Boxing Scholarships in the Age of Recreational Boxing

A four-year college degree does not need to be in process in order for individuals to seek out and receive a scholarship. According to allpro, scholarships exist for almost any vocational trade, any personal or professional certification, new business developments, and even for paying down personal debt! Many of us have heard at some point that millions of scholarship dollars go unclaimed each year. However, the follow up question is always, "Well, where do I find them?" Scholarships exist everywhere and for various reasons. Individuals interested in pursuing sports that are typically considered recreational don't always need to pay out of pocket for their specialized training sessions and other required advancement classes. Boxing, is a prime example. Below are a list of scholarships for those interested in pursuing boxing and a brief description about them:

1. The USA Boxing Foundation Scholarship

The scholarship typically has a deadline of mid-September. In the past, the foundation has awarded two trade school awards of $2,000 each; 7 undergraduate awards for $3,000 each; and 2 graduate level awards for $2,500 each. Check out the website at www.teamusa.org for more information.

2. The United States Intercollegiate Boxing Association

The Ira Mitzner scholarship is a 10,000 scholarship provided to a student in honor of Mr. Mitzner who shows their love and dedication to the sport. Although, it is one scholarship granted, it is a major scholarship that is widely recognized and highly regarded by the association and its club member organizations. For more details go to www.collegeboxing.org

3. The Thomas "Sarge" Johnson Scholarship

This scholarship offered by the US Amateur boxing foundation provides scholarships that are not restricted to an individual seeking a four-year degree. 11 scholarships are given to eligible applicants. The foundation awards two awards of $2,000 for trade school applicants, seven awards of $3,000 for undergraduate program applicants and two awards of $2,500 for graduate school applicants. The deadline for this scholarship is also typically the middle of September of each year. For more information connect to the website at www.boxingfoundation.org

4. The American Association for the Improvement of Boxing

There are two different types of scholarships offered through this association. One is geared towards the high school senior who is looking to attend college and the other is targeted towards those current or former amateur boxers who are interested in attending college. This scholarship for current or former amateurs provides an award of up to 8,000. Check out the association website at www.aaib.org for more information.  

Although, boxing scholarships are not as common, there are still some out there. The decline took effect when colleges stopped having their own boxing teams. However, locating a few boxing scholarship is just a matter of searching below all those unclaimed scholarships and getting down to the one you are most interested in going after. It is also important to sometimes contact the organizations and associations directly to inquire about scholarships that may not be listed on their sites. These organizations may also have new scholarship opportunities that are not yet publicly listed. Going the  extra mile in researching within networks that are already connected to the boxing world are ideal for maximizing the best options in securing a scholarship.