sessions' so you can try the sport before deciding if you want to continue. As well as fitness, strength and endurance, you'll need to develop the technical boxing skills needed in the ring, along with the right attitude towards training and preparation.
If you show exceptional talent and potential, you may be selected to join the England Talent Pathway, which will offer tailored training and support for you to compete at national, European and world amateur championships, and international events like the Olympics.
CAREER PROSPECTS
As a professional boxer, you might get the chance to fight for national and international titles or 'belts' with one of the main world boxing organisations. You could also move into coaching with boxing clubs and gyms. Your experience would be useful for jobs like community sports development. You might also re-train to become a sports physiotherapist, journalist, commentator, or sports scientist.