When is one old enough to turn professional in the tough sport of boxing?
Let’s pause on that question for a minute and just throw two names into the debate – Baby Arizmendi and Wilfredo Benitez (but we’ll come back to them at a later stage.)
I remember having a huge debate rather than argument with the chess authorities in Cape Town in 1975 at a time where I was almost at my best in my chess career. I was a cocky 18 year old, had won five chess tournament in the year and was ranked 5 in the country.
I had been invited to play in the South African closed event where only the top 12 in the country could participate. The local Cape Town closed was a separate event and which invited the top 12 players in Cape Town to participate.
I was certainly not thrilled when I was not invited to play but only invited to participate in the second section for players ranked below. I was ranked number 3 in Cape Town and number 5 in South Africa – but ironically was deemed too young to play in an event where nine of the participating players were ranked below me.
I was told to prove myself (which I and the South African rankings had already proven) and decided to withdraw from the second section in a sort of hollow protest. The question arising is if one is good enough, are they then old enough.
Sachin Tendulkar – the legend of Indian cricket made his international debut at the tender age of 16 years and 205 days. The coach, when being highly criticized, simply retorted that if you’re good enough, then you’re old enough to debut. Now retired Tendulkar remains one of the greatest cricketers of all time.
So back to Alberto ‘Baby’ Arizmendi. Born in Mexico, and eventually a world featherweight champion, Arizmendi turned professional at the tender age of 13, the youngest ever recorded boxing professional.
The legendary Wilfredo Benitez. The Puerto Rican born Benitez won the first of three world titles at the age of 17 and remains one of the finest boxing professionals of all time.
While 18 is considered the correct age for youngsters to turn professional, and which is the legal age to do so in certain countries, other countries tend to be flexible in their acceptance of different ages to turn professional.
Many fighters in countries such as Mexico, Philippines and several others, tend to allow fighters to turn professional around the ages of 15, 16 and 17, which once again throws open the initial debate.
My personal opinion, which will differ no doubt with many of the readers, is that while the age of 18 is probably most acceptable, I do believe that fighters with exceptional talent should be possibly allowed to turn pro at 16 under certain circumstances.
If you’re good enough are you then old enough? And if so, does it apply to boxing? You be the judge…
Until next time, keep boxing.
Howard Goldberg
PRESIDENT: World Boxing Federation
