Where will professional boxers go after hanging up gloves? They devote all themselves to boxing training during their fistic careers and usually fail to learn and master vocational skills for the sake of their future lives after retirements. They often have to look@for new jobs as they leave the ring.
Japan has estimated 3,100 licensed professional boxers with some 1,000 fighters retiring and as many newly licensed after passing the licensing tests (sparring and paper test) every year. They start fighting professionally in the late teens or in early twenties, and usually retire in late twenties. The retired boxers have to lead their second social lives.
The Japan Boxing Commission (JBC) had been negotiating open routes for the boxers to become policemen with the Metropolitan Police Office, the headquarters of the Japanese police system. The JBCfs request was fantastically realized last Thursday (February 15), when the headquarters had a special explanation meeting at the Korakuen Hall to 73 active or retired boxers on the employment examination and contents of the job for them to become policemen.
It is not easy to become policemen in Japan, as they have to pass such strict and difficult examination as only 2,300 youngsters passed the exam out of some 15,000 applicants as for 2005. It means one of seven passed to become the policemen, which is easier than a boxer winning the national belt among so many contemporary rivals.
The police headquarters mentioned that they would add points to ex-boxers in the exam by evaluating their fistic career. The JBC also promises to be willing to certify their previous licenses and professional records to the police. It may be a marvelous idea that still young ex-professional boxers, physically fit and mentally strong, will protect citizens from social dangers and keep the national security.
(2-19-07)