AMATEUR:One who engages in an
activity as a pastime rather than as a professional; one who lacks expertise.
AMATEUR IN SPORTS: An athlete who
has never participated in competition for money. An athlete who is not paid for
his/her performance. An athlete at the beginning learning levels of his/her
career.
PROFESSIONAL:Performed by
persons receiving pay. An expert in a field of endeavor.
PROFESSIONAL IN SPORTS:An
athlete who is paid for his/her performance. Paid for their excellence of
experience, knowledge and ability of their given sport. An athlete who plays for
pay.
If you have fought as a PRO (see definition above) in "ANY
Full Contact Fight Sport" than you are considered a PRO in "ALL Full
Contact Fight Sports."
The term "Full Contact" in this explanation above
indicates FULL power punches, kicks etc. and should NOT be confused with
Full Contact "STYLE"
of fighting which is explained at this link HERE.
In Addition: Karate "POINT" fighters or
"Point Kickboxers"
who DO NOT use full power strikes (Punches pulled or with control) who
are paid a winning purse are NOT considered PRO "Full Contact"
Fighters. They are always considered AMATEUR fighters until they compete in a
Full Contact Fight Sport as defined above.
Amateurs are NEVER paid a fight purse. Amateurs requesting or
demanding and receiving a fight purse shall be considered a PRO fighter from the
moment the first bell rings to start the bout in which they have agreed to be
paid to fight in.
Mixed Martial Arts Fighters who have fought as a Pro and were paid
a fighters purse as a Pro are considered a PRO in Kickboxing and Boxing
regardless if they have or have not fought in boxing or kickboxing before as an
amateur or pro.
PRO does NOT mean you do Full Contact Fighting as a living. VERY
FEW fighter's make a living at Full Contact Fighting.