Is 20 too old to start boxing?

[IronAliClay]

i turned 20 a couple of months ago and i want to go into boxing. my concern is that at my age, is it too late to start boxing? I dont have any prior experience with putting on the gloves and if i go into it i wanna make sure it becomes more than just a fitness thing.

So hit me with it straight, no sugar coating. am i too old to make something happen with boxing?

thanks

[Puncher7]

It woulda helped to start sooner, but 20 is just fine to start boxing! Give it a go dream big and work harder.
Don't let anyone tell you what you have a shot at in life - you decide that.

[josh k]

give it a go Iron, I'm 23 in Jan and I'm starting boxing training for the first time next week.
give it everything you've got. good luck

[Dennis]

It's never too late to get started. You could advance quickly and be boxing at the national level by the end of 2010 or early 2011 and possibly even winning a national tournament. It is more likely that you could win a national title after 2 or 3 years of hard work so figure 2012 or 2013. Then some more hard work and you could be boxing internationally with a shot at the 2016 Olympics. You would be 27 and have 7 years of experience and if you stay active you could have over 100 bouts of experience (50-100 is more realistic) by then. I know some amateur boxers who compete in 30 or more bouts a year, but you have to be very good and win a lot of multi-day tournaments.

[Adamj1987]

no Your not

[rlarsen6264]

Iron - no problem, just ask Antonio Tarver, who started boxing at age 29, if 20 is too old to start boxing. Go for it man! Good Luck!

[alexpaterson]

Definetly not, enjoy it look at Martin Rogan he was 29 when he 1st laced on the gloves and beat a commonwealth champ, an Olympic Champ and Prizefighter

[IronAliClay]

im glad to hear this :)

So one more question now,

I am about 6ft with a 74inch reach, right now i fluctuate between 154/156lbs. I would be able to go down for sure but to go up id need to add some pure muscle. Would it be better to go to a lower weight class or stay around the same weight for bouts? I know on one hand if i went down to super welter id have a nice heights and reach advantage over most opponents but at the same time i would be giving up speed. Being at light middleweight the opponents would be closer to my size so there wouldnt be an advantage physically.

so which option would be better? how important does speed play a role even if i can take a hit?

[Puncher7]

first things first u need to start at a boxing gym
quit thinking bout the details and just do it
you can work weight classes and other stuff out with your coach once you've learned the basics.
but if anything u wanna go down in weight not up

but get in the gym asap and stay consisistent and work hard

[Dennis]

Puncher7 is correct - stop talking and start training!