If you try hard enough, you can make anything happen. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. I'm not saying that it will come or be easy. It is possibly going to be the most difficult thing you will have ever gone through. So I suggest you get started now and be ready to push yourself.
And just because you are starting a little later than most, you will need to be sure to stay patient!!!
This is very important! I have seen many people, who believe they have started training too late, try to hurry and get their career started. This usually does not work out very well, at all! Like any sport, you must learn, practice, and perfect the basics and fundamentals before anything else. Well, that's even more true in boxing because it's not just a sport. You play sports, you don't play boxing. Tex Cobb once said, "If you screw up in tennis, it's 15-love. If you screw up in boxing, it's your a**". I say that, not to scare you, but to let you know how serious boxing is, and how serious you will need to take it if you decide to pursue it.
Also, there have been boxers that have not began their pro career until their late 20's, and still went on to become Champions. Jess Willard, a former Heavyweight Champion of the world, made his pro debut at the age of 27. Antonio Tarver, a former Light-Heavyweight Champion, made his pro debut when he was near 28 yrs old. I don't suggest doing this, and these are extraordinary examples. But you are ONLY 17!! You have plenty of time to become whatever you want to become in life. You may just have to work a little harder to catch up. Again, I say "work harder", not "move up faster". You have to remember to be patient. Like any professional sport, the men at this level are the very best at what they do. You wouldn't expect to be handed some tools and be asked to perform a surgery if you weren't a surgeon, would you? So, you can't expect to simply put a pair of boxing gloves on and magically become a champion. So go for it, but be prepared to work very, very hard! And, if anything else, it is a great experience. If you decide not to go pro, you will not have lost anything. You will have gained the knowledge of how to defend yourself, and learned the self-discipline that boxing teaches.
Also, to help you get started, I have listed some links below that I like to give new boxers to give you an idea of what you need to do and to give you a way to find gyms and trainers in your area.
http://www.boxinggyms.com/findgoodgym.ht...
http://www.boxinggyms.com/findgoodtraine...
http://www.boxinggyms.com/addressbook.ht...
The first link is an article to help you find a good boxing gym.
The second link is an article to help you find a good boxing trainer.
The third link is a list of boxing gyms' contact information (addresses & phone numbers), by state and city, to help you find gyms in your area.
I hope this helps!!
Good Luck!!!
It's not to late as long as you catch up
You should start working out right away. If you are well built, practice in a local gym or at home. But make sure to have a back-up plan. Finally try to find some local tournaments anywhere close is good. This is how every pro boxer started, just do a few tournaments, some regionales , if you work well and stick to it, you might get the attention of someone who thinks you are good. also keep in mind this is seriously tough business and you have to have the desire to play.
I am only 16 and I just started boxing about a year ago ... I don't think it is too late to start as long as you are willing to train 6 days a week and work for it. It isn't easy but one of the best choices I have made in a while. I say go for it :)
Rocky Marciano and Bernard Hopkins didn't become pros until they were in their 20's
I really like boxing and i would love to become a pro boxer. I am 17 and i don't know if i will be as good as people who started earlier. should I go for it or just leave it alone and consider another career?
