Every Spring I receive emails from young men who would like to start a boxing career.

Springtime in the US is a particularly active time for boxing. You may say that this is the beginning of fight season with all the golden glove tournaments and other top-level amateur activities. Pay per view television has more fights scheduled in the spring also.

Once these young men see all the thrilling fights on TV, they say to themselves, "I can do that!"

Then they look around and ask how do I get into boxing?

Well, getting into boxing and being successful is not as hard as it seems. It all depends on how you measure success.

If you are looking to start a boxing career as a pro, it is best to start your career as an amateur first to learn the fundamentals but most importantly to see if you have the stuff to be a good boxer. Check around in the area that you live. See which clubs produce good amateur boxers and investigate how they treat their boxers. Check the backgrounds of the trainers and coaches in the clubs that you visit. Some may have college degrees in physical education and sports; some may have certifications in fitness or exercise science. Some may not have a formal education on sport and fitness but learn the sport through experience and the school of hard knocks. That's good too.

The main thing you want to know is, does this club produce a fair amount of winners.

Ask good questions when you visit a boxing, mixed martial arts or wrestling club. See if the trainers philosophies fit into your plans. Talk to his students or boxers and see how they feel about him. See how many winners and champions he has produced. Once you have decided to start a fighting career, it is up to you to remain consistent and produce. Learn everything you can from your trainer because you may not be with him your entire career. Like anything else, you may out grow your trainer and move on to other trainers and organizations who may help your career. Do not limit yourself. There are always new things to learn.

Don't be impatient and be a good listener.

While you are building your career, keep a full time job as a back up and if you have not finished your education, finish it. Try to at least work your way up to a college graduate, just in case your boxing career does not turn out to be what you have envisioned.

If you decide to turn professional, you may elect to train with your current trainer or move on with a trainer or organization that can formally manage your career and hopefully take you to every boxers dream, a sanctioned championship. Look around for a management group that has a track record of managing fighters and advancing their careers. See if they have a track record but most important, check to see how other boxers faired under them. Also check with the Better Business Bureau to see if they had complaints against them from other boxers and customers.

When you go to check out boxing, sport or entertainment management companies, hire a lawyer and take him with you to look over any contracts and negotiate your career goals. Do not go in to a boxing managers office feeling like you have to swallow everything they hand you. Let them know what you are expecting also. Be honest with them and yourself.

If things do not work out in your meeting, there are other management companies you can visit.

Once you sign a contract with a management company, do not let anyone handle your money but you. If you need advice on how to handle your money hire a financial advisor. But only if you hit the big time. Pay your advisor for advice only. Pay him by the session; don 't let him talk you into retaining him. It will cost you a lot more money.

But if you have a modest professional career. The people at your local credit union or bank can give you some of the same services for free.

As a boxing, wrestling or mixed martial arts pro, you do not have to limit yourself to making money only in the ring. You can teach the public your skills. You can teach private lessons per hour. Or you can teach group fitness at double the rate, particularly if you are well known and famous.

Your management company can produce seminars for you. But if you do not have a management company or a promotional company on retainer, you can develop your own seminars and training sessions by marketing yourself. If you do not know how to market yourself. There are many books that you can read on seminars and marketing. You can email me and I can recommend some from Amazon books through this website.

There are lots of folks who like getting fit like a fighter and at the same time learn how to defend themselves too. Being a boxer and fitness pro can extend your career long after you end your fighting career. Billy Blanks of Tae Bo fame is a perfect example.

All the hard work getting your body into shape should not go to waste. Join an acting company, commercial advertising agency or a modeling agency to help you financially too. Lots of fighters work for these agencies and it usually pay off for them. Here are some examples of fighters who worked for ad and modeling agencies:

And there are other whose earnings are not as high.

As you see, a boxing career can be a wonderful career, but educate yourself and hire a good lawyer to help you with your decisions. Remember, your career is also is your business. Treat it as such.

AS ALWAYS GOOD LUCK IN YOUR CAREER!