How Old is too Old to start Boxing (And be Successful)

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How old is too old to start boxing? The short, simple answer: none. There is no age too old to start boxing. All through history there have been successful boxers who started boxing at pretty much all age ranges you can think of.

There have been boxers who started boxing as early as eight years old; some who began their careers in their late 20s; and even some who didn’t put on their first boxing glove until they were 40 or above.

This is why, generally speaking, there is no age too old to start boxing.

In more particular cases, though, there may be a more nuanced, more realistic answer to the question, which is that it depends.

How Old is Too Old To Start Boxing?

The question of how old is too old to start boxing becomes a bit more difficult to answer when we consider the fact that it isn’t really age (the literal number of years spent on earth) that determines whether or not you’re too old to start boxing.

This honor goes to the strength of your mind and body. A 40 year old with a sound body and mind may be fitter for boxing than a teenager with weak hands and legs. 

Simply put, rather than worry about how old is too old to start boxing, a better question to consider would be, how fit is fit enough to start boxing?

Physical Requirements For Competitive Boxing

Boxers who want to participate in competitive boxing must be physically and mentally healthy, but, unlike examining fitness of the mind, determining how fit your body is can be a much more straightforward affair. 

This is why all professional boxers are routinely required to pass a few physical examinations before they’re allowed to participate in most competitions. 

It is also worth noting that while these exams are generally the same for all ages, older fighters are required to participate with more frequency.

For example, all 40-year-old fighters and above are required to undergo a physical examination performed by a licensed medical doctor. And they are expected to do this annually, in order to continue participation.

The physical examinations for high-risk fighters are also more in-depth. A licensed medical doctor (M.D.) performs the tests, assessing all of the major body systems, following a strict checklist which include temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, height, and weight measurements. 

Facial symmetry, along with eyelash and eyebrow distributions are also assessed thoroughly. The process is called a head-to-toe assessment because it begins on top of the head and ends at the tip of the toes.

Professional Boxers Who Have Competed At 45 And Older

While it may be difficult to believe, there is, in fact, a long history in English professional boxing of fighters competing over the age of 45. Antonio Tarver is just one example. 

Tarver’s last fight before he retired took place at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on August 14, 2015. He was 45 years of age when he took on the American professional fighter Steve Cunningham. 

The 12-round fight ended with a draw, leaving Tarver to retire with a 31-6-1 professional boxing record.

American professional boxer Archie Moore was also 47 years old when he took on the American professional boxer Mike DiBiase. The fight took place in Phoenix, Arizona, in 1963. It ended early with Moore knocking out DiBiase in the third round.

What Are the Different Age Restrictions in Boxing? – Both Competitively & Recreationally

Generally age restrictions in boxing tend to vary depending on competitions, the organizations behind them, and the governing bodies. 

There is also obviously a big difference between age restriction in professional boxing, amateur boxing, and that of the recreational kind.

We take a look at these below.

Association Of Boxing Commissions And Combative Sports (ABC Boxing)

Association of Boxing Commissions, or ABC Boxing, is an American “non-profit organization” responsible for overseeing Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and professional boxing competitions. Delegates of provincial, tribal, and provincial athletic commissions govern the organization in both Canada and the United States.

ABC Boxing has strict medical requirements for all professional boxers and MMA fighters. Apart from requiring all competing fighters to submit samples of blood for analysis, all fighters are also required to undergo pre-fight physicals and eye examinations. 

Fighters over the age of 37 are also required to undergo neurological, ophthalmological, and cardiovascular examinations. 

Female MMA fighters and Boxers also have their own set of requirements, which involves submitting urine samples for pregnancy tests, among others. 

Age Restrictions in Recreational Boxing

Not everyone who trains for boxing wants to move up to the competitive level. There are individuals who prefer recreational boxing to the professional kind thanks to its educational appeal, health benefits, psychological boosts, among other reasons.

As for age restrictions, recreational boxing clubs generally adopt loose age restriction policies. Most of these organizations open enrollment to children as young as eight and adults as old as 77. And yes, you read that right. 77.

Recreational boxing is also particularly beneficial to children and teens. It is easy to get started, and it allows aspiring boxers to learn about the sport from an instructor or a chosen boxing resource at their own pace, whenever they are ready. 

Amateur Competitive Boxing Clubs – Age Restrictions

As we have seen above, there isn’t a really significant, strict age limit for professional and recreational boxing. At the amateur level, however, the case is very different.

Most amateur boxing organizations open practice to children 13 and older, and adults 39 and younger – with one exception for older participants. 

To participate in the amateur levels as an adult older than 39, you must have obtained a boxing license before turning 34. 

Adults between the age of 37 and 39 who are not licensed to compete in amateur boxing may face a number of challenges when it comes to getting licensed. Some of them occasionally slip through the cracks, but are not permitted to compete in the masters class without wearing a USA-approved boxing helmet/headgear.

They are also sometimes permitted special format competitions where each round lasts for 3 minutes, with a maximum of 3 rounds overall.

French Amateur Boxing – Age Restrictions

French amateur boxing age restrictions are very similar to English amateur boxing age restrictions, with a few exceptions. 

The first of these is that they both do not make provisions for boxers over 40 years old. And boxers between the age of 34 and 40, who are permitted to fight, can only take part in the “masters’ category.” 

They are also required to undergo an annual head-to-toe physical led by licensed medical physicians. 

Another restriction has to do with the older boxers’ opponent, who, according to the rules, has to be around the same age to be acceptable. This means that an opponent taking on an older boxer must also be between the age of 34 and 40 years himself. 

Boxers over the age of 40 are not permitted to participate in French amateur boxing competitions, but they can step down to recreational boxing. 

What Age Should You Start Boxing?

Now that we have gone over the question of how old is too old for boxing, the next thing to discuss is the age at which it would be ideal to get started in boxing. 

Is there an age at which one is too young for boxing?

You are never too young to start boxing training. In fact, it is highly recommended by some of the top children’s experts that kids start training as early as possible because it offers both physical and mental benefits.

Children as young as five can play around with boxing gloves and punching bags. Of course, parents may find it difficult to find the proper boxing gear for children of this age. So, it may be best to wait a few more years before taking the sport very seriously. 

In the meantime, though, light boxing plays can help your young child stay mentally and physically healthy.

The most Ideal Age to Start Boxing? – 8 Years Of Age

While medical experts highly recommend boxing workouts for children seven years and younger, a lot of them recognize that the ideal age to start boxing is somewhere around eight years old.

This is when a child should begin to enroll in serious training sessions. 

Most commercial boxing gyms and clubs have restrictions when it comes to the starting age. As soon as your child turns eight, however, you should be able to easily enroll him in one of your local kid boxing clubs.

What About Girls, Should They Start at 8 Years of Age?

Most kids’ boxing clubs are open to both boys and girls. However, it may not be advisable to enroll 8-year-old girls in these clubs unless they are serious about the sport. Boxing clubs are no different than pee wee tee-ball and other youth baseball clubs. They are open to all genders. So, if your 8-year-old daughter wants to learn boxing, and is serious about it, then by all means, enroll her in one.