1. Becoming a professional athlete in any sport is extremely difficult. Because of its lack of athletic union, low television rights revenue, virtually non-existent radio rights revenue, limited licensing opportunities and other issues it's extremely difficult for boxers to move beyond semi-pro status. Put simply a professional is someone that earns a large enough income for a specified period that not only provides a good lifestyle during the period, but also allows for comfortable existence after retirement. Out of all the boxers in the world there are probably only 20 to 30 that can get that type of income because of what they do inside the ring. Everyone else is either taking on debt from promoters/managers banking on potential or working other jobs to supplement income/ pay for training. Your dad feels you will be one of the thousands giving everything to the sport and getting nothing from it, he simply doesn't know how to express it.
2. Nothing wrong with following dreams, but knowing when you're licked (can't succeed) AND having back-up plans to turn to is extremely important.
3. Education & athletics aren't mutually exclusive, in fact the big 3 sports leagues (NFL, MLB, NBA) depend heavily on the country's educational systems to serve as developers of talent. Going to college or a trade school will not prevent training and would probably benefit you inside the ring. Why? Because the classroom requires students to constantly absorb, process and create applicable knowledge and that is key in athletics.
4. Don't make your dad out to be a bad guy just because his message isn't something you want to hear. It's neither fair to him or yourself and will sow the seeds of regret later on in your life. If he doesn't have the money to pay for YOUR college education, get off YOUR tail and make it happen.
5. At some point soon qualified independent people need to provide you an honest assessment of your talent potential and you need to take that information and make an adult decision.
6. Don't ever confuse a hobby (what boxing is for you now) with a financially profitable activity. We all have hobbies, some of us spend far more money and time on them than we should, but nobody in their right mind would ever get that confused with making money.
Good luck
HELL NO YOU SHOULDN'T QUIT BOXING!!!!!!!
Even if you don't became a professional boxer or whatever you still have a lot to gain by trying your best and pushing your self through great difficulty's such as this will prepare you for the future for when times do become difficult; in real life situations! ( I know, I think I could relate, I was a wrestler in high school).
I was a wrestler in high school for three in a half years at the last minute just before season was starting I decided not to go to practice one time, and then it turned into two times, and then three times, and then the entire wrestling season passed on without me. . . . even till this day I never did learn to become the strong and enduring person I wanted to be that the wrestling program taught all my team mates, but not me, cause at the last moment I gave up :(.
Anyways back to my original point, stick with boxing. you will be more mentality and physically tougher than most people you encounter, you'll have an edge in life, and you will have a sense of pride for doing it and regret if you do not, so do it! :)
"Oh and about you dad. . . . Tell him to f*** off"
Best of luck!
if you realy enjoy it you have the right sort of biled and you train like mad you will be a champ if you dont enjoy training and cant learn to then you will never be exceptional i would say its down to how much you enjoy it and what you want to get out of it all sports iv done so far out of the people i know and trained with the pepole that where pashonat about there sport tended to do better also sport is a great wat to relaxe especily a vialent and physical on like boxing helps you calm down and deal with stess i play rugby and use a punch bag it helps me relax stay in shape and let me stay more focused in my work and i know im not going to play rugby professionally so maby you could take the same approach with boxing if you don't think you can make a living doing it then have it as a hobby to help you relax
Boxing is a rough sport and few make it. But if it were me I would find a pro. Retired. Not affiliated with your club get in the ring with him for 3 friendly rounds and they will tell you.
he says all those things because he knows how dangerous boxing is or he chosed a profession for you and hes angry that your not doing what he wants he should be there to talk to you and agree things with you and not impose any rules its your life he should be there to help and support you not put you down he shoudnt force you to do things you dont wanna do
You should do what makes you happy. Simple as that.
for boxing?
I've trained in boxing for two years with only one amateur fight which I did okay with a close victory and my dad would always try to convince for the past year to not even bother aiming to be at least an amateur boxer(despite that I barely got myself one fight) and do something else with my life such as college(he doens't even have the money for it anyways). Yesterday, my dad wasn't there at the gym(He hasn't been visiting for the past several months) but I was sparring with a tall, rangy, powerful puncher and I took a lot of his punches(some of them are his power shots) and I never got knocked down nor even hurt(Though I did end up getting a little swelling and cut on my left eye). I was able to slip and roll a few of his punches but I kept moving my head at the wrong direction and was hesitant to throw my power shots and volume punches since I was the hardest puncher in my gym and we're only sparring(The person I sparred with was a good friend of mine).
I lacked my killer instinct and ended up taking a Jake LaMotta-like beating and my dad is using as many excuses and poor examples(such as my swollen left eye which isn't even serious) to put me down and prevent me to continue my purpose of training for boxing. He's claiming that he's trying to be "realistic" and say that the only reason why my trainers praises some of my abilities is because they don't wanna tell me my flaws and don't wanna put me down yet my dad hasn't even seen me spar for the past 6 or so months and my sparring partner and trainers were telling me my flaws such as head movement in the wrong direction, staying flat footed and going straight forward throwing only a few punches since I was hesitant. However the other time I sparred(One week before yesterday), I sparred with a different guy with different style and did my overall best on that session and was able to cut him off the ring a few times and land some body shots. My dad was taking the sparring seriously(which he shouldn't since it's not even about who's better than who, it's about learning) and I'll admit, he's been getting on my nerves for the past couple of years which is why I never even bother telling him when I'm having a fight or even sparring.
My dad also thinks having well rounded talent(meaning possessing every natural abilities such as speed, power, reflex, etc.) is mandatory for amateur and pro boxing and I do have impressive punching power, strong chin, slightly above average hand speed and decent stamina for now but my reflexes aren't so good and I tend to get distracted when sparring. My dad's exaggerating and thinks just because my talent is not close to the level of guys like Mayweather, Pacquiao, etc., I don't have a chance of having a successful amateur career and will be just wasting my life. Well I try my best to ignore him and still train and improve on my flaws.
What do you guys think?
