Become a Competitive Boxer

​Step 1. Contact/Join a Registered Club

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In order to compete as an amateur boxer it’s best to contact a registered amateur boxing club. Check out the list of registered clubs for clubs in your area. All amateur clubs registered with Boxing Manitoba are required to have at least one Level I NCCP certified coach providing instruction. Beyond that the clubs function independently, setting their own program schedules and prices, so it’s in your best interest to visit a few clubs to find the one that best suits your goals, budget and time frame.

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Typical Pathway to Competitive Teams:

1. Join affiliated club and be an active member for at least 3-6 months

   • varies by club and individual progression - improves fitness and boxing fundamentals

2. Pass a medical and be registered with Boxing Manitoba/Canada to participate in full sparring

3. Talk to the competitive team coaches of your club for clarity on the next step:​

   • Join their sparring program (may require skill evaluation first - programs can include recreational sparring classes, a beginner sparring program, an intro to sparring session, 1-on-1 sessions, etc)

4. Try out for their fight team

5. If you make the fight team your coach will submit your name to competitions 

6. If you did not make the team, get feedback, keep training hard, and work with the coach on developing a plan for progression! (try private sessions, get a mentor, work harder, study the sport, follow the coach's recommendations, etc).

 

Step 2. Complete Medical & Registration Form

Once you join a registered amateur boxing club and sparring is your goal you must pass a medical:

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1. Have your doctor complete this Medical Form (doctors may charge a fee)

   • If you don't have a family doctor the Sport Manitoba Clinic offers free boxing medicals with an appointment a couple times a week.

   • You can book an appointment here if you don't have a family doctor.

   • Ensure the doctor has circled or marked off "IS FIT" or "IS NOT FIT" at the bottom of the page

   • Ensure all necessary signatures have been signed

2. Medicals are valid for 1 year from the date they are performed.

   • However, competing at nationals or international competitions may require a medical that has been completed within the last 6 months or less.

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Step 3. Register with Boxing Canada & Boxing Manitoba​

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1. Choose your registration type

   • You can either become a Recreational member (non-competitive sparring only) or a Competitor (sparring). If your goal is to compete within the calendar year, you must register as a Competitor

     • $90 for Elite (ages 19+) ​

     • $50 for Youth, Jr A, Jr B, Jr C, & Initiation

     • taxes are included but additional credit card fees apply​

2. Register online here with Boxing Canada and the Manitoba Amateur Boxing Association

   • you'll need to upload your completed medical​

   • ensure your doctor has circled "IS FIT" or "IS NOT FIT" at the bottom of the page

   • ensure all necessary signatures have been signed

3. Registrations are valid from January 1st to December 31st with registration opening for the next year on September 1st. The regular registration period is from September 1st to December 31st.

4. Renew your membership every year if you plan to continue sparring or competing

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YOU MUST REGISTER BEFORE PARTICIPATING IN ANY FULL-CONTACT SPARRING.

 

When you register as a competitor you will receive a competition passbook that will be used to record all your bouts.

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Please note that the turnaround time for Boxing Canada to process applications is 2-3 weeks. Please allow this time for your registrations.

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Additional Information

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In order to become an amateur boxer, athletes first have to become members of one of our affiliated boxing clubs. See below on how to contact a club. The athlete trains for approximately 6 – 12 months at the club learning the fundamentals of boxing; stance, defense, ring craft, offense, combinations, rules, and shadow boxing (non-contact boxing). When the athlete, and/or coach and parent decide the athlete is ready to spar, the coach then must register the athlete as a competitor with Boxing Manitoba (to register see below). Once this is completed the coach can arrange sparring sessions for the boxer, which are contact boxing trainings that are not scored. The purpose is to hone the boxer’s skills and knowledge before stepping into the ring for an actual bout.

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When a boxer has developed a sufficient skill set to begin boxing, the coach then arranges to bring the athlete to club shows and matches them up with an opponent of similar age, weight, skill level, and gender. The next step from club shows is novice developmental tournaments. Once a boxer becomes “Open Class”, meaning they have competed in 11 bouts or more, they are eligible to compete in provincial championships. If you win a provincial championship you become part of a Provincial Team that competes at National Championships hosted by Boxing Canada. After the Nationals there are International shows and tournaments, Commonwealth and PanAm Games, and ultimately the Olympics.

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We often have new boxers join our membership in Olympic years hoping to participate in the Olympic Games in that year – this is not possible! It takes many years of competing on a provincial,national, and international level to reach the Olympic Qualifiers and have an opportunity to box at the Olympic Games. Generally it would take an athlete 6-10 years to reach this level. So it’s best to start early – boxers over 40 years of age are not allowed to compete internationally.