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.
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,
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 Mixed Martial Arts, 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.